Archaeology, BSc (Hons) Degree Course

Program Overview

The UCLan Archaeology BSc (Hons) program equips students with sought-after transferable skills in critical analysis, communication, and teamwork through a multidisciplinary curriculum. Accredited by CIfA and UAUK, the program provides hands-on learning with fieldwork and placements, preparing graduates for careers in archaeology, museums, or academia. The program boasts excellent facilities and an experienced faculty, offering a highly ranked program that combines theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Archaeology, BSc (Hons) Degree Course at UCLan is a multidisciplinary practical degree that provides students with sought-after transferable skills, including critical analysis, communication, and teamwork. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in archaeology, museums, or academia.

Outline:

The program is delivered over three years and includes a combination of lectures, tutorials, fieldwork, and placements.

Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• The Archaeology of Britain: Introduces students to the archaeology of the British Isles, from the Palaeolithic to the Industrial Revolution.
• History of Archaeological Thought: Explores the development of archaeology as an interpretive discipline, highlighting key theoretical shifts and influential figures.
• Bones, Bodies and Burial: Examines the archaeology and anthropology of death through case studies, analyzing both biological and social data.
• Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Introduces students to the basic principles and methods of social and cultural anthropology, covering the history of the discipline, anthropological methods, and the study of modern society.
• Field Archaeology 1: Provides students with core skills in field archaeology and academic archaeological study, including technical skills for fieldwork and group work.

Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Thinking about the past: Archaeological Theory: Explores different ways of interpreting the archaeological record and demonstrates how archaeological theory works in practice.
• Field Archaeology 2: Develops students' knowledge and skills for archaeological research projects in a team setting.
• Themes in British Archaeology 1: Examines key issues and themes in British archaeological research, including chronology, current debates, and recent developments.
• Archaeological Materials: Introduces students to the use of material from archaeological excavations to investigate past and present societies.
• Optional Modules:
• Forensic Anthropology: Explores archaeological and forensic aspects of human remains recovery, covering human anatomy, skeletal biology, and identification of physical characteristics.
• Hunter-gatherers: Past and Present: Examines key issues in hunter-gatherer research, exploring the variety and diversity of hunter-gatherer existence in both past and present societies.
• Geomatics: Develops students' skills in field research, computer analysis, and data interpretation, covering geophysical survey techniques and topographic survey.
• Archaeology and Anthropology of Animals: Introduces students to the fundamentals of archaeology and anthropology in the study of animals, including animal remains and human interaction with animals.
• The Archaeology of Death and the Dead Body: Provides students with an understanding of mortuary archaeology, focusing on encounters with death and the dead body.
• World Archaeology and Art: Explores the study of art in the archaeological record, examining rock-art, portable art, body art, graffiti, and technology.

Year 3:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Dissertation: Develops students' independent research skills, culminating in a primary research project.
• Field Archaeology 3: Builds on prior knowledge of archaeological fieldwork, providing students with the skills to contribute to commercial or research excavations without direct supervision.
• Themes in British Archaeology 2: Examines issues in British archaeology, developing students' understanding of the field and its recent developments.
• Optional Modules:
• Hunter-gatherers: Past and Present: Examines key issues in hunter-gatherer research, exploring the variety and diversity of hunter-gatherer existence in both past and present societies.
• Introduction to Professional Practice: Studies working practices, techniques, and philosophies underpinning modern commercial archaeological practice, building fieldwork skills and creating competent professional archaeologists.
• Geomatics: Develops students' skills in field research, computer analysis, and data interpretation, covering geophysical survey techniques and topographic survey.
• Archaeology and Anthropology of Animals: Introduces students to the fundamentals of archaeology and anthropology in the study of animals, including animal remains and human interaction with animals.
• The Archaeology of Death and the Dead Body: Provides students with an understanding of mortuary archaeology, focusing on encounters with death and the dead body.
• World Archaeology and Art: Explores the study of art in the archaeological record, examining rock-art, portable art, body art, graffiti, and technology.
• Applied Forensic Anthropology: Taphonomy and Human Remains Recovery: Builds on knowledge of human skeletal anatomy, introducing key forensic aspects of the mechanical properties of bone and post-mortem bone modification.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Client reports
• Radio broadcasts
• Articles
• Essay and real-world report writing
• Presentations
• Video blogs
• Lab books
• Independent study
The program emphasizes hands-on learning, with students spending at least eight weeks on placement, working on real excavations and helping to do cutting-edge research.

Careers:

Graduates of the Archaeology, BSc (Hons) Degree Course at UCLan are well-prepared for a variety of careers in archaeology, museums, and academia. Some graduates work for contracting archaeological organizations, while others work in museums or pursue research degrees. The program also provides students with transferable skills that are valuable in other fields, such as teaching, research companies, and other areas.

Other:

• The program is based in the School of Law and Policing.
• The program has links with a number of local and national archaeological organizations, including Oxford Archaeology, Cotswold Archaeology, WSP, Lancashire County Council Environment Directorate, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Museum of London Archaeology, West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, Council of British Archaeology, and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.
• Students have the option to progress onto an MSci (Hons) Archaeology degree after completing three years of full-time study.
• The program is one of only seven universities in the UK to be accredited by the CIfA.
• The program offers state-of-the-art facilities, including an on-campus training excavation site, archaeological science lab, soil flotation unit, dedicated human bone labs, 3D scanners, and cutting-edge excavation equipment.
• The program is highly ranked in the UK, with top rankings for teaching, overall positivity, student satisfaction, and student experience.

2024/25UKFull-time£9,250 per yearPart-time£1,540 per 20 creditsInternationalFull-time£16,500 per year