History, Heritage and Archaeology (Top-up)

This one-year BA (Hons) top-up course serves as an ideal progression opportunity for students who have completed the University of Plymouth Foundation degree (Level 5) in History, Heritage and Archaeology delivered at our Strode campus. Suitably qualified students with a background in history and/or heritage and/or archaeology are also eligible for a place on this programme. The programme is skills-based, with an emphasis on transferability and, therefore, provides foundations for students aspiring to develop their careers in heritage related work locally, nationally and internationally.

The module leaders are highly experienced teachers with professional and academic expertise, and have strong contacts with employers in the heritage industry, providing careers’ advice and opportunities for work-based and work-related learning. Formative advice is provided for all assessed assignments. Students are encouraged to maintain a personal development plan.

Teaching and learning are supported through:

• Lectures, where small class sizes allow question, answer and discussion
• Seminars
• Practical exercises in class and set as homework
• Fieldwork
• Group tutorials
• Personal and academic tutorials
• Guided reading in class and during self-study time
• Trips and visits to appropriate heritage locations
• Guest speakers with expertise in one or more related fields.

Our Strode campus in Street is very well placed as a higher education provider for people seeking a vocation in the areas of history, heritage and archaeology. It is close to major tourist areas such as Somerset’s coastline and Exmoor, much visited historic cities including Bath, Bristol, Wells and Salisbury, and ancient monuments including World Heritage Sites Stonehenge and Avebury. Street and the neighbouring town of Glastonbury one mile away are themselves centres with an exceptionally rich heritage and a vibrant tourist industry; Glastonbury Town Council are currently in the process of bidding for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Modules may include:

• Body and soul in peril: Medieval Europe c.1000-1435
• Building Heritage
• Archaeology and Landscapes
• Legendary Britain
• Dissertation.

Assessment is primarily through a range of coursework, comprising traditional set essay assignments, small research reports and a single larger piece of independent research, supplemented with presentations on a range of set topics.