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 insights into globally relevant archaeological research themes and a more specific understanding of the human past of Australia and the Indo-Pacific region over the last 65,000 years. Topics include human origins and symbolic behaviour, stone tools, rock art, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, forensics, scientific dating, historical and maritime archaeology, and the importance of Indigenous perspectives and collaboration. We also examine and put into practice how archaeology contributes to contemporary issues like the challenges of cultural heritage management and climate change. 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. Our graduates are socially aware, socially responsible, practically skilled professionals. They have an interdisciplinary understanding of the human story from deep time to the present. They can apply their transferrable skills to critical contemporary social and environmental issues and challenges. UWA Archaeology's teaching is research-led by some of the prominent 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
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 all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ARCY2000 Think like a Neanderthal: The Archaeology of Human Origins, Rock Art, and Creativity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
level 1 12 points
S1 ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
Prerequisites
12 points of Level 1 study
S1 ARCY2100 Heritage Futures
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
level 1 12 points
NS ARCY2220 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool
Prerequisites
ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
and ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology
or
ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
or ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology and one of ANTH1001, GEOG1104, GEOG1106, EART1104, EART1105
or HIST1901
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
ARCY3002 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARCY3003 Doing Archaeology: Analytical Skills
Prerequisites
Successful completion of ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
and ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology and one of
ARCY2000 The Archaeology of Creativity
or ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
or ARCY2100 Heritage Futures
or ARCY2220 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool
S1 ARCY3011 Australia in the Indo-Pacific: The last 65,000 years
Prerequisites
Successful completion of ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
and ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology and one of
ARCY2000 The Archaeology of Creativity
or ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
or ARCY2100 Heritage Futures
or ARCY2220 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool
Incompatibility
ARCY3005 Archaeology of Indigenous Australia
and ARCY3008 Archaeological Method and Theory
S2 ARCY3012 Australia in the Indo-Pacific: 500 years of Historical and Maritime Archaeology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
and ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology and one of
ARCY2000 The Archaeology of Creativity
or ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
or ARCY2100 Heritage Futures
or ARCY2220 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool
NS ARCY3100 Doing Archaeology: Advanced Fieldwork and Collections Research
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ARCY1001 Think Like an Archaeologist
and ARCY1002 Experimenting with Archaeology
and ARCY2000 The Archaeology of Creativity
and ARCY2100 Heritage Futures
and ARCY2006 Archaeology of Death
and ARCY2220 Doing Archaeology: Fieldschool
Incompatibility
ARCY2005 Doing Archaeology: Rock Art Fieldschool