SELECTING A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GEOARCHAEOLOGY: THE STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

This paper presents the results of an informal survey that was recently distributed to recent, current and future graduate students with interests in geoarchaeology. The survey first aims to discover and rank the main criteria that prospective students use to evaluate a geoarchaeology graduate program. Criteria that students consider important include the program’s home department and associated departments, faculty interests, student interests, program size, and access to outside facilities. The survey also aims to inform educators of prospective students’ concerns, and includes application and selection experiences (both positive and negative) from current students. The survey is intended as both a guide for students and a tool for educators interested in developing or improving existing programs.