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Undergraduate Programme Specification

MSci Archaeology

Academic Year 2021/22

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 processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title MSci Archaeology Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Master in Science
Programme Code ARL-MSCI UCAS Code V403 HECoS Code 100299 - Archaeology - 75
100381 - Environmental sciences - 25
ATAS Clearance Required No
Mode of Study Part Time or Full Time
Type of Programme Undergraduate Master Length of Programme Part Time - 8 Academic Year(s)
Full Time - 4 Academic Year(s)
Total Credits for Programme 480
Exit Awards available

Institute Information

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Natural and Built Environment

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

Archaeology (2014)

Accreditations (PSRB)

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 27-08-20

Regulation Information

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None

Programme Specific Regulations

Unless exempted by the Head of School on the basis of prior learning or exceptional personal/medical circumstances, students will be required to complete a minimum four-week teaching excavation in order to obtain practical fieldwork experience relevant to the discipline.

Students with protected characteristics

No barriers to access or progression. Physical disability may be a barrier to certain students (e.g. wheelchair users) from participating in some fieldwork activities. The School of Natural and Built Environment works with placement providers and partner institutions to ensure that students with disabilities are able to complete fieldwork and placement requirements.

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 BSc Archaeology and Palaeoecology programme. On completion of these three years the student will be able to:

* demonstrate an appreciation of past and present human and physical environments, and their relevance for understanding current social, economic, political and environment concerns

* show sound knowledge and understanding of the scope and key intellectual issues within the disciplines of archaeology, palaeoecology and geography, 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 archaeology from prehistory to the present, including an understanding of the global scope of the discipline and specialist knowledge of selected regions

* show awareness of past environmental change, particularly with respect to understanding and contextualising past cultural change and the role of palaeoecological research for informing our understanding of current climate and environmental change issues

* demonstrate awareness of the wide scope of geographical enquiry, including methodologies for data collection and analysis, interpretation, contextualisation and representation

* display an appreciation of the character and role of heritage 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

* Stage 4 of the extended undergraduate (MSci) programme in Archaeology responds to the need for trained professionals in the sector expressed in the broadest of terms. On the completion of the programme the students will be able to:

* demonstrate specialist knowledge and an understanding of geospatial techniques and other techniques relevant to the heritage and museum sectors;

* display critical, reflexive thinking and appreciation of the philosophies that underpin analysis, interpretation and conservation;

* demonstrate research skills as preparation for doctoral research in a range of disciplines in the humanities and heritage sciences;

* apply skills in qualitative, quantitative, textual and visual analysis;

* undertake a substantial piece of research in different sub-fields of Archaeology.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Demonstrate an ability to analyse concepts and ideas

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, seminars, tutorials, supervised research

Methods of Assessment

Essays, coursework, exams

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

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

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

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

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

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 Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

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

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

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

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

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

Team work

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Practical exercises, fieldwork, post-fieldwork exercises

Methods of Assessment

Project reports and presentations

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

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

Effective oral presentations using visual aids

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Presentations

Methods of Assessment

Presentations

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 & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Europe in Prehistory ARP1008 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Themes in Historical Archaeology ARP1010 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 30% 30% 40%
Ancient Humans and Landscapes ARP1006 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 80% 0% 20%
Environmental Change: past, present and future ARP1007 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 30% 20%
Introduction To World Archaeology ARP1013 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 75% 0% 25%
Archaeological Excavation ARP1014 1 20 YES 16 weeks N YES 75% 0% 25%
Archaeological Excavation ARP2039 2 20 YES 16 weeks N YES 75% 0% 25%
Ireland in Prehistory ARP2041 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 40% 40% 20%
Thinking through Things Theorizing Global Archaeology ARP2043 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 90% 10% 0%
From St Patrick to the Plantation: The Archaeology of Historic Ireland ARP2045 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%
Palaeoenvironmental Techniques ARP2051 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%
Archaeology in Practice ARP2057 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
The Archaeology of Islands (Residential Fieldtrip Module) ARP2058 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Archaeology/Palaeoecology Dissertation ARP3056 3 40 YES YES 24 weeks Y YES 100% 0% 0%
Society, Death and Disease ARP3053 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 0% 70% 30%
Independent Project ARP3069 3 20 YES YES 12 weeks Y YES 100% 0% 0%
Kingship and Religion in the First Millennium AD ARP3085 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 90% 10% 0%
Advanced Geographical Information Systems GGY3060 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Human-Environment Dynamics in the Holocene ARP3086 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 30% 30% 40%
Human Evolution and Innovation through Prehistory ARP3087 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 45% 0% 55%
Domestic, Symbolic and Funerary Monuments in Prehistoric Europe ARP3088 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 40% 35% 25%
Critical Thinking ARP3089 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 50% 0%
Special Subject ARP3091 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Irish Archaeology in a Global Context ARP4202 4 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 50% 0%
Workplace Internship ARP4306 4 20 YES YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Applied Project ARP4507 4 20 YES YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Community Archaeology ARP4510 4 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 75% 0% 25%
Research Theory and Practice ARP4041 4 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 60% 40% 0%
Current Debates in Prehistoric Archaeology ARP4511 4 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 40% 60% 0%
Advanced Excavation ARP4520 4 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Professional Practice ARP4521 4 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%

Notes

At each stage, students are required to take 120 credits worth of modules from the above list. Exceptionally, 20 credits worth of modules per stage may be taken from modules other than those listed above, i.e. from modules outside the programme. In addition to a total of 120 credits worth of credit-bearing modules at Stage 1, students on this programme are also required to take the non-credit-bearing module ARP1101 ‘Study Skills for Archaeology’. ARP1014 includes a four-week field excavation in June between Stages 1 and 2. ARP2039 is compulsory if ARP1014 was not taken at Stage 1 (normally only available to students transferring in from other programmes or institutions), includes a four-week field excavation in June. ARP3069 is not a standard option but is provided: (i) to accommodate visiting students at Stage 3 and (ii) to provide an alternative to the double-weighted dissertation module (ARP3056) under exceptional circumstances, as advised by supervisor; compulsory if ARP3056 is not taken; not otherwise available. ARP3091 dependent on staff availability. ARP4306 cannot be taken together with ARP4521. ARP4520 includes a four-week field excavation in June between Stages 3 and 4.