Major Overview

Description

Archaeology is the only discipline to study all of human history in all of its facets. This major is designed to provide students with a general understanding of archaeology globally and and more specific understanding of Australian archaeology over the last 65,000 years. Topics include: human origins and symbolic behaviour, stone tools, rock art, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, forensics, scientific dating, Indigenous knowledge, historical and maritime archaeology. We also examine and put into practice how archaeology contributes to contemporary issues like heritage management, graffiti and homelessness. The analytical and practical elements of the discipline - in which valuable transferable and experiential work-integrated skills are learned - are taught within laboratory and field work units. Three annual field schools are held dealing with archaeology, rock art and forensic science respectively. UWA Archaeology's teaching is research-led by some of the leading scholars in the field. And, it's all a lot of fun!

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) critically analyse and apply competing theories of the interpretation of archaeological evidence; (2) critically evaluate archaeological principles and methods and apply them to archaeological questions; (3) demonstrate a critical and reflexive understanding of ethical issues relevant to archaeological practice; (4) demonstrate a critical judgement of archaeological practices and research traditions; (5) independently and critically undertake research through the collection and interpretation of archaeological information and report on this process both orally and through written expression; and (6) demonstrate basic competency of core archaeological field, laboratory and analytical techniques.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Courses

Archaeology can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2023 – may be available in 2024 or 2025
NS
non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
Incompatibility
ARCY1101 Digging up the Past
S2 ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology
Incompatibility
ARCY1102 Archaeology of Tribes and Empires

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ARCY2001 Think Like a Neanderthal: The Archaeology of Human Origins
Prerequisites
12 points of Level 1 study
S1 ARCY2004 Archaeology of Rock Art
Prerequisites
12 points of Level 1 study
NS ARCY2005 Doing Archaeology: Rock Art Fieldschool
Prerequisites
ARCY2004 Archaeology of Rock Art.
enrolment is subject to quota.
Students must be physically fit or, if differently abled, inform the Unit Co-ordinator.
All medical conditions also need to be disclosed to ensure Occupational Health and Safety compliance.
S1 ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
Prerequisites
12 points of Level 1 study
S2 FNSC2200 Mysteries of Forensic Science None

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARCY3002 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool
Prerequisites
12 points of Level 1 Archaeology Units and at least 6 points of Level 2 Archaeology Units.
Students must be physically fit or, if differently abled, inform Unit Co-ordinator.
All medical conditions must be disclosed to ensure Occupational Health and Safety compliance.
S2 ARCY3003 Doing Archaeology: Analytical Skills
Prerequisites
At least 12 points of Level 1 Archaeology Units and at least 6 points of Level 2 Archaeology Units
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARCY3011 Australian Archaeology
Prerequisites
Completion of 12 points of Level 1 Archaeology units
and 6 points of Level 2 Archaeology units
Incompatibility
ARCY3005 Archaeology of Indigenous Australia
and ARCY3008 Archaeological Method and Theory
S2 ARCY3012 500 years of Historical, Maritime and Industrial Archaeology
Prerequisites
At least 12 points of Level 1 Archaeology Units and at least 6 points of Level 2 Archaeology Units
N/A ARCY3013 Archaeology for Professional Development None