Programme Specification
A statement of the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin a
taught programme of study leading to an award from
The University of Sheffield
1
Programme Title
Archaeology of the Classical Mediterranean
2
Programme Code
AAPT001
3
JACS Code
V400
4
Level of Study
Postgraduate
5a
Final Qualification
Master of Arts (MA)
5b
QAA FHEQ Level
7
6a
Intermediate Qualification(s)
Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip), Postgraduate Certificate (PG
Cert)
6b
QAA FHEQ Level
7
7
Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield)
Not applicable
8
Faculty
Arts & Humanities
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Department
Archaeology
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Other Departments involved in
teaching the programme
None
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Mode(s) of Attendance
Full-time, Part-time
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Duration of the Programme
1 year Full-time, 2 years Part-time
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Accrediting Professional or Statutory
Body
Not applicable
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Date of production/revision
January 2015
15. Background to the programme and subject area
The Department of Archaeology, housed in its own buildings close to both the University and the city, is a centre
of excellence for teaching and research (http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/index.html). It is in the top ten
archaeology departments in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, rated excellent in the QAA review of
teaching, and is one of the largest single departments of archaeology in the UK with 19 academic posts and
many post-doctoral research fellows and assistants.
The Greco-Roman civilisations of the Mediterranean have attracted widespread scholarly and popular interest,
both for the wealth of their cultural achievements (artistic, literary, architectural, scientific, political and so on)
and for the central role of the latter in shaping the development of modern European society. This programme
harnesses the methods and approaches of modern archaeology to examine Greco-Roman society in its
ecological, economic and cultural context. Core modules draw on landscape archaeology and regional survey to
explore the physical and cultural landscapes, systems of land use and patterns of settlement of Greco-Roman
society; harness archaeomaterials and bioarchaeological research to enrich understanding of the much debated
‘ancient economy’; and examine the cultural confrontations of Greece and Rome with each other and with the
societies of the Black Sea, temperate Europe and the rest of the Mediterranean. Optional modules offer the
opportunity to explore in more detail Classical Athens, Roman Italy and its hinterland, the Bronze Age Aegean,
Linear B and Mycenaean Greek, or the Homeric epics, in addition to specialist modules in various aspects of
archaeological method and theory. The programme is suitable for students with a background in classics,
ancient history or classical studies who wish to harness archaeology to their study of this field, to those with a
background in archaeology who wish to apply their training to the classical world, and to students from other
relevant disciplines who wish to research the archaeology of the classical or pre-classical Mediterranean.
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16. Programme aims
The programme aims to introduce students to:
1. The changing cultural landscapes of the Mediterranean, focussing on the interplay between long-term
physical constraints and medium-term shifts in settlement distribution, population density, social
hierarchy and economic integration in shaping patterns of land use;
2. The relationship between changing patterns of land tenure and land use in mobilisation of the
agricultural surplus that supported urban populations and elite consumption;
3. The potential of archaeological science (archaeomaterials and bioarchaeological analyses) to shed light
on such aspects of the ‘ancient economy’ as human life expectancy and physical well-being, human
mobility, agricultural and industrial production and specialisation, and exchange and consumption of
material goods;
4. The complementary potential of archaeological, textual and iconographic sources for classical antiquity
and the need for critical examination of the differing ‘formation processes’ and biases inherent to each
source;
5. The nature and consequences of cultural interaction (trade, colonisation, imperial expansion) between
Greece and Rome and between these societies and their near and more distant neighbours, and the
impact of this on social and economic change and on the material cultural expression of identities;
6. The archaeology of selected aspects of the classical or pre-classical Mediterranean or particular
aspects of archaeological method and theory.
These aims match the university’s commitment to provide innovative, research-led teaching and the Department
of Archaeology’s long and distinctive tradition in providing a broad understanding of human diversity and in
drawing to this end on an integration of the best in ‘humanities’ and ‘scientific’ archaeology. At a time when
study of classical antiquity is resurgent, this MA will provide students with a distinctive combination of skills that
will give them a competitive edge in research, teaching and the media.
17. Programme learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
Graduates of this programme should understand:
K1
The changing nature of Mediterranean cultural landscapes and the factors that shape these changes.
K2
The relationship between changing land tenure, land use and mobilisation of surplus.
K3
The potential of archaeological science to shed light on the ‘ancient economy’.
K4
The complementary potential of archaeological, textual and iconographic sources and the need for critical
examination of their differing ‘formation processes’ and biases.
K5
The nature and consequences of cultural interaction between Greece, Rome and their neighbours, and
the impact of this on social and economic change and the material expression of identities.
K6
The archaeology of selected aspects of the classical or pre-classical Mediterranean or particular aspects
of archaeological method and theory.
Skills and other attributes:
Graduates of this programme should have the ability:
S1
To evaluate critically complex ideas and datasets.
S2
To apply diverse datasets productively and effectively to the resolution of selected research questions.
S3
To set out their ideas and arguments clearly and effectively in writing.
S4
To make clear oral presentations of their research.
S5
To work individually and as a member of a team.
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18. Teaching, learning and assessment
Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning
methods:
K1-6: lectures, student-led seminars and individual or group tutorials.
S1-2: lectures, student-led seminars and individual or group tutorials.
S3: individual or group tutorials.
S4-5: student-led seminars.
Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the following
assessment methods:
K1-6: coursework essays and smaller assignments and, as appropriate, the MA dissertation.
S1-3: coursework essays and smaller assignments and, especially, the MA dissertation.
S4-5: oral presentations embedded in the dissertation preparation module (AAP641) and some other taught
modules.
19. Reference points
The learning outcomes have been developed to reflect the following points of reference:
Subject Benchmark Statements
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQuality/subject-guidance/Pages/Subject-benchmarkstatements.aspx
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (2008)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/The-framework-for-higher-educationqualifications-in-England-Wales-and-Northern-Ireland.aspx
University Strategic Plan
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/strategicplan
Learning and Teaching Strategy (2011-16)
http://www.shef.ac.uk/lets/strategy/lts11_16
Department of Archaeology Teaching and Learning Strategy
20. Programme structure and regulations
The full programme of study leading to the Masters degree comprises taught modules to the value of 120 credits
(split evenly between Autumn and Spring semesters), along with a research dissertation (60 credits) completed
over the summer. In each semester, two modules (30 credits) are ‘core’ and two (30 credits) are selected from
a range of options. At the end of each semester, assessment is conducted and marks and guidance given to
students. Students who only complete the first semester of coursework are eligible for award of the
Postgraduate Certificate in Archaeology of the Classical Mediterranean and those who only complete the first
and second semesters of coursework are eligible for the Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology of the Classical
Mediterranean. Both the Diploma and Masters awards can also be made ‘with distinction’ or ‘with merit’ for
exceptional or good performance, respectively, on the programmes.
Detailed information about the structure of programmes, regulations concerning assessment and progression
and descriptions of individual modules are published in the University Calendar available on-line at
http://www.shef.ac.uk/govern/calendar/regs.html.
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21. Student development over the course of study
Core taught modules are distributed between semesters with a view to the progressive academic development
of students: in the Autumn semester, AAP6068 Greeks, Romans and Others provides a wide-ranging
introduction to classical society and culture, while AAP6074 Mediterranean Landscapes inter alia provides a
valuable foundation for the Spring semester core module AAP6081 Rethinking the Ancient Economy. The
second Spring semester core module, AAP641 Research Design enables students to plan their dissertation
project, with repeated feedback from a range of academic staff and fellow students. The programme culminates
in the MA dissertation, researched and written up over summer, in which students’ brings together the
knowledge and skills acquired during taught modules.
22. Criteria for admission to the programme
Detailed information regarding admission to programmes is available at
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/archaeology/postgraduate_taught
23. Additional information
This specification represents a concise statement about the main features of the programme and should be
considered alongside other sources of information provided by the teaching department(s) and the University. In
addition to programme specific information, further information about studying at The University of Sheffield can
be accessed via our Student Services web site at http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssid.
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