To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the degree in which you are enrolled:

A student may complete a major sequence of 36 units in Archaeology by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units), two Year 2 topics (9 units) and two Year 3 topics (9 units) plus two additional topics (9 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 topics listed in the program of study below.

A student may complete a minor sequence of 22.5 units in Archaeology by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units), two Year 2 topics (9 units) plus and additional topic (4.5 units) from the Year 2  or Year 3 Topics listed in the program of study below.

A student may complete an extended major sequence in Archaeology by completing the prescribed major topics (36 units), plus an additional two topics (9 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 topics listed below.

An extended major in Archaeology is not available to students enrolled in the double Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts degrees.

Course aims

The major in Archaeology is designed:

  • to provide students with a general grounding in archaeology as it is practiced in Australia and how the study of archaeology interrelates with Australian society - past and present.
  • to provide students with an opportunity either to concentrate on a particular area of Australian archaeology or to sample a range of areas
  • to achieve a balance in the methodological, theoretical and practical aspects of archaeology
  • to provide a general grounding for students who wish to pursue study towards a professional career in archaeology.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the major students will:

  • be able to demonstrate a general understanding of archaeology as it is practiced in Australia
  • have gained basic knowledge regarding the development of archaeology in Australia including  broad understanding of how theoretical and methodological aspects of the Australian discipline relate to the historical establishment of archaeology worldwide
  • be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of how studies of material culture can provide an additional source of data to improve knowledge about human behavioural variability in past and contemporary societies
  • be able to demonstrate a general understanding of a particular area of Australian archaeology or a broad range of areas of Australian archaeology.

Program of study

The following is the program of study for a 36 unit major sequence in Archaeology and should be read in conjunction with the course rule for the degree in which you are enrolled.

Major - Archaeology

Year 1 topics 

Select 9 units from the year 1 topics listed below

 ARCH1001  Introduction to Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH1002  World Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH1005  Cultural Anthropology  (4.5 units)

Year 2 topics

Select 9 units from the year 2 topics listed below

 ARCH2106  Archaeological Field Methods  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2107  Laboratory Methods and Data Analysis  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2108  Cultural Heritage Management  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2202  Australian Indigenous Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2203  Australian Historical Artefacts  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2204  Australian Maritime Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2205  Human Evolution: Bio-Cultural Perspectives  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2206  Archaeological Science  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2207  The Archaeological Imagination: Fact, fantasy and fiction in archaeological interpretation  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2208  The Museum  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2209  The Archaeology of Art  (4.5 units)

Year 3 topics

Select 9 units from the year 3 topics listed below

 ARCH3107  Archaeological Theory and Method  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3204  Archaeology of Native North America  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3205  Indigenous Heritage Management  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3206  Australian Rock Art  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3207  Frameworks in Historical Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3208  History, Theory and Issues in Maritime and Underwater Archaeology  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3209  Modern Material Culture  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3210  The Politics of Archaeological Practice  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3212  Archaeological Research Methods  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3214  The Human Skeleton  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3308  Historical Archaeology Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3309  Maritime Archaeological Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3310  Indigenous Archaeology Field School A (4.5 units)
 ARCH3314  Indigenous Archaeology Field School B (4.5 units)
 ARCH3311  Ethnoarchaeology Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3315  Community Archaeology Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3312  Rock Art Field School  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3313  Archaeology in the Field  (4.5 units)

plus an additional two topics (9 units) from the year 2 or 3 topics listed above.

For admission to the Honours program in Archaeology, students will normally be required to have included the following topics in their program

 ARCH2106  Archaeological Field Methods  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2107  Laboratory Methods and Data Analysis  (4.5 units)
 ARCH2108  Cultural Heritage Management  (4.5 units)
 ARCH3107  Archaeological Theory and Method  (4.5 units)

Honours

Refer to Honours - Archaeology