Archaeology (Taught)

This Masters will enable you to develop your own holistic approach to the challenges of contemporary archaeological research and practice. The programme combines conceptual learning with independent research and project-based work. A key strength of this programme is its flexibility, which allows you to create a portfolio of courses based on your individual needs and interests.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• The University can facilitate work placements and internships with organisations such as Historic Environment Scotland, the National Trust and the Hunterian Museum.

• Our collaboration with SUERC, a premier scientific dating facility, supports interested students developing their skills in the archaeological sciences.

• Our staff are engaged in a variety of innovative research projects (both in Scotland and abroad) and actively involve students in such projects.

• Interested students are supported to develop their skills in the use and creation of digital collections and archives.

• The programme came 4th in the UK in the 2019 National Student Survey, with a 100 per cent student satisfaction score.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

This programme allows you to follow a pre-composed theme such as Landscape Archaeology, Digital Archaeology, or Celtic and Viking Archaeology or create your own flexible degree programme by selecting from optional courses across Archaeology and related programmes. This structure encourages interdisciplinary work integrated with core training in Archaeological theory and methods, including training in archaeological sciences, and supports practice-based learning through Archaeology’s placement scheme and courses.

Teaching will be delivered through field trips, the Archaeology research seminar series, and through courses in which you develop written work, practice-based and practical assignments and oral presentations. An independent research project in the form of a dissertation, undertaken in the second semester, is an integral part of the programme.

Core Courses
RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
ARCHAEOLOGY DISSERTATION

All students participate in the ‘Research and Professional Skills’ course. Students should select five options from the range of courses offered in Archaeology and related subjects in agreement with the MSc Programme convenor.

Optional Courses
EXPERIENCING LANDSCAPE AND HERITAGE
REMOTE SENSING FOR HUMAN ECOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
DIGITAL PASTS: INTERACTIVE MEDIA AND GAMES FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERITAGE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGITAL IMAGING
MEDITERRANEAN LANDSCAPES
FEASTING LIKE THE ANCIENTS: AN INTER-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO EARLY FOOD AND DRINK
BRITISH BATTLEFIELDS: ANALYSIS AND CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
MODERN WARFARE: 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY WARFARE
THE ART OF WAR: CONCEPTS AND THEORIES
METHOD AND PRACTICE IN CONFLICT HERITAGE
APPROACHING THE ANCIENT WORLD THROUGH TEXT
APPROACHING THE ANCIENT WORLD THROUGH MATERIAL CULTURE
CLOTH AND CLOTHING
LANDSCAPE AND POWER IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EAST MEDITERRANEAN PGT
PEOPLE IN A CHANGING WORLD: ARCHAEOLOGY, CLIMATES AND ENVIRONMENT
VIKING AND LATE NORSE ARTEFACTS (AD 750-1350)
THEMES IN EARLY MEDIEVAL SCOTTISH ARCHAEOLOGY
MEDIEVAL IRELAND, 800-1100: SOURCES AND DEBATES
LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGIES
MATERIAL CULTURE IN CONTEXT
PAST IMPERFECT, PRESENT TENSE: A PRACTICAL HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE PAST PGT

Courses at the Masters level in Archaeology draw upon the particular interests and expertise of the contributing staff and therefore the options available may vary slightly depending on staff availability and subject to a minimum number of students. Please contact us to confirm likely availability of courses in any given year.