Prospective Student Information
Why study archaeology at Boston University?
We are the only independent Department of Archaeology in the country, with a large number of faculty and graduate students working throughout the world and specialized programs in a diversity of topical and technical offerings. The real question is why wouldn’t you study archaeology at Boston University!
We hope the Quick Links and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below will provide you with the information you seek. If you still have unanswered questions, we encourage you to contact the Director of Graduate Admissions with specific questions regarding the application process. In addition, we encourage all prospective graduate students to make direct contact by e-mail, snail-mail, or telephone with those professors with whom they share interests and with whom they would most likely work upon entering our programs. Department visits are also encouraged.
Quick Links:
Department of Archaeology Graduate Bulletin
Click here to learn all about our department’s graduate mission, facilities, degree programs, and courses.
Admissions information
Follow this link to the Admissions page of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, where you can read about the application process (qualifications, deadlines, addresses for submission, etc.).
There are THREE ways to apply:
Submit on ONLINE application (best)
Use the Graduate School’s web-based application for streamlining the application process.DOWNLOAD the application and submit it via snail mail (very good)
Click here to download application forms and information in printable PDF formats that you can then fill out by hand and submit by mail.Have a HARDCOPY of the catalogue and application mailed to you (good)
If you prefer to have the application sent to you, click here. Note that the previous two methods are quicker.
Financial Aid Information
Click here for important information about funding your graduate studies.
Contact the Director of Graduate Admissions in Archaeology
Click here to send an e-mail to the Director of Graduate Admissions, Christopher Roosevelt, with specific questions about the application process and general questions about our graduate programs that the information and links on this page do not answer.
Contact the Director of Graduate Studies in Archaeology
Click here to send an e-mail to the Director of Graduate studies, Mary Beaudry, for specific questions about our graduate programs that the information and links on this page do not answer.
FAQs:
After reading this website and following its links, we encourage you to contact the Director of Graduate Admissions with specific questions regarding the application process. In addition, we encourage all prospective graduate students to make direct contact by e-mail, snail-mail, or telephone with those professors with whom they share interests and with whom they would most likely work closely upon entering our programs.
There are two ways to apply: online and by filling out downloaded PDF forms and submitting them by mail (see above under Admissions Information).
All applications including the ones for merit-based funding in the form of fellowships must be submitted by January 15. Applications to the Department of Archaeology are generally accepted only for fall semester admissions to ensure that incoming students take our graduate core seminars in the proper sequence.
In addition to the personal statement that is part of the application itself, all graduate programs in Archaeology require GRE exams, transcripts, three (3) letters of recommendation (not two, as required by other programs at BU), and a brief writing sample.
No. Applicants need only submit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application (including all materials required by the Department of Archaeology). Applications are then forwarded from the Graduate School to the Department.
We are sorry that we cannot provide you with average GPAs or GRE scores for students admitted to our program at this time. Generally, however, GPAs and GRE scores are very competitive.
We do not require prospective students to visit the department, but we encourage them do so in order for them to learn most fully about our department’s faculty, facilities, and programs. If you would like to schedule a visit, please contact the Director of Graduate Admissions *and* other faculty with whom you would like to meet to make appointments. During your visit we will gladly arrange meetings and tours of the department with current graduate students to further your understanding of our department.
Our three MA programs and PhD program are intended to offer a wide variety of advanced degrees in Archaeology for students with diverse professional interests. Please read the specific descriptions of our MA and PhD programs on the online Bulletin of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
If you are applying for an MA or PhD in archaeology, check the box on the first page of the application for MA or PhD, and write in your specific interest (if you have one) in the space for “Specialization” to the right of the space for “Department”. Possible entries for the “Specialization,” line include “Classical Archaeology,” “Historical Archaeology,” “Mesoamerican Archaeology”, etc.
If you are applying for an MA in our Geoarchaeology or Heritage Management programs, check the box on the first page of the application for MA, and write in “Geoarchaeology” or “Heritage Management” in the space for “Specialization” to the right of the space for “Department”.
Please see the Financial Aid section of the Admissions page of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Because of limited funding resources at BU, we can offer support in the form of fellowships to only a very few PhD applicants; only extremely rarely can we offer funding to MA applicants. Applications for merit-based funding in the form of fellowships must be submitted by January 15.
Reading proficiency in one modern foreign language, as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee, is required for our MA programs in Archaeology and Archaeological Heritage Management; reading proficiency in two modern foreign languages, as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee, is required for our PhD program. Work towards the fulfillment of these requirements should be demonstrated at the time of application.
Concentrators in Old World historical archaeology (including Classical Archaeology) must demonstrate, by written examination, knowledge of at least one appropriate ancient language (Greek and/or Latin for Classical Archaeologists). The level of language proficiency required is that normally attained by one graduate-level reading course. Work towards the fulfillment of this requirement should be demonstrated at the time of application.
Please investigate the Frequently Asked Questions for Admissions on the main Admissions website of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.