Course Catalogue

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This course offers students on the MSc Material Culture & Artefact Studies programme the opportunity to develop their research and professional skills on an internal university-based project or with an external partner organisation (arranged by student). Working to an initial brief designed by students in collaboration with supervisory staff or with a partner organisation, students will undertake independent research and critically reflect on the development of the project output.

2-hour tutorial as scheduled on MyCampus.

Individual supervision meetings will be arranged with all students totalling 7 hours.

Students are normally expected to undertake the equivalent of 2 days of applied professional activities a week for 10 weeks between May and August, as agreed between student, supervisor, and/or a partner organisation (where applicable).

Standard entry to Masters at College Level.

ARCH5007P - Archaeology Dissertation

None

Project Output (e.g. catalogue, database, report/journal article, exhibition, digital output, public engagement activity) 60%

3000-5000 word critical reflection 40%

This course aims to:

■ Provide students with the opportunity to undertake extensive, detailed research on aspects of professional material culture/heritage practice

■ Enable students to develop and test their independent ideas based on experiences from their taught courses;

■ Develop students' abilities in writing research based reports;

■ Enhance opportunities to co-design research objectives, identify appropriate methods, conduct and report on material culture and artefact analysis with in a variety of settings;

■ Offer students opportunities to develop professional practice, to explore potential future career paths and to begin to establish a profile within the profession.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Conduct, analyse and present research appropriately and effectively;

■ Think critically and analytically;

■ Integrate learning and practice from their taught courses with their own ideas;

■ Work to a project brief in a professional and timely manner;

■ Work collaboratively with different academic partners to identify research priorities and approaches to material culture collections and assemblages;

■ Conduct and report on the results of research in ways that enhance the value of the studied material.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.