Studying past civilizations through their structures and artifacts, including physical remains, artwork, tools and religious objects, in order to understand their history and culture is key to the subject of archeology. Students may specialize in a specific area such as geographic region, time period or type of society.

Individuals who are interested in pursuing highly skilled careers may want to start by earning an associate degree at a community college or university. As students earn their degrees, they often expand their knowledge and worldview, as well as increase their professional qualifications.