Archaeology and History, BA (Hons)

Course summary

From the first hunter-gatherers to the complex societies of the medieval and modern periods, this course lets you study the past not just through texts and images but through material remains.You will explore the broadest range of periods through complementary disciplines. By combining the scientific study of material remains with historical research, writing and debate, you will cover the key ways we study the past. You will also deepen your knowledge of history through theory and practice, covering a range of periods from the Palaeolithic to the recent past.Our geographic reach is from Britain to the Far East and North America. You can investigate race, rights and propaganda and discover heroes and villains from the Middle Ages. Your studies can range from learning about evolution, culture and society through the study of bones, to the private lives of historical figures through letters. You will also gain practical experience of fieldwork and archaeological research in the UK and abroad.As a joint honours student, you will benefit from skills development and assessment methods from both subjects. Each subject is taught separately, but you can choose a uniting theme for your final year dissertation.

Our year-one core modules are designed as an introduction. We will build everyone's knowledge to the same level, so you can progress through to year two. In year one, you will take 20 credits of core history modules, focusing on the nature of history as a discipline and developing the skills required for the researching, writing and debating. You will also take 60 credits of core archaeology modules which will lay the foundation for your study of archaeological principles and methods, and the archaeology of Britain from prehistory to the Industrial Revolution. The remainder of your year one credits will come from optional history modules spanning the Middles Ages to the contemporary world. You’ll have at least 12 hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and tutorials. You must pass year one, but it does not count towards your final degree classification. There is a requirement for you to complete 10 days of archaeological fieldwork or other professional experience. For more information visit the Archaeology fieldwork webpage. In year two, your core archaeology module will cover more advanced themes in archaeological research. You will also choose from a range of archaeology and history modules, one of which may come from the Department of American and Canadian Studies. You’ll have at least 9 hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and tutorials. You must pass year two, which counts 33% towards your final degree classification. In year three, you choose to specialise in either history or archaeology, while maintaining a mix of both disciplines. If you choose to specialise in history, you either take a 40-credit History Special Subject and a 40-credit History dissertation with 40 credits of optional Archaeology modules. If you choose to specialise in archaeology, you take a 40-credit Archaeology dissertation, 20-credit archaeology option, and a 40-credit History Special Subject, plus 20-credit history or American and Canadian studies option You’ll have at least 7 hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and tutorials. You must pass year three, which counts as 67% towards your final degree classification.