Ph.D. in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Tuition & Aid

Earn a terminal degree that will give you the necessary experience and credentials to practice archaeology in the field or teach at the highest levels of academia through Lipscomb University’s Ph.D. program in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East.

Building on knowledge obtained at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the Ph.D. program will provide exposure to a broad range of topics through a series of six research seminars during your first two years in the program. Following this period of study, you will move into the dissertation research phase for the remainder of the program. To assist you in completing your research, you will have full access to the resources of the Lanier Center for Archaeology, including its collections, research projects, excavations and museums. When you graduate, you will earn your place among the best in the scholarly guild of archaeology.

Program Foundations

In-Depth Knowledge: Study concepts, terms and theories through comprehensive research seminars, and further explore the disciplines of archaeology and biblical archaeology, specifically how these disciplines interface.
Skill Mastery: Conduct dissertation research to build upon previous real-world archaeological experience and refine skills and expertise in your chosen area of research.
Career Orientation: Become a competitive and attractive candidate for a postsecondary teaching positions through primary research, membership in professional organizations and presentations at national and regional meetings of the profession.
Lifelong Learning: Cultivate a plan and ethos for learning for life with an emphasis on adapting to the changing modern world.

Adjunct Teaching

Lanier Center for Archaeology

Students have full access to the resources of the Lanier Center for Archaeology (LCA), including the various research projects and museums that contribute to archaeological research on the campus of Lipscomb University. The LCA is made up of faculty in the Department of Archaeology as well as other departments in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Hazelip School of Theology. Its main purpose is to support archaeological research and field projects in the Ancient Near East.

Admissions Requirements

Ready to apply? Let’s get started. We’re here to help at every step.

Applicants to the program must hold a master’s degree in archaeology, anthropology or biblical studies from an accredited institution. Other master’s degrees from the social sciences will also be strongly considered. All applicants to the program must possess competency in critical thinking and the use of methods and theories in social sciences.

Applicants should also submit the following for admission review and enrollment:

Completed and submitted online application
CV detailing applicant's academic work, experience and scholarly achievement (publications, professional presentations, etc.) that has prepared the applicant to benefit from the program.
$50 non-refundable application fee
Official college transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities (3.0 minimum graduate GPA)
Optional MAT or GRE scores
Writing sample (20-30 page research paper)
Three letters of recommendation by former graduate-level professors
Entrance examination
Interview with faculty (on campus, virtually or by phone)

For transcripts, electronic copies can be emailed directly from your undergraduate institution to gradadmissions [at] lipscomb.edu.

If you are having a hard copy mailed, have it sent to:
Lipscomb University
Graduate Admissions
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204

International Students

Courses

Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Courses

Tuition & Aid

Program tuition is $950* per credit hour.

You will have access to many scholarship opportunities offered to Lipscomb University students as well as internal departmental resources, on-campus employment and traditional sources of financial aid loans.

*Note: The graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective each summer semester.

Student Loans

Federal Stafford Loan

A borrower must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least six semester hours and must be working toward a degree or certificate. Loans must be actively accepted in myLipscomb in order to be applied as an expected payment to the student bill. Stafford Loans will not pay until the student has completed both Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note at studentloans.gov. Loans will not be credited to accounts until 30 days after classes begin or when a student begins the sixth credit hour, whichever comes last.

Graduate PLUS Loan

Private Loans

In addition to the federal loans outlined here, you may consider private loans made by banks and other financial institutions. It is recommended that private loans only be considered in instances where funding is needed in addition to any federal loans, as interest rates may be higher. Eligibility for these loans requires a credit check, and students are often required to have a cosigner to qualify.

Contact Information

Graduate and Adult Admissions, Admin

Evan Richardson
Director of Graduate Enrollment
(615) 966-5004
Evan.Richardson@lipscomb.edu

Networking

Both our deeply connected faculty and our experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. These connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

Nashville, TN

A big city. An even bigger opportunity. We consider Nashville, Tennessee, an extension of our classroom, and as a leading city in many industries, that means you’ll gain experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else.

Small Class Sizes

You’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion, receive one-on-one faculty mentorship and ask difficult questions in our small class sizes. Plus, you’ll feel supported in a tight-knit learning community.

Our Faculty

Steven Ortiz

Director, Lanier Center for Archaeology

Dr. Steven Ortiz is the Director of the newly established Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University where he is also a professor of archaeology and biblical studies. He was...
Meet Steven Ortiz
Thomas Davis

Professor and Associate Director

Dr. Tom Davis has forty years of experience as an archaeologist, working extensively in Cyprus, the Near East, Egypt, Central Asia, and the United States. He started his archaeological career...
Meet Thomas Davis
Mark Janzen

Associate Professor

Dr. Mark Janzen is Associate Professor of Archaeology and Ancient History at Lipscomb University. He received his PhD from the University of Memphis (ancient history). His primary research interests are...
Meet Mark Janzen

Career Paths

Archaeologists

As contributing members of the scholarly guild, archaeologists participate in excavation projects, work in museums and conduct research in the lab. Many also teach archaeology or another humanities-based discipline.

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

Ph.D. in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

Program Overview