Archaeology with Forensic Science with Employment Experience BSc (Hons)

University of Exeter

The BSc in Archaeology with Forensic Science with Employment Experience combines the study of two exciting scientifically-related disciplines and allows you to develop skills in uncovering the detail of past events, particularly death and burial.

This unique programme will provide you with a sound knowledge of archaeological periods and the techniques of forensic archaeology and anthropology, including the study of human remains. You will also gain an insight into the forensic techniques used in criminal cases. You will hear from a series of experts, including scenes of crime and police officers, lawyers and ballistics specialists to understand how modern forensics are used in the investigation and detection of crime.

You do not need an A level in Archaeology as our introductory modules will quickly bring you up to speed with the key topics and principles underpinning archaeological research. In your first year, you will acquire general archaeological knowledge, as well as an introduction to a selection of key scientific skills that are useful to both archaeological and forensic sciences. In addition to modules in your specialism, you will also be able to choose options from a wide range of archaeology modules or from another discipline such as criminal law or criminology.

In your second year, you will be introduced to the basic principles of the study of human remains to establish personal identity (with emphasis on the characterisation of skeletal shape and size and application of demographic reference standards for age and sex determination and population affinity). You will be introduced to pathological and anatomical variation applied to establish human identity, and its relevance within the discipline of biological anthropology. Your studies will also cover aspects of forensic science, such as ballistics, DNA fingerprinting and drugs analysis. This includes sessions carried out by visiting experts involved in the criminal justice system.

During your final year, you will study the complexity and variability of funerary treatment and rituals through a series of lectures based upon a chronological development in Europe and the Near East, from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Medieval period. You will also examine the relationship between the funerary domain and the once-living society that created it. You will be offered a choice of options, which may include a Professional Placement or a module from another discipline. In addition, you can choose your dissertation topic from either archaeology or forensic archaeology.