The Master of Maritime Archaeology is a 72-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Maritime Archaeology offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law. It articulates with the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Maritime Archaeology.

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 or Graduate Diploma in Maritime Archaeology, or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution, and have achieved a grade point average of 5.6 in this award, or
  • an approved Honours degree in Archaeology or a closely related discipline from an approved tertiary institution. 

Course aims

The course aims to meet the needs of graduates in archaeology and related disciplines who wish to specialise in maritime archaeology.

The course is designed to provide students with a sound theoretical and methodological grounding in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage management, an understanding and appreciation of the place and role of maritime archaeology in the interpretation of maritime sub-cultures as well as cultures in the wider context, and to allow students to understand the history of the practice of maritime and underwater archaeology.

Masters students will develop and implement the skills associated with successfully planning and conducting a focused research project and writing a research minor thesis.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, graduates will be able to:

  • demonstrate advanced knowledge of the history and practice of maritime and underwater archaeology
  • investigate, synthesise and analyse major issues in maritime archaeology and underwater culture heritage and conservation, and be able to apply this knowledge to a wide range of practical situations
  • understand the nature of underwater cultural heritage management practice and theory, and be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate it in a maritime archaeological context
  • reflect critically on their archaeological experience
  • understand the requirements of undertaking maritime archaeology fieldwork and employ a wide range of advanced technical and research skills on a maritime archaeology research project
  • communicate maritime archaeology and heritage issues appropriately to a range of audiences
  • undertake their work as independent professional archaeologists or cultural heritage managers in an ethical manner.

Credit

Students with significant prior studies in Maritime Archaeology may be granted up to 36 units of credit.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Maritime 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:

  • 18 units of Maritime Archaeology Thesis topics
  • 9 units of Core topics
  • 45 units of Option topics as approved by the coordinator of the Graduate Program in Maritime Archaeology

Core - Thesis topics

Select 18 units from the following 

 ARCH9101  Maritime Archaeology Thesis (18 units) 
 ARCH9101A  Maritime Archaeology Thesis (9 of 18 units) 
 ARCH9101B  Maritime Archaeology Thesis (9 of 18 units)  

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

9 units comprising

 ARCH8152  Maritime Archaeological Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8157  Methods in Underwater Archaeology  (4.5 units)

Option- Year 1 & 2 topics

Select 45 units as a program of study approved by the coordinator of the Graduate Program in Maritime Archaeology from:

 ARCH8150  Maritime Archaeology in Australia  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8151  History, Theory and Issues in Maritime and Underwater Archaeology GE  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8153  The Archaeology of Submerged Landscapes (4.5 units)
 ARCH8154  Underwater Cultural Heritage: Legislation, Management and Interpretation  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8155  The Archaeology of Seafaring  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8156  Advanced Maritime Archaeology Fieldwork Practicum  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8158  Ships: Research, Recording and Reconstruction  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8159  Maritime Archaeology Fieldwork Practicum  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8160   Ships and Seafaring in the Indian Ocean GE  (4.5 units)

Up to 13.5 units can be chosen from the following non-Maritime Archaeology electives:

 ARCH8015   Research Funding and Ethics in Archaeology and Heritage  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8020  Research Methods in Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8021  Introduction to Professional Archaeology (4.5 units)
 ARCH8309A   Advanced Research Projects (4.5 units)
 ARCH8401   Historical Artefact Analysis  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8402  The Museum  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8404  Directed Study in Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8410  Archaeology of Indigenous Australia  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8518  Cultural Heritage Practicum OR  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8518A  Cultural Heritage Practicum (9.0 units)
 ARCH8801  Archaeological Field Methods  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8802  Conservation Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH8808  Introductory Archaeological Geophysics  (4.5 units)

or any other topic approved by the coordinator of the Graduate Program in Maritime Archaeology.