Archeology, History, Anthropology...

[Archaeologist]

<p>

@portugueseninja

My plan is to major in Anthropology or Archeology and hopefully minor in Near Eastern studies with a focus in Egyptology… then ultimately go on to study a Masters in Egyptology. So the Egypt side of things is very important to me. What you’re saying about Chicago there is very interesting, Archeologist… do you think with my focus in Egypt would be better off somewhere other than Chicago? I’ve recently discovered JHU and am very impressed with their Near Eastern department but wasn’t enthralled with their Anthropology, it’s a bit too modern and sociological for my interests. But the prospect of an Archeology major is very exciting.

First off, it would be difficult for you to only get a MA in Egyptology. Except for Memphis and one or two other places, most American programs lead directly to the PhD. If you’re in England, on the other hand, it would be feasible to get a MA at UCL, Liverpool, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge, or Swansea.</p>

<p>No, I would not recommend choosing somewhere else over Chicago. A program in flux doesn’t mean a weak program; it simply means it’s uncertain what the new focus will be. Chicago has since replaced one of the professors, and the other should be replaced by this fall, so the department should be at full strength next year.</p>

<p>If I had to rank programs in archaeology and Egyptology, it would go:</p>

<ol>
<li>University of Chicago</li>
<li>University of California-Los Angeles</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins University</li>
<li>Brown University</li>
<li>New York University</li>
<li>University of Pennsylvania</li>
<li>Yale University</li>
<li>University of Michigan</li>
<li>University of California-Berkeley</li>
</ol>

<p>Feel free to PM if you have specific questions; I’m very familiar with most of the programs. I’ve been meaning to write up synopses of each department but haven’t gotten around to it yet.</p>