Archaeology major (MJD-ARCGY)

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.

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

Overview of unit sequence

Archaeology is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2022; NS = non-standard teaching period

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2023 or 2024.

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
ARCY1101 Digging up the Past
S2 ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology
Prerequisites:
Nil.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
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
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ARCY2004 Archaeology of Rock Art
Prerequisites:
12 points of Level 1 study
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
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.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
Prerequisites:
12 points of Level 1 study
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 FNSC2200 Mysteries of Forensic Science
Prerequisites:
Nil.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.

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.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Co-requisites:
Nil.
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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
N/A ARCY3013 Archaeology for Professional Development
Prerequisites:
nil
Co-requisites:
nil
Incompatibility:
nil

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Archaeology degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.

Example Study Plan

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .