Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year
MSc Bioarchaeology (Zooarchaeology)
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Bioarchaeology (Zooarchaeology) | Programme code | PTS1GAEGAE11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time Part Time |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
Bioarchaeology is an exciting and fast-advancing field, which combines archaeology with branches of the natural sciences to study health, diet, death, mobility, ecology, subsistence strategies and environmental impacts.
Our MSc in Bioarchaeology: Zooarchaeology aims to provide you with a broad understanding of these issues through the study of faunal remains.
The programme develops advanced practical skills in these areas, making use of the Department’s well-provisioned specialist laboratories and reference collections. We have leading specialists in all these fields of study and a particular strength of our provision is that we are able to address the bioarchaeology of both the New and Old Worlds. Those completing the programme acquire the skills necessary to continue into academic research or employment as a faunal remains specialist in field units, museums or CRM companies.
Advice and guidance on your programme can be sought from your personal tutor and programme director. All staff offer regular office hours that you can drop into without a prior appointment for this purpose.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
- This programme provides you with advanced grounding in the main themes and methods of Bioarchaeology. It will develop your competence in the subject-specific and research skills required in Bioarchaeology through extended engagement with primary data. You will also acquire advanced competence in core academic, personal and key skills, providing a basis for career progression in the academic world and beyond. The programme provides training for doctoral research or a specialist career. You will be encouraged to become productive, useful and questioning members of society.
- You will be exposed to a variety of teaching and assessment methods within an appropriate learning environment, supported by feedback and monitoring. You will be given an opportunity to develop self-study skills through a piece of individual research.
- We seek to educate you in stimulating ways so as to develop intellectual skills for life and employment in the contemporary world, and provide a sound appreciation of Bioarchaeology.
- Most of the formal classes that you will attend will be based on a mixture of lectures, seminars, and laboratory based work. The precise mix will vary between modules. These aim to outline the principal issues of the module, to explore some detailed issues, and, where relevant, to give students experience of working with a particular technique or data set.
- All members of staff are engaged in research, both in Britain and abroad, and regularly attend conferences, symposia and workshops. It is through this active engagement in the discipline that we are able to supply top quality teaching by experts in their field and as a result we have a 24/24 grading for our teaching from the Quality Assurance Agency.
- In addition to our established palaeobotany, experimental archaeology, and microscopy laboratories, we have a specialist bioarchaeology lab dedicated to the study of anatomical variation, palaeopathological conditions, and the funerary context of human and animal remains. The laboratory, accompanied by a designated store for the Department’s collection of human remains, provides facilities for use by researchers and students for examining skeletal remains recovered from archaeological sites.
4. Programme Structure
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/humanities/studying/postgraduatetaught/
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
You may take elective modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme in any stage of the programme as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Stage 1
120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCM012 | Skeletal Anatomy | 15 | No |
| ARCM110 | Research Design in Archaeology | 15 | No |
| ARCM415 | The Archaeology of Humans and Other Animals | 15 | No |
| ARCM600 | Bioarchaeology Dissertation | 60 | No |
Optional Modules
a Students who have already taken ARC2504 or equivalent must take ARCM403 Advanced Zooarchaeology
b Students who have not taken ARC2504 or direct equivalent must take ARCM407 Zooarchaeology.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Bioarchaeology (Zooarch) optional modules 2023-4 | |||
| ARCM005 | Professional Skills in Archaeology | 15 | No |
| ARCM007 | Advanced Project | 15 | No |
| ARCM011 | Musculature Anatomy | 15 | No |
| ARCM120 | Themes in Archaeological Theory and Practice | 15 | No |
| ARCM130 | Discovering the Past with Molecular Science | 15 | No |
| ARCM200 | Field Study | 15 | No |
| ARCM225 | Landscape Archaeology: Understanding the Historic Environment | 15 | No |
| ARCM300 | Material Culture | 15 | No |
| ARCM412 | Funerary Osteoarchaeology | 15 | No |
| ARCM501 | Researching the Historic Environment Online | 15 | No |
| ARCM602 | Forensic Anthropology: Principles and Practice | 15 | No |
| ARCM405 | Advanced Human Osteology | 15 | No |
| ARCM106 | Plants and Animals as Craft Resources | 15 | No |
| ARCM108 | Experimental Archaeology: Research and Public Engagement | 15 | No |
| ARCM109 | Practical Pasts | 15 | No |
| ARCM111 | Approaches to Pottery: Archaeology, Archaeometry, and Experimental Archaeology | 15 | No |
| ARCM107 | Digital Pasts | 15 | No |
| ARCM415 | The Archaeology of Humans and Other Animals | 15 | No |
| ARCM403 | Advanced Zooarchaeology [see note a above] | 15 | No |
| ARCM407 | Zooarchaeology [See note b above] | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Understand the main strands of current thinking in archaeological method and theory | A range of teaching methods is employed, appropriate to the subject material including taught classes, seminars, tutorials and independent study. Is developed through Research Methods and Archaeological Theory (ARCM100). Is developed through Skeletal Anatomy (ARCM012), Advanced Human Osteology (ARCM405), Zooarchaeology (ARCM403), and Advanced Zooarchaeology (ARCM407). Is developed through Skeletal Anatomy (ARCM012), Advanced Human Osteology (ARCM405), Zooarchaeology (ARCM403), and Advanced Zooarchaeology (ARCM407). Is developed primarily through the Bioarchaeology Dissertation (ARCM600). | The assessment of these skills is through a combination of class tests, exams, essays, other written reports/projects and a dissertation |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
6. Draw critical thematic comparisons between material from a broad range of different sources | These skills are developed throughout the programme in all modules. They are developed through lectures and seminars, written work, and oral work (both presentation and class discussions). | The assessment of these skills is through a combination of essays, other written reports/projects, oral presentations, visual presentations, and a dissertation. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
12. Undertake independent research and work to deadlines | Personal and key skills are delivered through all modules, with the following emphases: Is an essential part of the successful completion of the programme, notably the Bioarchaeology Dissertation (ARCM600). Is developed in coursework. Is developed through a variety of written assignments throughout the programme. Is developed through Research Methods and Archaeological Theory (ARCM100). Is developed through all modules. Is developed through Bioarchaeology Dissertation (ARCM600). | The assessment of these skills is through a combination of essays, other written reports/projects, oral presentations, visual presentations, and a dissertation. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
All students within Archaeology have a personal tutor for their entire programme of study and who are available for at least two hours a week at advertised ‘office hours’. There are induction sessions to orientate students at the start of their programme. A personal tutoring system will operate with regular communication throughout the programme. Academic support will be also be provided by module leaders. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Bioarchaeology (Zooarchaeology)
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 03/10/2011 |
Date of last revision | 28/07/2023 |
|---|
