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Undergraduate Programme Specification

BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography

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 BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Bachelor of Science
Programme Code ARP-BSC-JS UCAS Code VF48 HECoS Code 100299 - Archaeology - 33
100381 - Environmental sciences - 17
100409 - Geography - 50
ATAS Clearance Required No
Mode of Study Full Time or Part Time
Type of Programme Joint Honours Single Length of Programme Full Time - 3 Academic Year(s)
Part Time - 6 Academic Year(s)
Total Credits for Programme 360
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 6

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

No

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

On completion of the programme 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

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

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

Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information; and be familiar with appropriate means of identifying, finding, retrieving, sorting and exchanging information

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Coursework, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations

Methods of Assessment

Essays, dissertations, independent projects

Analyse concepts and ideas, and have the capacity to consider and solve problems, including complex problems to which there is no single solution

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 with clarity and fluency

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Coursework, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations

Methods of Assessment

Essays, reports, oral and poster presentations

Select, design and execute a programme of primary research, including data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and communication under time-managed conditions and within word limits

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Project design, dissertation and independent project

Methods of Assessment

Essays, dissertations, independent projects

Display critical awareness of a range of key terms, concepts, approaches, techniques and debates in archaeological method, theory and practice

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Directed reading, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations

Methods of Assessment

Coursework assignments, class tests, exams

Assess and appraise differing views on significant areas of academic debate

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Directed reading, tutorials, seminars, coursework

Methods of Assessment

Essays, coursework, dissertations, independent projects, exams

Exercise critical judgment on the basis of varied and problematic evidence and according to the persuasiveness of the arguments or the reliability of the evidence used

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Coursework, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations

Methods of Assessment

Essays, coursework, dissertations, independent projects, exams

Reflect on their own learning and seek and make use of constructive feedback

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Coursework, tutorials and seminars

Methods of Assessment

Essays, coursework

Recognise the importance of explicit referencing and the ethical requirements of study, which requires critical and reflective use of information and information technology in the learning process

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Coursework, tutorials and seminars

Methods of Assessment

Essays, coursework, dissertations, independent projects

Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information; and be familiar with appropriate means of identifying, finding, retrieving, sorting and exchanging information

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Coursework, tutorials, seminars, oral and poster presentations

Methods of Assessment

Essays, dissertations, independent projects

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

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

Use electronic media and information technology (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, computer-based mapping, graphing and image processing, GIS)

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Practicals, provision of online resources

Methods of Assessment

Critical review, essays, group and individual projects, oral and poster presentations, practical assignments, reports

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

Class tests, critical review, essays, exams, individual projects, oral and poster presentations, practical assignments, reports, seminar assignments

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

Class tests, critical review, essays, exams, field notebooks, individual projects, oral and poster presentations, practical assignments, reports, seminar assignments

Participate in and reflect on collaborative group-/team-work

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Fieldwork, tutorials, seminars, practicals

Methods of Assessment

Class test, group and individual projects, oral and poster presentations, practical assignments, reports, seminar assignments

Display time management

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Completion of practicals on time, oral presentations, coursework deadlines

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, critical review, essays, exams, group and individual projects, oral and poster presentations, practical assignments, reports

Show competence in field techniques

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Fieldwork

Methods of Assessment

Field notebooks, group and individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments, reports

Recognise moral and ethical issues

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, tutorials, supervised research

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, essays, exams, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments

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, palaeoecology and geography as disciplines and as professions

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, tutorials, seminars, field teaching, directed reading

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, essays, exam, individual projects, poster presentations, practical assignments

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

Class tests, essays, exam, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments, seminars

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

Class tests, essays, exam, practical assignments

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

Class tests, essays, exam, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments, seminars, assessed tutorials

Interpret environments and environmental change

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, practicals, seminars, directed reading

Methods of Assessment

Exams, field notebooks, group projects, oral and poster presentations, reports

Display knowledge of a range of key terms, concepts, approaches, techniques and debates in archaeological, palaeoecological and geographical method, theory and science

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals, field teaching, supervised research, directed reading

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, essays, exams, individual projects, oral and poster presentations, practical assignments, reports

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

Class tests, essays, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments

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

Essays, individual projects, oral presentations

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

Class tests, essays, exams, practical assignments

Understand and interpret contemporary geography

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, fieldwork

Methods of Assessment

Exams, field notebooks, group projects, oral and poster presentations, reports

Understand landforms, physical processes, landscape representation and interpretation within physical geography

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, fieldwork

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, group projects, oral and poster presentations, reports

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, environmental and geographical evidence

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, practicals, supervised research

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, essays, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments

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

Essays, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments, reports

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

Essays, group projects, individual projects, practical assignments, reports

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

Class tests, critical review, essays, individual projects, oral presentations, practical assignments, reports

Demonstrate spatial awareness (through fieldwork, maps, digital data and imagery)

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, workshops, fieldwork

Methods of Assessment

Field notebook, group projects, poster presentations, practical assignments, reports

Show an ability to represent geographical data (maps, GIS, remote sensing, statistics)

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Workshops, supervised research

Methods of Assessment

Class tests, essays, group and independent projects, poster presentations, practical assignments, reports

Module Information

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Physical Geography: Earth, Fire and Ice GGY1007 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
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%
Physical Geography: Earth, Wind and Water GGY1009 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 0% 50%
Human Geography: Society, Power and Culture GGY1011 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Human Geography: Society, Economy and Population GGY1012 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
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%
Geographical Research Skills GGY2055 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Contemporary Approaches to Geographical Enquiry GGY2056 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Geographies of Economic Restructuring and Social Change GGY2044 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 70% 30% 0%
Geomorphology GGY2052 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Cultural and Political Geography GGY2054 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%
Global Environmental Change GGY2058 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Geography and Employability GGY2059 2 0 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Remaking Cities: Comparative Research Project GGY2060 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Exploring Dynamic Environments (Mallorca) GGY2061 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 75% 25% 0%
Managing Environmental Issues (Belgium) GGY2062 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 60% 40% 0%
Space, Culture and Mobility (Malta) GGY2063 2 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 50% 0%
Sea-level change: past, present and future GGY3035 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 25% 0% 75%
Geoforensics GGY3049 3 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%
Geography Dissertation GGY3081 3 40 YES YES 24 weeks Y YES 100% 0% 0%
Geography At Work GGY3065 3 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 85% 15% 0%
Geography, Science and Society GGY3066 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Spaces of Urbanisation in Emerging Economies and Sustainable Development GGY3063 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 40% 0% 60%
Geographies of contested territories GGY3074 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Kingship and Religion in the First Millennium AD ARP3085 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 90% 10% 0%
Geographical Independent Research Essay GGY3083 3 20 YES YES 12 weeks Y YES 100% 0% 0%
Advanced Geographical Information Systems GGY3060 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Climate Change GGY3073 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Environmental Geopolitics GGY3084 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 60% 40% 0%
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%
Maps and Mappings GGY3090 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Special Subject ARP3091 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Environmental Catastrophes GGY3095 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 0% 50%

Notes

At each stage, students are required to take 60 credits worth of modules in Archaeology-Palaeoecology (ARP module codes) plus 60 credits worth of modules in Geography (GGY module codes) from the above list. 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 only available if ARP1014 was not taken at Stage 1 (e.g. to students transferring in from other programmes or institutions, needing to take this module to meet their CIfA/UAUK accreditation requirements), includes a four-week field excavation in June. Students are normally required to take either ARP2043 or GYY2055 (both may be taken). GGY2059 is a non-credit bearing module, does not count towards the 120 CATS-points-per-year requirement. Students are normally required to do either a dissertation or practice-oriented 40 CATS module at Stage 3 and will take either ARP3056, GGY3065 or GGY3081 to satisfy this requirement. 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 ArcPal dissertation module (ARP3056) under exceptional circumstances, as advised by supervisor; compulsory if ARP3056, GGY3065, GGY3081 or GGY3083 are not taken; not otherwise available. ARP3091 dependent on staff availability. GGY3083 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 Geography dissertation module (GGY3081) under exceptional circumstances, as advised by supervisor; compulsory if ARP3056, ARP3069, GGY3065 or GGY3081 are not taken; not otherwise available.