PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Classical Archaeology and Classical Civilisation
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
BA
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
VQ48
(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
_classical_archaeology
(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:
The Institute of Archaeology aims to provide education of the highest quality in all major aspects of archaeology, in
a challenging yet supportive environment, under the supervision of teachers actively engaged in research at the
forefront of the field.
The BA in Classical Archaeology and Classical Civilisation aims:
1. To develop students' understanding of the past cultures and societies of ancient Greece, Rome and the early
Mediterranean within their political, economic, historical and environmental contexts.
2. To provide training in the method and theory of archaeological practice, a basic knowledge of at least one
ancient language, and critical approaches to the interpretation of ancient literary and historical texts and ancient art.
3. To help students to develop their knowledge, critical thinking, analytical abilities, and their interpersonal,
communications and decision-making skills.
4. To equip graduates with a range of generic and transferable practical skills.
5. To provide a solid grounding for graduate students going on to further education in Classical archaeology.
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:
1. The culture history of Greek and
Roman societies, within the broader
comparative-anthropological framework
of the development of past human
societies.
2. A range of archaeological, textual and
art-historical materials and how they can
be used to construct an understanding of
the societies of classical antiquity.
3. A range of subject-specific skills,
including varied methods (archaeological,
art-historical, literary, historical) of data
recovery, analysis and interpretation.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Through lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work,
field work and museum visits. Students take courses in
Greek or Latin language in their first years, and have the
option to develop language skills in years 2 and 3. Year
1 students take core courses in the culture history of
Greece and Rome, an overview of archaeology,
multidisciplinary approaches to archaeology, a course in
archaeological field-methods and techniques.
Year 2 and 3 students take core courses in Greek
and Roman art and architecture, archaeological method
and theory, research and presentation skills in
archaeology. They select options from courses in Greek
and Roman archaeology, and courses in classical
history/languages/literature/philosophy.
Year 3 students present a portfolio of fieldwork, a
report on their field study-tour and a research topic for
their dissertation.
Year 2-3 students select a variety of optional courses,
within the framework of their requirements in classical
archaeology and civilisation, as well as having the
opportunity to select relevant comparative or skill-based
options from within the fields of archaeology, classics
and art history.
Assessment:
Through a range of methods, including essays and other
coursework (e.g. laboratory reports, language tests),
seen and unseen written examinations, practical tests,
fieldwork portfolio, 3rd year dissertation and peer
assessment (formative rather than summative) of oral
presentations
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All courses require regular written work, either essays,
2. Develop analytical and interpretational
reviews, or reports. Regular and detailed feedback is
skills.
provided to students on this work. Students take
3. Presentation of logical, structured and
courses in data interpretation and research and
supported arguments.
presentation skills, including project design, and the
4. Linguistic skills.
application of appropriate methods to the analysis of
5. Skills in visual analysis.
archaeological and art historical data. The 3rd year
6. Statistical and numerical skills.
project further develops most or all of these skills.
Assessment:
Through structured essays and other coursework (e.g.
project design, in some cases laboratory reports,
language tests), seen and unseen written examinations,
practical tests, field study-tour report, fieldwork portfolio,
and the 3rd year dissertation.
C: Skills and other attributes
1. Develop critical thinking.
Practical skills (able to):
1. Undertake a range of modes of cultural
analysis relevant to classical archaeology
(language based analysis, iconography, style
analysis).
2. Practical archaeological fieldwork skills
(excavation, surveying, recording)
2. Use a range of basic computer
applications, including data-analysis and
spread sheets.
3. Search out, and organise effectively,
information from a wide variety of sources
(printed and electronic).
4.Communicate effectively, both in writing
and orally.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Through language classes, object handling sessions and
museum-based classes; through practical fieldwork
training courses and participation in archaeological
projects during fieldwork requirement; by researching
for essays and other assignments, through oral
presentations in classes, and by undertaking research
project in the 3rd year and producing a 10,000 word
dissertation on the research.
Assessment:
Fieldwork portfolio, field study-tour and report, practical
examinations and tests, assessed essays, the 3rd 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 and art-historical 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.
Assessment:
Assessed essays, individual project work, dissertation,
field work portfolio. 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)
Professor Jeremy Tanner
Name(s):
Date of Production:
November 27, 2006
Date of Review:
October 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
October 2015
October 2015