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The Master of Archaeology is a 72-unit coursework program offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law. The course may be taken over four semesters full-time or the equivalent part-time.
The Master of Archaeology articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Archaeology and the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Archaeology.
Students may choose to exit from The Master of Archaeology with the Graduate Certificate in Archaeology or Graduate Diploma in Archaeology, provided that they have met the requirements for these degrees.
Admission requirements
Applicants must normally hold:
- an approved bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in Archaeology or a related discipline from an approved tertiary institution and have achieved a grade point average of 5.6 in the upper level topics in the major sequence in Archaeology or a closely related discipline, or
- a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution in one of the following disciplines and have achieved a grade point average of 5.6 in this award: Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Management, Maritime Archaeology or a closely related discipline, or
- an approved Honours degree in Archaeology or a closely related discipline from an approved tertiary institution.
Under exceptional circumstances and subject to specific conditions, the Faculty Board may admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
Course aims
The course aims to meet the research and professional needs of graduates with an interest in Australian archaeology and Archaeological Field practice.
It aims to increase the theoretical knowledge, research skills and applied skills required to develop appropriate depth of understanding of issues in a number of related specialisations in archaeology and to provide students with the opportunity to complete a substantial research project.
The course draws on both theoretical and practical material and provides the opportunity for students to apply both the principles and the practical skills developed during the course.
Learning outcomes
Upon graduating successfully, students will be equipped to:
- enter the workforce as skilled and knowledgeable professional archaeologists
- understand the requirements of undertaking Archaeological Fieldwork and be able to employ a wide range of advanced fieldwork methods and techniques on any archaeological research project
- understand major issues in Australian archaeology, conservation and Archaeological Field methods and practice and be able to apply this knowledge to a wide range of practical situations
- undertake large-scale archaeological research or consultancy projects
- undertake their work as professional archaeologists in an ethical manner.
Credit
Students who have successfully completed the requirements of the Graduate Certificate in Archaeology, on admission to The Masters degree, receive 18 units of specified credit towards the course. Students who have successfully completed the requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Archaeology, on admission to The Masters degree, receive 36 units of specified credit towards the course. Students who have successfully completed the requirements of an approved Honours degree in Archaeology or a closely related discipline may be eligible to receive up to 36 units of credit on admission to the course.
Unspecified credit may, under certain circumstances, and subject to specific conditions, be granted for candidates who show relevant and extensive experience.
Program of study
To qualify for The Master of Archaeology, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.
Students undertake 27 units of core topics and 45 units of option topics of which at least 31.5 units must be chosen from Group A topics.
Core - Year 1 & 2 topics
27 units comprising
ARCH8020 Research Methods in Archaeology (4.5 units)
ARCH8309A Advanced Research Projects (4.5 units)
plus 18 units from the following
ARCH8506 Archaeology Thesis (18 units)
ARCH8506A Archaeology Thesis (9 units)
ARCH8506B Archaeology Thesis (9 units)
plus 45 units of option topics. At least 31.5 units must be chosen from Group A topics.
Option - Group A topics
ARCH8018 Introduction to Cultural Heritage Management (4.5 units)
ARCH8150 Maritime Archaeology in Australia (4.5 units)
ARCH8151 Coastal and Underwater Archaeology (4.5 units)
ARCH8152 Maritime Archaeological Field School (4.5 units)
ARCH8401 Historical Artefact Analysis (4.5 units)
ARCH8402 The Museum (4.5 units)
ARCH8404 Directed Study in Archaeology (4.5 units)
ARCH8405 The Archaeology of Australian Stone Artefacts (4.5 units)
ARCH8407 The Archaeology of Art (4.5 units)
ARCH8408 Human Osteology (4.5 units)
ARCH8409 Issues in Australian Rock Art (4.5 units)
ARCH8410 Archaeology of Indigenous Australia (4.5 units)
ARCH8518 Cultural Heritage Practicum (4.5 units) OR
ARCH8518A Cultural Heritage Practicum (9 units)
ARCH8801 Archaeological Field Methods (4.5 units)
ARCH8802 Conservation Field School (4.5 units)
ARCH8803 Indigenous Australian Archaeology Field School A (4.5 units)
ARCH8804 Ethnoarchaeology in Aboriginal Australia Field School A (4.5 units)
ARCH8805 Australian Rock Art Field School A (4.5 units)
ARCH8806 Historical Archaeology Field School (4.5 units)
ARCH8807 Advanced Archaeology Field School (4.5 units)
ARCH8808 Introductory Archaeological Geophysics (4.5 units)
ARCH8809 Indigenous Australian Archaeology Field School B (4.5 units)
ARCH8810 Ethnoarchaeology in Aboriginal Australia Field School B (4.5 units)
ARCH8811 Australian Rock Art Field School B (4.5 units)
Option - Group B topics
ARCH8015 Grants and Sponsorship Proposals (4.5 units)
ARCH8017 Cultural Heritage and the Law (4.5 units)
ARCH8021 Introduction to Professional Archaeology (4.5 units)
BIOL8703 Vertebrate Palaeontology GE (4.5 units)
ENVS7711 Environmental Management (4.5 units)
ENVS8711 Australian Environmental Change GE (4.5 units)
ENVS8732 Environmental Impact Assessment GE (4.5 units)
ENVS8741 Managing Environments GE (4.5 units)
ENVS9701 Sustainable Environmental Management (4.5 units)
ENVS9702 Urban Environmental Management (4.5 units)
ENVS9712 Environmental Policy Development/Analysis (4.5 units)
GEOG8700 Geographical Information Systems GE (4.5 units)
GEOG8701 Introduction to Remote Sensing GE (4.5 units)
GEOG8731 GIS Modelling GE (4.5 units)
TOUR8115 Essentials of Interpretation (4.5 units)
TOUR8118 Destination Image and Tourism (4.5 units)