Off the Beaten Path: Employing an Archaeological Education in Non-traditional Careers

Abstract

What utility does an archaeological education provide students choosing careers off well-trodden archaeological paths? What do these students bring to their careers and society at large? This paper focuses on some of the ways academic training in anthropological archaeology in the US offers students perspectives, skills, and knowledge that fits well with non-traditional careers. Despite a relatively dismal employment outlook for traditional archaeology jobs, archaeological education cultivates valuable critical thinking, project management, and technology skills useful in other career contexts. Archaeological graduates are flexible, informed professionals who understand and embrace cultural diversity. They enrich public awareness about the importance of archaeology and the preservation of cultural resources.