ObjectivesIn addition to subject-specific content and approaches, this Masters degree teaches and develops a wealth of transferable skills, and thus enables students to keep open a very wide range of career options. Recent graduates have gone on to PhDs in Archaeology, to working in Museums and Archaeological Units, to teaching, to contract researching, or to work in local or central government, commerce or industry.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements: A First or Upper Second Class Honours degree, or the overseas equivalent.
Academic titleArchaeology: Archaeology of Identity MA
Course descriptionCourse description
This Pathway covers theoretical, political and ethical issues involved in the study of identity, including personhood, ethnicity, nationalism, religion, gender and sexuality. The study of identity is now recognized as a very important area of archaeological enquiry, which has been the focus of a variety of exciting and challenging developments over the last decade. This taught postgraduate course draws on the internationally recognized expertise of Dr Eleanor Casella, Dr Melanie Giles, Prof Tim Insoll, Dr Siân Jones, and Dr Maria Kostoglou.The course aims to provide students with a solid grounding in the main debates and interpretive approaches surrounding the study of identity, both within archaeology and from interdisciplinary perspectives. Theoretical, political and ethical issues will be explored in relation to detailed case studies ranging from the Upper Palaeolithic to the present day and from Britain and Europe to as far afield as Africa, Australia and North America. Intellectual and academic skills are also developed to enable successful students to undertake independent research on some aspect of the archaeology of identity.We recommend this MA to those who have an interest in this aspect of archaeology in and of itself, and to those considering further research (PhD) in this or a related area.
Module details
Research training is an important part of the MA programme. There are two components:
-SAGE (Skills Awareness for Graduate Education): This course addresses broad research skills and trains students in areas such as formulating research questions, developing analytical strategies, and critical use of sources. Students also undertake a skills audit to identify specific training needs and relevant training courses.
-Research skills in Archaeology: theory, interpretation, practice: This course delivers essential intellectual and cognitive skills relevant to archaeology. Particular emphasis is placed on the interrelationships between theory, interpretation and practice within the history of the discipline, as well as connections between archaeology and other disciplines (such as anthropology, art history, geography, literary theory, sociology). At the end of the course there is a 'student conference', which forms part of the assessment in conjunction with a work folder encouraging self-reflection with respect to modes of learning and research.
Option course units for the Identities MA include:
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-Archaeology of Ethnicity and Nationalism
-Archaeology of Gender
-The Archaeology of Religions
-People, Place and Power: Northern Europe, Britain and Ireland in the First Millennium BC
-The Archaeology of Artefacts
-One optional course may be taken from other MA pathways in Archaeology, or other MA programmes within or outside of the School upon special application if the student can demonstrate its relevance to his/her research interests.
(course units are subject to change according to the commitments of individual staff).