Anthropology and Archaeology

Program Overview

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The Joint Honours Undergraduate Programme in Anthropology and Archaeology equips students with expertise in both disciplines, fostering a deep understanding of human diversity, cultural adaptations, archaeological evidence, and historical development. Through a blend of core modules and optional courses, students develop critical thinking, research, and communication skills, preparing them for diverse career options in heritage management, research, education, and other sectors. The program also provides a solid foundation for further academic study at the postgraduate level.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Joint Honours Undergraduate Programme in Anthropology and Archaeology (BA)

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Overview:

This mutually enriching Joint Honours programme equips students with training in Anthropology and Archaeology. The programme allows students to delve into each discipline's unique body of knowledge, subject matter, and research skills. By offering a blend of both subjects, they gain a deep understanding of human diversity, cultural adaptations, archaeological evidence, and historical development.

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Objectives:

• Equip students with expertise in anthropological and archaeological theories, methodologies, and key concepts.
• Develop critical thinking, data analysis, research, and communication skills.
• Foster understanding of human diversity, cultural and social practices, material culture, and historical context.
• Prepare students for diverse career options in heritage management, research, education, public policy, and other sectors.
• Develop a deeper understanding of the human experience across time and space.
• Encourage students to engage critically with contemporary challenges and social issues from anthropological and archaeological perspectives.

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Outline:

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Structure:

• This is a three-year, full-time course.
• Each year is divided into two 12-week semesters with a summer vacation between academic years.
• The curriculum combines core modules from both disciplines with optional modules allowing students to explore specific areas of interest.

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Course Schedule:

Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Introduction to World Archaeology:
Explores the scope and methods of archaeological inquiry and examines key archaeological discoveries across the globe.
• Being Human: Culture and Society: Introduces students to social anthropology, key concepts in the discipline, and various aspects of social life across different cultures.
• Optional Modules (choose at least one):
• Themes in Historical Archaeology:
Focuses on the use of material evidence to understand societies from the birth of Christ to the present day.
• Environmental Change: past, present and future: Introduces principles and techniques to reconstruct past environments and detect environmental change, using a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Europe in Prehistory: Examines the later prehistory of Europe, from the beginnings of settled farming society in the Near East to the European Iron Age and the dawn of historic times.
• Archaeological Excavation: Provides practical experience in excavation, recording stratigraphy and features, understanding the reasons and methods involved.
• Ancient Humans and Landscapes: Explores the evolution of hominins in changing global environments, from primate origins to the beginning of settled societies.
• Us And them: Why do we have ingroups and outgroups?

• 'Understanding Northern Ireland: History, Politics and Anthropology': Takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding key issues relating to Northern Ireland's history, politics, and cultural expressions.
• A World on the Move:Historical and Anthropological Approaches to Globalization: Investigates globalization's impact on people's everyday lives in different cultural settings across the historical record, with a comparative analysis of ethnographic studies of sound, text, and image.
• Being Creative: Music Media and the Arts: Analyzes performative genres in various cultures, including musical activities and rituals, language-based forms of expression, and visual and material expression in art, objects, and film documentation.
Year 2:
• Core Modules:
• Thinking through Things Theorizing Global Archaeology:
Introduces students to the range of archaeological thought and methodologies through critical engagement with key thinkers and texts.
• Key Debates in Anthropology: Examines the theme of culture from an anthropological perspective, focusing on theoretical perspectives of social and cultural anthropology and their applications to diverse ethnographic materials.
• Optional Modules (choose at least two):
• Ireland in Prehistory:
Surveys the archaeology of Ireland from c. 8000 BC to the coming of Christianity using archaeological evidence to trace the cultural development of Ireland’s first colonists and their ritual structures.
• Skills in the Field: Ethnographic methods: Provides training for conducting anthropological research, focusing on field methods, data gathering, ethical considerations, and risk assessment.
• Apocalypse: Cultures, communities, and the end of the world: Examines millennial movements and beliefs across diverse cultures and historical events, exploring theoretical approaches to understanding their significance and potential impacts.
• Anthropology of Media: Analyzes the relationship between media, visual cultures, and digital anthropology, drawing on ethnographic films, museum displays, and digital/social media.
• From St Patrick to the Plantation: The Archaeology of Historic Ireland: Investigates Ireland's medieval period through the study of physical remains of the past, exploring early Christian crafts and settlements, the impact of the Vikings, and the arrival of the Normans.
• Palaeoenvironmental Techniques: Introduces various techniques and proxies used to reconstruct past environments, providing practical experience in coring, stratigraphic recording, proxy identification, and sample preparation.
• The Archaeology of Islands (Residential Fieldtrip Module): Offers a unique opportunity to explore the archaeology of islands through a combination of lectures, field visits, guest lectures, and directed learning seminars, culminating in a residential fieldtrip to Malta.
• The Northern Ireland Conflict and paths to peace : Analyzes the Northern Ireland conflict, the peace process, and the challenges and opportunities for the region's future from various disciplinary perspectives, including history, anthropology, and politics.
• Hanging out on Street Corners: Public and applied Anthropology : Introduces students to qualitative, ethnographic methodologies, creative methods, and the applied use of ethnographic methods in policy analysis and social sciences.
• Human Morality: Investigates various aspects of human morality, drawing from anthropology and psychology, including the nature of moral judgments, their cultural variations, and their influence on political attitudes and ideologies.
• Archaeology in Practice: Provides hands-on experience with core archaeological skills in a professional context, including fieldwalking, survey techniques, artefact analysis, and data management, using a combination of lectures, fieldtrips, practical sessions, and independent project work.
Year 3:
• Core Modules:
• Dissertation in Archaeology/Palaeoecology or Anthropology (depending on chosen specialization)
• Optional Modules (choose at least one):
• The Politics of Performance: From Negotiation to Display : Analyzes multi-sensorial aspects of performance in diverse cultural contexts, exploring their political implications in protest, art, and public displays.
• In Gods We Trust: The New Anthropology of Religion : Examines religion as a natural phenomenon using scientific advancements to understand religious belief and practice, focusing on evolutionary and cognitive scientific approaches and their interface with traditional theories.
• Remembering the Future: Violent Pasts, Loss, and the Politics of Hope : Explores the role of memory in conflict and post-conflict contexts using social theory and ethnographic case studies to investigate how contested pasts and losses influence social, political, and cultural expressions in the pursuit of a peaceful future.
• Music, Power and Conflict : Investigates the intersections between music, power, and conflict in various historical and contemporary contexts through diverse case studies, exploring its role in protest, identity formation, and social justice movements.
• Independent Project (Optional, only for visiting students or under exceptional circumstances)

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Assessment:

This program uses various assessment methods to evaluate students' understanding and skills development in Anthropology and Archaeology. These include:

• Coursework assignments (e.g., essays, research papers, reports, case studies, field notes)
• Examinations (both multiple-choice and written formats depending on the module)
• Practical exercises and activities in field, laboratory, or museum settings
• Presentations (individual or group)
• Participation in class discussions and group work
• Dissertation research and writing

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Teaching:

The Anthropology and Archaeology program utilizes a combination of teaching methods to engage students and facilitate their learning and development. These methods include:

• Lectures
• Seminars/tutorials
• Fieldwork and practical sessions
• Workshops
• Independent study
• Group discussions and collaborative projects
• Individual consultations with faculty members
The course structure incorporates regular feedback from students through various mechanisms, including feedback forms, assignment and examination assessments, tutorial discussions, and open communication with instructors. The faculty consists of experienced researchers and scholars with expertise in various thematic areas and methodological approaches in Anthropology and Archaeology. The program encourages students to actively participate in research opportunities available within the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, which allows them to gain hands-on experience, present their findings at conferences, and further develop their research skills under supervision. The program also fosters a sense of community and intellectual curiosity among students by creating opportunities for interaction through dedicated student spaces, organized events, and a vibrant student society.

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Careers:

Graduates of this program equip themselves with valuable skills that are desirable to various potential employers and sectors. The program offers a diverse range of career pathways, depending on the specific interests and aspirations of individual students. Some potential career areas include:

• Museums, galleries, and heritage management
• Research institutions and consultancy firms in archaeology, anthropology, or related fields
• Education (e.g., teaching various social science subjects at different levels)
• Government agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in cultural, environmental, or social development initiatives
• Public sector organizations working on policy issues related to cultural diversity, heritage preservation, or community development
• International agencies and organizations focused on global challenges like development, human rights, or migration
• Freelance research and consultancy, working independently or with organizations on project-specific research or expertise
• Media and communications roles, focusing on cultural storytelling, documentaries, or research communication
The program also provides a solid foundation for further academic study at the postgraduate level, leading to specialized master's or Ph.D. programs in specific areas within Anthropology, Archaeology, or related disciplines.

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Other:

This program offers an exciting opportunity for students seeking to delve into the complexities of human experiences across diverse cultures and time scales. By integrating perspectives from both Anthropology and Archaeology, this program allows graduates to develop a unique interdisciplinary understanding of the human past, present, and future. The program actively engages students in its dynamic research culture, providing opportunities to participate in research projects, access cutting-edge technologies and resources, and experience a vibrant intellectual atmosphere.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £4,750 Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £4,750 England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £9,250 EU Other 3 £20,800 International £20,800