Sustainable Development and Archaeology

The world is facing the prospect of a climate emergency, with decision-makers grappling with how to understand and respond to the pressures on our environment and society. BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Archaeology presents you with situations from local to global and from past to present. Inevitable changes to our immediate future will impact on every facet of society, culture and the economy: this is a critical moment to study sustainability.

On this course, you will learn the facts about climate change, explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and consider potential and emerging solutions such as the Green New Deals, the concept of ‘degrowth’ and the transition to wellbeing economies. By looking at long-term perspectives, you will explore how past cultures have adapted to changing climates, successfully and otherwise, and you will be ideally placed to influence or become one of the decision-makers guiding the future of our society.

The degree also focuses on how communities can shape more sustainable forms of development, particularly in rural settings. Most of the teaching team are located in the Western Isles or Northern Isles, where communities are leading the way in community-based development, land reform, community empowerment and community energy projects, which can all contribute to this more sustainable future.

To develop a critical understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, economic), you can study modules drawn from a range of social science and humanities disciplines, including geography, economics, politics, sociology, and environmental studies, as well as developing practical skills in fieldwork, research and working with communities. The modules take a critical approach to examining the historical context to development, whilst looking firmly to the future, drawing examples of change in action from around the globe.

Delivered entirely online and available to study from anywhere in the world, you will benefit from collaborative discussions and activities with colleagues from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, facilitated by tutors with many years of experience in delivering online education.

Please see our FAQ sheet on our website for further information on this course.

Please note this course is delivered entirely online and available to study from anywhere in the world. Applicants outwith Scotland including International, should apply to the UHI North, West and Hebrides study location.

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Exploring economics in a changing world

• Introduction to archaeology: approaches and methods

• Understanding sustainable development

You will also choose one archaeology option module, which may include:

• Introduction to science in archaeology

• Prehistoric Europe: Neanderthals to the Iron Age

• Reading the landscape through time

• World archaeology: politics and perspectives

You will also choose two further option modules from other humanities and social science subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Approaches to economic development

• Being an archaeologist in Scotland

• Empowering communities

You will also choose one archaeology option module, which may include:

• Digital heritage

• Excavation skills

• Reading the landscape through time

• Wetland archaeology

You will also choose two further option modules from across the Humanities subject area, which includes our optional international field trip module, 'Sustainable development approaches in an international context'.

Year 3 - BA

You will choose at least two sustainable development option modules which may include:

• Climate science

• Community-based economic development

• Globalisation and sustainable development

• Sustainable tourism and the environment

You will also choose at least two archaeology option modules which may include:

• Archaeology placement

• Historical archaeology of the Highlands and Islands

• Practical skills for environmental archaeology

• Prehistory of the Highlands and Islands

PLUS

• Advanced social research methods OR

• Archaeological project

You will choose one further module from one of your two subject areas to ensure that you have a total of three modules from each half of your degree.

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in sustainable development OR archaeology. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject.

Sustainable development option modules may include:

• Agroecology: regenerative food systems

• Consumerism and the circular economy

• Geo-political development issues

• Social enterprise and the social economy

Archaeology option modules may include:

• Biomolecular archaeology

• Iron Age Scotland c 800 BC – AD 800

• Landscape archaeology

• People, plants and animals

• Sustainability past and future

• Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.

For more information on what you’ll study on your degree, as well as our range of other degree options, please explore our Humanities subject area page on our website.