Politics and Archaeology

The BA (Hons) Politics and Archaeology joint degree focuses on the different political structures and ideologies across the world and how they shape our lives, with exploration of a range of archaeological skills such as: fieldwork, surveying and post-excavation, mapped to the current occupational standards for archaeology.

Joint honours programmes give you the opportunity to combine two subjects which complement your interests or career goals. You will usually concentrate on both subjects equally.

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 Perth study location.

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Ideas and ideologies in politics

• Introduction to archaeology: approaches and methods

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

• Conflict and the balance of power in Europe, 1789-1945

• The evolving politics of the British Isles

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 option modules from our range of humanities and social science subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Being an archaeologist in Scotland

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 politics option modules, which may include:

• Comparative politics

• History of political ideas

• Qualitative research methods

You will also choose two further option modules from our range of humanities and social science subjects.

Year 3 - BA

You will choose at least two politics option modules, which may include:

• Challenging liberal democracy

• Devolution, federalism and territorial politics

• European politics

• Wars of the promised land

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 archaeology OR politics. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject.

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

Politics option modules may include:

• Democratising Europe

• Geopolitics: territory, security and strategy

• Political theory

• Terrorism and unconventional warfare

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.