Archaeology and Heritage (Taught)

This degree explores approaches to archaeological heritage. You will consider questions like: what is the role, value and impact of archaeology in our broader society? How should archaeologists present and communicate the past to the public? How can they design archaeological projects to produce both new knowledge and real impact?

This part-time MA by distance learning provides you with an excellent and wide-ranging course of advanced study and is particularly suitable for those already engaged with archaeology and the heritage sector, or with shared professional interests. The course offers opportunities to build on existing skills and knowledge, while developing intellectual rigour. The course is structured thematically with each module building new skills and knowledge that can then be applied to material that sparks the student’s passion and builds their existing expertise and knowledge further through the assessments.

You will critically explore how archaeologists and heritage practitioners may engage with and interpret archaeological monuments, sites and landscapes for various audiences within ‘public archaeology’, engaging with a range of heritage discourses from Europe, North America, and beyond. The role and value of archaeology in society is critically examined, alongside its intersection with politics and ethics. How do we approach different kinds of archaeology? Why do we study the past? Why do we choose certain methods when we do this? Might there be other ways?

Students of this long-established and successful MA are commonly working within the heritage sector or related disciplines, while graduates from this course have gone on to work for English Heritage/Historic England, the National and State Parks Services, Parks Canada, and similar organisations, in addition to the private sector.