PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Archaeology and Anthropology
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
BA
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
FL46
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
from session 2013-14 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Social and Historical Sciences
Parent Department:
Archaeology
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/
3 years
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
Level 6
Archaeology
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/S
ubject-benchmark-statement-Archaeology.aspx
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/studying/undergraduate/degrees/ba
_archaeology_anthropology
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Archaeology
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
NA
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
Develop a synthetic and interdisciplinary understanding of current issues in the study of human societies, as well as
a broad familiarity with the diversity and complexity of human cultures past and present;
Provide students with opportunities to develop a wide range of transferable skills, both intellectual and practical,
which will be valuable across a range of career choices;
Produce graduate students with a level of training in archaeology and anthropology that will permit them to
advance to an MA/MSc level degree in either subject, and to progress ultimately to doctoral research in either field.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Past and present societies and their
development; archaeological and
anthropological methods and theories;
the modern social and political contexts
of archaeological and anthropological
practice
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Develop critical thinking, analytical and
interpretive skills; presentation of logical,
structured and supported arguments;
statistical and numerical analytical skills
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Lectures, seminars, laboratory work, fieldwork, museum
visits, structured reading. Year 1 students take core
courses that include an overview of archaeology, the
culture history and development of past societies around
the world, archaeological field methods, social
anthropology, material culture studies and biological
anthropology. Year 2 students take core courses on
theoretical perspectives in social anthropology and
material culture, research and presentation skills and,
archaeological theory. Year 3 students present a
portfolio of fieldwork, debate the relevance of
archaeology and anthropology in the world, and
research a topic for their dissertation. Year 2 & 3
students also select courses from a wide range of
options.
Assessment:
Essays, laboratory reports, seen and unseen written
examinations, practical tests, applied fieldwork portfolio,
final year dissertation and peer assessment of oral
presentations (formative rather than summative)
B: Skills and other attributes
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Regular written work for all courses (whether essays,
reviews or reports; regular and detailed feedback is
provided to students on all work submitted; students
take courses in data interpretation and research and
presentation skills (including project design, statistical
methods and their application to particular data sets).
The final year dissertation and applied portfolios further
develop a representative range of these skills
Assessment:
Structured essays and reports (e.g. on project design of
laboratory work), seen and unseen written
examinations, practical tests, applied portfolio, final year
dissertation
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Undertake both field and laboratory
procedures related to archaeology and
anthropology; use a range of basic
computer applications including data
analysis and spread sheets; search out
and organize effectively information from
a wide variety of sources (printed and
electronic); communicate effectively in
writing and orally
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Organising and undertaking the mandatory 70 days
fieldwork requirement, laboratory classes and computerbased teaching, researching essays and other
assignments, oral presentations in class, producing a
10,000 word dissertation on a research topic with
appropriate supervision
Assessment: Applied portfolio, laboratory reports,
practical examinations and tests, assessed essays, 3 rd
year dissertation, peer assessment (formative) of oral
presentations
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1. Organise, analyse, present and
interpret complex data.
2. Access information from a diverse
range of sources.
3. Use computers and have other
transferable practical skills
4. Communicate ideas in writing and
orally.
5. Work independently and to deadlines.
6. Collaborate and work as a member of
a team.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Compulsory courses in the interpretation of
archaeological data and research and presentation skills
(with individual and group project work); supervised 3rd
year research project; compulsory field work
requirement; oral presentations in classes; classes in
computing and computing applications; laboratory
classes.
Assessment: Assessed essays, individual project work,
dissertation, field work portfolio, laboratory reports.
Formative peer-group assessment of group project work
through oral presentations.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s) Name(s):
Professor David Wengrow
Date of Production:
September 11th, 2007
Date of Review:
October 2015
Date approved by Chair of Departmental
Teaching Committee:
Date approved by Faculty Teaching
Committee
October 2015
October 2015