Archaeological Practice BSc (Hons)

The University of Winchester

• Use our fully equipped laboratories and the latest industry-standard surveying equipment.
• Take part in fieldwork projects in the UK and overseas.
• Places emphasis on skills acquisition but within an academically rigorous environment.
• We are one of only three archaeology departments - to be a Registered Archaeological Organisation with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists - a hallmark of the quality of our archaeological work. -Accredited by The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK).

Archaeology unearths the stories of our past. It is the archaeologist’s job to discover and excavate sites and interpret the material recovered from them. Our Archaeological Practice course is the original vocational archaeology degree, and is specifically designed to give you the practical and technical skills necessary for a successful career in archaeology to that end.

The degree focuses on the current practice of archaeology, including the methods used for prospecting new sites, excavation techniques, analysis of finds and preparation of reports and publications.

Our three-year programme places emphasis on skills acquisition - partly during fieldwork undertaken both during term time and in the summer vacation - but also includes the academic study of different periods and cultures, from the earliest humans to the start of the twentieth century. Year 1 provides an introduction to different sub-disciplines of archaeology, including fieldwork, resources, material culture and archaeological science.

To make sure you leave no stone unturned during fieldwork in the UK and abroad, you will use state of the art field equipment - including ground penetrating radar, magnetometers, magnetic susceptibility meters, differential GPS instruments and total stations. In addition, you will learn how to use industry standard computer software such as ArcGIS, Geoplot and AutoCAD. In addition our department has a geoarchaeological consultancy (ARCA), whose staff will also teach you. The consultancy offers valuable laboratory work experience and an opportunity to combine your academic expertise with reporting for a professional audience.

In Year 2, you will study geographic information systems, sophisticated methods of measured survey and a variety of appraoches to remote sensing. There are also a wealth of optional modules that explore the whole human story from Early and Late Prehistoric Europe, through Ancient Greece to Medieval, post-Medieval and Modern Eurasia.

In Year 3, you write a dissertation, take classes in heritage law and protocols, undertake more fieldwork and conduct in-depth studies into such specialist subjects as the Archaeology of Buddhism, the Archaeology of the Southern Caucasus, The Celts and Intangible Heritage. There is an option to do a short industry placement many of which have led to employment with the archaeological company providing the placement, instead of the dissertation.

Students may also pursue the four-year BSc Archaeological Practice with Professional Placement pathway which includes an industry placement year, providing an invaluable portfolio of experience.

You are taught by experts in the field. Our department is one of only three to be a registered Archaeological Organisation with the Chartered Insitute for Archaeologists, a quality assurance scheme for professional practice.

Graduates work in professional archaeology, for example with a commercial archaeological organisation undertaking developer funded excavation, survey and research work.

Accreditation by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), working in partnership with University Archaeology UK (UAUK), recognises academic programmes which provide students with appropriate workplace skills relevant to both a career in the historic environment and CIfA membership at Practitioner grade.