Archaeology & Palaeoecology and Geography

This course offers a Joint Honours degree programme examining the human past and the diverse environments human societies inhabit. The combined disciplines of Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography progressively develop general and specific knowledge and skills, through the examination of a broad range of archaeological, environmental and geographical evidence, via excavation, overseas fieldtrips and practical work. The course will provide you with an opportunity to pursue your interests in any time period and across different environmental and geographical settings, including hands-on experience in working with archaeological material and undertaking fieldwork. This is a very versatile degree which opens the door to a wide range of career options, including careers in teaching, commercial archaeology, museums, heritage management and many more, both within and beyond the heritage and environmental sectors.

World Class facilities
Students benefit from access to the internationally renowned 14CHRONO Centre for Radiocarbon Dating, the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, departmental collections and laboratories for study of artefacts, human, animal and plant remains and other scientific materials and instruments, including access to GIS, laser scanning and specialist teaching laboratories. The University’s McClay Library holds one of the most comprehensive collections of resources on Irish, British, European and World Archaeology in Ireland and the UK, and provides state-of-the-art study facilities. The McClay Library also holds a wide collection of resources for the study of Palaeoecology, Physical and Human Geography.

Professional accreditation
This course includes a module pathway that is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK). Students on that pathway can become student members of CIfA, providing you with access to their e-learning modules, specialist professional networks and details of jobs in the profession. All students on this degree programme also automatically gain student membership with the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, giving you access to further professional development resources and information of relevant job vacancies in the island of Ireland.

Degree supplements and study-abroad
Students enrolled on this course have the opportunity to undertake an optional additional year of study, which can either be spent studying abroad at one of Queen’s international partner institutions or on a UK or international work placement. Depending on the chosen option, students availing of the optional additional year will gain one of the following degree supplements: ‘BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography with International Study’, ‘BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography with Placement’, or ‘BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography with International Placement’.

The modules available on this course focus on different periods of World, European and Irish/British archaeology, from human origins to modern times and heritage, as well as covering different contemporary approaches to geographical enquiry and allowing students to develop both their theoretical background knowledge and their practical skills in equal measure. The modules also cover archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and other earth-science techniques, cultural and political geography, population studies, environmental and climate change, and the use of Geographical Information Systems.

The way in which students are assessed in this course is designed to support the learning outcomes of the programme and of each specific module. A broad range of formative and summative assessment methods is used. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework, including essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, reflective journals, and exams.