BSc in Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography

This course offers a Joint Honours degree programme examining the human past and the diverse environments human societies inhabit, from a scientific perspective, including the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in working with archaeological material and undertaking fieldwork.

Archaeology explores a wide range of evidence that documents the human past – from artefacts, monuments and settlements to entire landscapes – and from these interprets how societies have adapted and developed. Modules focus on different periods of World, European and Irish/British archaeology, from human origins to modern times and heritage. Queen's University Belfast is one of the best places to study Archaeology in the UK, scoring third place for student experience in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 and, once again, first place for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2022.

Palaeoecology studies environmental evidence to assess the impact of natural events and human activities on landscapes, climate and changing environments. Modules examine themes such as ancient environments, evolution, economics and climate change.

Geography embraces the study of human societies and their environment in the present and the more recent past and, like Archaeology and Palaeoecology, is one of the few subjects in which human and physical aspects of the environment are integrated.

The combined disciplines progressively develop general and specific knowledge and skills, through excavation, fieldwork, overseas field trips, laboratory and practical work. A wide range of career options are available to our graduates including careers in commercial archaeology, survey, heritage management and many more, both within and beyond the heritage sector.

As well as the Joint Honours BSc in Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography, Queen's offers Single Honours degrees in Archaeology (BA) and Archaeology-Palaeoecology (BSc) along with other degree programmes which combine Archaeology (the study of past human activities) with other subjects (Languages and History). All of those Single Honours and Joint Honours degrees offer a module pathway that is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK).

Course Structure

Introduction

All students normally take six courses per stage (a stage equals one academic year of full-time study), each covering a distinct theme. Single Honours students normally take at least five Archaeology/Palaeoecology courses. Students on Joint Honours degree programmes normally take three Archaeology/Palaeoecology courses, in addition to three courses from their second subject.

Students enrolled on this programme have the opportunity to undertake an optional additional year of study, either between Stages 2 and 3 or after completing Stage 3, spent studying abroad or on a workplace placement.

Stage 1

Themes covered in Stage 1 include an introduction to world archaeology, environmental change as well as principles and processes of physical geography.

Stage 1 Optional Courses

Optional courses at Stage 1 explore, amongst other themes, European prehistory, human geography, the relationship between past human societies and their natural environments as well as historical archaeology in a global context.

Stage 2

At Stage 2, students explore in more detail the themes introduced at Stage 1 and develop both their theoretical background knowledge and their practical skills. In particular, Stage 2 courses provide competencies and concepts necessary for the dissertation that is normally taken at Stage 3, and for future employment in Archaeology, Palaeoecology and Geography, as well as in a wide range of other fields.

Stage 2 Optional Courses

Optional courses at Stage 2 focus on the archaeology of Ireland and other specific geographical areas, on contemporary approaches to geographical enquiry, archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and other earth-science techniques, cultural and political geography, and the use of Geographical Information Systems.

Stage 3

At Stage 3, students dedicate a substantial part of their time to their chosen dissertation project, drawn from any of the disciplines underpinning this degree programme, and building on the knowledge and skills they have acquired through Stages 1 and 2.

Stage 3 Optional Courses

Students at Stage 3 have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of optional courses focusing on specialist themes, ranging in time from the evolution of early humans to the Middle Ages, and covering fields as diverse as geoforensics, population studies, urbanisation, ritual and religion, prehistoric monuments, climate change and advanced GIS skills.

Supplement – Optional Additional Year

Students enrolled on this programme have the opportunity to undertake an optional additional year of study, either between Stages 2 and 3 or after completing Stage 3. The additional year can be spent studying abroad at one of our international partner universities or on a UK or international workplace placement. Depending on the chosen option, the degree title awarded will then be ‘BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography with International Study’, ‘BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography with Placement’, or ‘BSc Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography with International Placement’.

Duration

3 years (Full Time)/6 years (Part Time)

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