MSci Archaeology
Academic Year 2017/18
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.
Programme Title |
MSci Archaeology |
Final Award |
Master in Science |
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Programme Code |
ARL-MSCI |
UCAS Code |
V403 |
JACS Code |
V400 (DESCR) 100 |
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Criteria for Admissions The general University and School conditions of entry must be satisfied. Entrance requirements for this course are: |
ATAS Clearance Required |
No |
Health Check Required |
No |
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Portfolio Required |
Interview Required |
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Mode of Study |
Full Time |
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Type of Programme |
Undergraduate Master |
Length of Programme |
4 Academic Year(s) |
Total Credits for Programme |
360 |
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Exit Awards available |
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INSTITUTE INFORMATION
Awarding Institution/Body |
Queen's University Belfast |
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Teaching Institution |
Queen's University Belfast |
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School/Department |
Natural and Built Environment |
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Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level |
Level 4 |
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QAA Benchmark Group |
Archaeology (2014) |
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Accreditations (PSRB) |
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REGULATION INFORMATION
Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations None |
Programme Specific Regulations Exit route: BSc Hons after first 3 years. |
Students with protected characteristics Physical disability may be a barrier to certain students (i.e. wheelchair users) from participating in some fieldwork activities. |
Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) No |
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME
The first three years of the MSci follow the educational aims of the BA Archaeology or BSc Archaeology and Palaeoecology programmes. On completion of these three years the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of the scope and key intellectual issues within the disciplines of archaeology and/or palaeoecology, and in-depth knowledge of selected specialist areas within the disciplines.
• Demonstrate key transferable skills, for example field survey and recording, site sampling, laboratory etiquette and practice, data handling and analytical skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and specialist experience in the archaeology of Ireland from prehistory to the present, complemented by understanding of the global scope of the discipline and specialist knowledge of selected other regions.
• Show awareness of the varied social, economic and environmental parameters underpinning past cultural change. Have an understanding of the role of palaeoecological research for informing our understanding of current climate and environmental change issues.
• Display an appreciation of the character and role of archaeological sites and landscapes in the present, including ethical and legal considerations and the relevance of public engagement.
• Demonstrate qualification in and key skills for lifelong learning and career development, including independent research abilities, team work, written and oral expression.
The extended undergraduate (Year 4) MSci Archaeology’s pathway in GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and Cultural Heritage has been facilitated by the research and teaching strengths within the School of Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology and responds to the need for trained workers in this sector expressed in the broadest of terms, be it cultural or natural heritage or associated fields.
The overall aims of the programme are twofold;
1. To demonstrate how GIS technologies (including scanning and digitisation) can be applied to and play a central role in the recording, analysis, interpretation and management of heritage artefacts across a range of scales from excavated items, archaeological sites, paper records to historic buildings, monuments and the landscapes in which they are located.
2. To provide a learning environment that supports students in the development of their intellectual and practical skills through the study and interpretation of cultural heritage artefacts, their historic societal significance and relationship with the landscape and the wider environment in the past and the present-day.
The integration of expertise from Archaeology/Palaeoecology, the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork (CAF), Geography and the Centre for Data Digitisation and Analysis (CDDA) will create a unique ‘cultural heritage’ focussed programme in which students will experience ‘heritage’ in its widest context and will have the opportunity to practice the use a wide range of digital technologies and explore the conceptual issues associated with their application
In addition to providing students with the opportunity to acquire and apply GIS skills, students will also receive training in research project development and implementation providing a preparation for those students interested in furthering their career in academia through research at doctoral level. The programme specifically aims to give graduates the opportunity to:
• Develop specialist knowledge and understanding of ‘cultural heritage’ and the use of GIS technologies in approaches to analysing and interpreting representations of cultural heritage and securing a record of artefacts, for the future;
• Develop critical, reflexive thinking and appreciation of the philosophies that underpin analysis, interpretation and conservation;
• Develop research skills as preparation for doctoral research in a range of disciplines in the humanities and heritage sciences;
• Develop skills in qualitative, quantitative, textual and visual analysis
• Undertake a substantial piece of research in the field of Cultural Heritage.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Demonstrate an ability to analyse concepts and ideas |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, seminars, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Essays, coursework, exams |
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Present well-developed arguments in written and oral form |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations Methods of Assessment Essays, reports, oral and poster Presentations, Tutorial assignments, Seminar assignments, exams |
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Select, design and execute a programme of primary research, including data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and communication |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Project design, dissertation and independent project Methods of Assessment Term essays, dissertations, individual projects, project reports |
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Display critical awareness of a range of key terms, concepts, approaches, techniques and debates in archaeological and palaeoecological method, theory and science |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Directed reading, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations Methods of Assessment Coursework assignments, class tests, exams |
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Critically evaluate, interpret and structure evidence whether from reports, academic literature, web-sourced content, or fieldwork |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Seminars, practical exercises, fieldwork exercises, oral and poster presentations and placements Methods of Assessment Project reports, social media and presentations |
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Formulate informed and evidence-based academic arguments based on results obtained during practicals, fieldwork and group and individual study |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Seminars, practical exercises, fieldwork exercises, and placements Methods of Assessment Project reports, social media and presentations |
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Plan, construct, and present the results of exercises in a coherent, balanced and logical format |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Seminars, practical exercises, fieldwork exercises, and placements Methods of Assessment Project reports, social media, and presentations |
Learning Outcomes: Transferable SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Use computer and information technology (such as internet and email use, word processing, spreadsheets, computer-based mapping, graphing and image processing) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Practicals, provision of online resources Methods of Assessment Practicals, field and lab reports, dissertation, individual project, essays, presentations |
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Access library/museum/archive and World Wide Web resources |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Introduction to library services in Induction week, training sessions in use of online resources, practicals Methods of Assessment Appropriate uses of resources expected in all continuous assessment |
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Undertake independent study, research and problem-solving |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Research Design training, one-to-one guidance on dissertation and independent project research Methods of Assessment Report and dissertation writing, essays, presentations, practicals |
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Participate in and reflect on collaborative group-/team-work |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, tutorials, seminars, practicals Methods of Assessment Practicals, oral and poster presentations |
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Time management |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Completion of practicals on time, oral presentations, coursework deadlines Methods of Assessment Practicals, oral presentations, all continuous assessments, dissertation and independent project |
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Team work |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Practical exercises, fieldwork, post-fieldwork exercises Methods of Assessment Project reports and presentations |
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Project Planning |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Practical exercises, fieldwork, post-fieldwork exercises and dissertation work Methods of Assessment Project reports, social media, and presentations |
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Ability to generate logical and structured arguments based on evidence |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Practical exercises, post-fieldwork exercises and dissertation work. Methods of Assessment Project reports, social media, and presentations |
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Effective oral presentations using visual aids |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Presentations Methods of Assessment Presentations |
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Coherent report writing and use of IT including graphic, cartographic and GIS software |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Practical exercises, post-fieldwork exercises Methods of Assessment Project reports and social media |
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & UnderstandingOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Display knowledge of the nature, relationships, context, development and contemporary practice of archaeology and/or palaeoecology as disciplines and as professions |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, field teaching, directed reading Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework, dissertation |
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Display knowledge and critical awareness of primary archaeological data and their archaeological contexts (including landscapes, sites and monuments, artefacts and ecofacts) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals, field teaching, supervised research, directed reading Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework, dissertation |
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Display knowledge and critical awareness of primary palaeoecological data and their relevance (including past landscape, ecosystem and climate reconstructions) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals, field teaching, supervised research, directed reading Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework, dissertation |
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Display knowledge, both comparative and specialised, of selected archaeological periods (prehistoric through contemporary), regions (Britain & Ireland, Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, Africa) and research themes (e.g. human evolution, the development of complex societies, cultural change through time and space, human-environment relationships) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, field teaching, directed reading Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework, dissertation |
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Display knowledge of a range of key terms, concepts, approaches, techniques and debates in archaeological and palaeoecological method, theory and science |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals, field teaching, supervised research, directed reading Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework, dissertation |
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Appreciate the legal policy and ethical frameworks for research and professional practice in archaeology |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, directed reading Methods of Assessment Coursework |
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Show an awareness of the wider public interest in archaeology and the public benefit of archaeology |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, seminars, field teaching Methods of Assessment Coursework |
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Show an awareness of the contribution of palaeoecological studies to current debates on climate and environmental change |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, seminars, field teaching Methods of Assessment Coursework |
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Understand the principles and methods by which various types of content are acquired and analysed |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork exercises and tutorials Methods of Assessment Project reports and presentations |
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Collate and interrogate data from primary and secondary sources and construct academic narratives in both oral and written formats |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Post-fieldwork practicals and presentations Methods of Assessment Project reports and presentations |
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Understand how to spatialise and visualise content |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Seminars, practicals and fieldwork Methods of Assessment Project reports, social media, and presentations |
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Undertake the development and implementation of an independent research project |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures and seminars Methods of Assessment Placement project, individual report and dissertation |
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Understand the importance of Health, Safety and Welfare issues associated with laboratory and fieldwork and responsibility for team members |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Seminars and fieldwork Methods of Assessment Project reports |
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Demonstrate understanding of the legal and ethical issues of working with cultural heritage artefacts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures and fieldwork Methods of Assessment Project reports and dissertation, including specific occasions when formative feedback is provided by external heritage professionals |
Learning Outcomes: Subject SpecificOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Demonstrate direct experience and competence in a range of core practical and interpretative skills, to an advanced level, involving the recording and analysis of archaeological and environmental evidence |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, practicals, supervised research Methods of Assessment Coursework, dissertation, lab and field notebooks |
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Conduct research on archaeological sites and monuments (e.g. SMR, library, archives) and/or environmental habitats (e.g. bogs, lakes) or data |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, practicals, field teaching, supervised research Methods of Assessment Coursework, dissertation, individual project |
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Demonstrate field skills (e.g. surveying, excavation, site sampling, coring, recording, safety) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, practicals, field teaching, supervised research Methods of Assessment Assessed fieldwork, practicals |
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Demonstrate an awareness of post-fieldwork processes (e.g. artefacts and materials research, human and animal bone research, illustration, sampling, data analysis, data presentation) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals Methods of Assessment Coursework |
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Develop a practical understanding of the use and significance of applying GIS and associated technologies as research tools in the surveying, recording, analysis and interpretation of cultural heritage |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, seminars and fieldwork Methods of Assessment Project reports, presentations, individual project |
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Develop expertise in site survey techniques and use of graphic and GIS software to present and communicate findings |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures and fieldwork Methods of Assessment Project reports, presentations, individual project |
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Understand and interpret the landscape context for cultural heritage artefacts and their role in reflecting the societal mores of the time |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, seminars, field classes and fieldwork Methods of Assessment Project reports, presentations, individual project |
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Assess the relevance and quality of a substantial range of literatures and primary and secondary information sources and apply this knowledge to the analysis of the issues facing the preservation and long-term resilience of cultural heritage artefacts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures and seminars Methods of Assessment Project reports, presentations, individual project |
MODULE INFORMATION
Programme Requirements
Module Title |
Module Code |
Level/ stage |
Credits |
Availability |
Duration |
Pre-requisite |
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Assessment |
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| S1 | S2 | Core | Option | Coursework % | Practical % | Examination % | ||||||
| Europe in Prehistory | GAP1008 | 1 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% | ||
| Barbarians, Vikings and Traders: The Archaeology of Historic Europe | GAP1010 | 1 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 30% | 30% | 40% | ||
| Ancient Humans and Landscapes | GAP1001 | 1 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 80% | 20% | 0% | ||
| Environmental Change: past, present and future | GAP1002 | 1 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 30% | 70% | 0% | ||
| Introduction To World Archaeology | GAP1013 | 1 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 50% | 50% | 0% | ||
| Archaeological Excavation | GAP1014 | 1 | 20 | YES | 16 weeks | N | YES | 75% | 25% | 0% | ||
| Archaeological Excavation | GAP2039 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 75% | 25% | 0% | ||
| Ireland in Prehistory | GAP2041 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 80% | 20% | 0% | ||
| Thinking through Things Theorizing Global Archaeology | GAP2043 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| From St Patrick to the Plantation: The Archaeology of Historic Ireland | GAP2045 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 60% | 0% | 40% | ||
| Rome: Ancient City, Modern Heritage | GAP2049 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% | ||
| Palaeoenvironmental Techniques | GAP2051 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Landscapes and Geographical Information (GIS) | GGY2002 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Maps and Mapping - From the Stone Age to the Digital Age | GGY2053 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Archaeology in Practice | GAP2057 | 2 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Archaeology/Palaeoecology Dissertation | GAP3056 | 3 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | |
| Independent Project | GAP3069 | 3 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | |
| The Archaeology of Human Evolution | GAP3072 | 3 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Volcanoes: environmental and societal impacts | GAP3080 | 3 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 80% | 20% | 0% | ||
| Palaeolithic Pioneers: Adaptation & Colonization in Global Perspective | GAP3082 | 3 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 55% | 45% | 0% | ||
| Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing as Decision Support | GGY3086 | 3 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Early Medieval Europe: archaeologies of kingship, religion, and society | GAP3085 | 3 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% | ||
| Human Osteoarchaeology: Life and Death in the Past | GAP3086 | 3 | 20 | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | 35% | 35% | 30% | ||
Notes