Updated on Aug 26, 2022 06:32 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

Archaeology is the study of the human past or can be said to be a scientific study through the analysis of material culture. It is also described as a study of human prehistory and history from ancient times like the development of the first stone tools. Archaeology involves surveying and analysing of data gathered.

The archaeological course is quite popular among students as they get to know about various materials human history. The archaeology course helps in discovering the human past and getting to know about various famous stories related to human history.

Different sub-disciplines of Archaeology are  

  • Maritime archaeology  
  • Feminist archaeology  
  • Archaeoastronomy etc. 

Archaeology Specialisations 

Various specialisations in archaeology are mentioned below:

Specialisations

Ethno-Archaeology 

Geoarchaeology 

Urbanarchaeology 

Battlefield Archaeology 

Marine Archaeology 

Archaeobotany 

Environmental Archaeology 

Archaeozoology 

Experimental Archaeology 

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Types of Archaeology Courses -UG & PG

There are various types of Archaeology courses. Archaeology courses can be pursued at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels . The duration of these courses is four to six semesters. The course consists of elective and core courses at the level of undergraduate and postgraduate level. Here in the article, we have discussed Archaeology subjects, syllabus and specialisations at both UG and PG levels level.

Popular Archaeology Courses -UG & PG

Archaeology courses are of various types. Some of the Archaeology courses are available in regular or full-time mode. There are many Archaeology programmes that are taught at the degree level and some are taught at the diploma level. Here we have discussed in detail popular Archaeology courses at UG and PG levels.  

Archaeology Degree Courses – UG  

Archaeology Degree courses or BA Archaeology is a three-year duration undergraduate course which gives knowledge about various human activities by studying and analysing material culture. Candidates who have passed the class 10+2 exam are eligible to take admission in BA Archaeology.

Also Read: Top Archaeology Colleges in India

Distance Archaeology Courses – UG  

There are various universities and colleges in India that offer the opportunity to pursue Archaeology courses at the undergraduate level via distance education. The distance mode of education in Archaeology enables candidates to study remotely from any place and is a cost-effective medium.

Online Archaeology Courses -UG  

There are many online portals that provide online Archaeology courses. These online courses are designed in a way that candidates can get all the basic information about Archaeology courses.

Archaeology Diploma Courses -UG   

Diploma courses are also available in Archaeology. Candidates aspiring to pursue a diploma course in Archaeology should have qualified graduation or equivalent degree in Archaeology with a minimum passing mark of 50% marks.

Archaeology Degree Courses – PG

Archaeology courses at master's or postgraduate level. It is a two-year-old degree course. In the PG courses in Archaeology, candidates are taught techniques and methodologies of conducting research in the field of Archaeology.

MA Archaeology Syllabus

Given below is the syllabus list of MA Archaeology

Semester 1 

Semester 2 

Ancient Indian society 

Science and technology in ancient India 

Political history of ancient India 319 AD 

Early historic archaeology 

History and culture of India 

Ancient Indian administration and polity 

Political history of ancient India 319 AD 

Major Archaeological sites of India 

Ancient world 

Ancient Indian economy 

Semester 3 

Semester 4 

Electives 

Electives 

Museology 

Maritime Archaeology 

Elements of ancient Indian art 

Principles and methods of archaeology 

Heritage management 

Biological Anthropology 

Protohistory of India 

Elements of field Archaeology 

Prehistory of India 

South Asian prehistory 

Historiography 

Concept and methods of tools in Ancient India 

Ancient Indian numismatics 

Environmental Archaeology 

Ancient Indian epigraphy 

Study of Ancient pottery 

Elements of Archaeological studies 

Elements of ancient Indian architecture 

Distance Archaeology Courses – PG  

Distance education in Archaeology is also taught at postgraduate level. The course at this level covers various aspects of Archaeology. The benefit of these courses is that candidates can pursue them from any location of their choice.

Archaeology Diploma Courses -PG  

Diploma courses at the postgraduate level are also available in Archaeology. Diploma courses at the postgraduate level are called PG Diploma in Archaeology. The duration of the course is one year and consists of various basic knowledge of the subjects.

Archaeology: Career Scope

The career scope in Archaeology is wide. There are various career opportunities for candidates in the field. Some of the job opportunities are listed below.

Career Opportunities in Archaeology Graduates
Archaeologist Lecturer
Heritage Manager Museum education officer
Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer Museum/gallery curator
Documentation Specialist -

Read More:

FAQs on Archaeology

Q. What are the sub-disciplines of Archaeology?

A. Different sub-disciplines of Archaeology are Maritime Archaeology, Feminist Archaeology, Archaeoastronomy etc.

Q. What are the specialisations of Archaeology?

A. Different specialisations of Archaeology are Ethno-Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, Urbanarchaeology, Battlefield Archaeology, Marine Archaeology, Archaeobotany, Environmental Archaeology, Archaeozoology and Experimental Archaeology. 

Q. Which course is best for Archaeology?

A. If a candidates is interested in making a career in Archaeology, he/she should opt for Humanities in class 11th and 12th. He/she can also opt for subjects such as History, Anthropology, and Sociology etc. 

Q. Is Archaeology a good career choice?

A. Yes, Archaeology is a good career choice as it provide many exciting job opportunities to candidates holding a degree. 

Q. What is the duration of Archeology course?

A. Archaeology degrees course is generally of three or four years. Candidates can pursue degree courses like Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc).

Q. What can I do after 12th in Archaeology?

A. After 12th, candidates can enroll themselves for courses like Bachelors of Archaeology or Cultural Heritage or Ancient History or any other related to History. Candidates interested in making a career as a Marine Archaeologist, should have a Engineering degree.

Q. What is the eligibility criteria to pursue master degree in Archaeology?

A. In order to pursue master courses, students should have a bachelor's degree in Archeology or Indian History Culture or Anthropology, etc. 

Q. Can I pursue online Archaeology course?

A. Yes, Archaeology courses can be pursued through online mode. There are many online portals that provide online Archaeology courses. 

Q. Can I pursue Archaeology course in distance mode?

A. Yes, Archaeology courses are also available in distance mode. There are a number of universities and colleges in India that provide various opportunities to pursue Archaeology courses at UG and PG level. 

Q. Is Math necessary in Archaeology?

A. Archaeologists usually use math a lot in their work. It is used for measurement and calculation purpose. All estimates in Archaeology are based on mathematical equations. 

Q. What are the popular exams for Archaeology? 

A. Graduates in Archaeology needs to clear Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination or State Public Service Commission (SPSC) exam to secure jobs in ASI. Meanwhile, candidates with PG degree in Archaeology can apply for the lecturers or professors job in various universities in the country.
Table of content
  • Popular Archaeology Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Archaeology Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Popular Archaeology Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Archaeology UG Courses
  • Popular Archaeology PG Courses
View More

Popular Archaeology Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Archaeology Colleges in India. Learn more about these Archaeology colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
72.5 K
6.23 LPA

#89 NIRF

1 Course
25.16 K
9 LPA
3 K - 68 K
4.2 LPA
2 Courses
16.46 K - 22.59 K
2.8 - 3.4 LPA
1 Course
18 K
1 Course
11.16 K
6.5 LPA

Popular Private Archaeology Colleges in India

1 Course
72.5 K
6.23 LPA

#89 NIRF

1 Course
25.16 K
9 LPA
3 K - 68 K
4.2 LPA
2 Courses
16.46 K - 22.59 K
2.8 - 3.4 LPA
1 Course
18 K
1 Course
11.16 K
6.5 LPA

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Archaeology. Students interested in pursuing a career on Archaeology, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Jun '26

CPGET 2026 Notification

TENTATIVE

Jun '26

CPGET 2026 Registration

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

CUET 2026 Application Process

TENTATIVE

May '26 - Jun '26

CUET 2026 Exam

TENTATIVE

Oct '25

SAT Registration Deadline for November Test

TENTATIVE

14 Jul ' 25 - 31 Oct ' 25

JMI Entrance Exam 2025 Counselling

31 Oct ' 25

Last Date for submitting Qualifying Exam result (...

Popular Archaeology Specializations

Following are the most popular Archaeology Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular Archaeology courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Archaeology.

Popular Archaeology UG Courses

Following are the most popular Archaeology UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Archaeology PG Courses

Following are the most popular Archaeology PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 months ago

To become an Archaeologist, you need to have excellent research skills, the ability to work methodically, planning & project management skills, an interest in History & research, cultural awareness, and so on. These skills will help you succeed in your field.

S

Shikha Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, a few online colleges offer MA in Archaeology in India.

Online MA in Archaeology CollegesTuition Fee
MPBOU BhopalINR 18,000
Sri Sai Correspondence CollegeNA
Kuvempu UniversityINR 81,510

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

N

Nikita Chauhan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Of course, here are some top Archaeology book recommendations for you:

  • Handbook of Archaeology by Tejas Chadha and Dipankar Agarwal.
  • Pre-Historic Archaeology by D K Bhattacharya.
  • Archaeology: The Essential Guide to Our Human Past by Paul Bahn.
  • Ancient Lives: An Introduction To Archaeology And Prehistory

...Read more

A

Atul Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Why not! Many colleges offer admission to the BA in Archaeology course without entrance exams. Some popular examples are MSU Baroda, Maharaja's College, University of Mysore, Visva Bharati University, K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, HNBGU, etc. You can also opt for distance colleges.

R

Rashmi Thakur

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

I feel it depends on that specific exam. Regardless of the exam's level, you should check its specific syllabus on the official website and prepare accordingly. Practice regularly, focus on clearing your concepts, and seek guidance, if possible.

I

Ishita Uniyal

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Archaeologists can look deeply into specific aspects of human history and cultural heritage thanks to these specializations. People may decide to specialize in one or more of these categories, depending on the place, era, or kind of archaeological site of interest.

Candidates can check the table to l

...Read more

R

Rashmi Srivastava

Contributor-Level 8

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