Special Topic in Archaeology 2

Code

CLAR4012

School

Classics and Archaeology

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

This module aims to provide MRes students with concentrated and specialised tuition on a topic tailored to meet their research interests and specialisation.

Target Students

Only available to Level 4 MRes Archaeology or MRes Archaeological Science students in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, students on the four-year Archaeology pathway of the MSci Natural Sciences (Level 4), or to subsidiary and exchange Level 4 students with appropriate knowledge of archaeology or archaeological science.

Classes

• One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks

1 x 2-hour lecture per week; 1 x 1-hour seminar, workshop or lab session per week, or as instructed by the seminar leader.

Assessment

• 100% Coursework: 5,000 words (essay or project or lab report)

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:

By the end of the module, students should have a solid grasp of the history of research and its latest state in a specialised area of archaeology. They will have considered the recovery, analysis and interpretation of archaeological remains, and the use of such evidence in current archaeological debates. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed by one 5,000-word project, in which the student should aim to achieve the level of a professional research paper. This will lay the foundations in terms of knowledge and understanding for anyone proposing to pursue doctoral research. 
 

Intellectual Skills:

This module requires that students formulate and support written arguments relating to methodological and theoretical debates in advanced archaeological research. Seminars with assigned reading will provide an opportunity for students to express their views and take part in debate.

Professional or Practical Skills:

students will develop the skill of evaluating the reliability and plausibility of interpretation in research papers, and be encouraged to produce fresh insight and original ideas. They will improve their ability to present coherent, thoroughly researched and persuasive argument at specialist level.

Transferable (Key) Skills:

Students will further develop their ability to navigate complex and controversial issues, both verbally and in written form.

Conveners

• Dr Chrysanthi Gallou