Archaeology HDip in Arts

Program Overview

The Diploma in Archaeology from UCC is a one-year full-time program designed for non-archaeology graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in archaeology or transfer to an undergraduate archaeology degree.

This conversion course offers a comprehensive study of Irish prehistory, medieval, and post-medieval archaeology through courses and field excursions, providing essential knowledge and skills for further academic advancement in the field of archaeology.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This course is designed for non-archaeology graduates who have a degree and would like to transfer their studies to the discipline of archaeology. It is also aimed at those currently employed in some branch of archaeology, who wish to obtain an academic qualification in the subject out of interest, or in order to change career. The Diploma is also designed for those who require a conversion course to apply for postgraduate studies in archaeology at UCC, such as a one-year MA course or the MPhil/PhD research degree. The course is suitable for international students who wish to study Archaeology in Ireland.

Outline:

This is a full-time course over one academic year during which you will take modules in archaeology to the equivalent of 60 credits. The course is made up of modules from the second and third-year courses in the undergraduate BA degree. This means you will be able to take courses across Irish prehistory, the medieval and post-medieval period, and a range of methods, ranging from bioarchaeology and osteoarchaeology to palaeo-environmental archaeology, palynology and wetland archaeology. You are required to take core modules to a value of 20 credits. You will choose the remaining 40 credits in consultation with the course coordinator, taking into account timetable constraints and the suitability of course combinations. Students with little previous knowledge of archaeology may also audit all or part of the first-year archaeology course.

Assessment:

The course will be assessed by a combination of formal, end-of-year examinations and continuous assessment of essays, projects, and field trip participation.

Teaching:

Staff in the department are internationally recognised experts in their respective areas and teaching is informed by their own research. Frequent field trips to museums and field monuments also form part of various modules, introducing you to the range of archaeological sites in the Irish landscape.

Careers:

The Diploma is a conversion course that will allow graduates in other disciplines to study archaeology. It is designed for those who require a conversion course to apply for postgraduate studies in archaeology in UCC, such as the one-year MA course or the MPhil/PhD research degree. Completion of the Higher Diploma course does not guarantee a place on a postgraduate course. You are required to achieve a mark of 60% in the final diploma award to be eligible for postgraduate studies in archaeology.

Other:

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over two years. Teaching is delivered in person in classrooms, labs and through fieldwork. Field trips take place on weekends. You will have an average of six hours of lectures per week, with up to four one-day field excursions over the year.