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:
- critically analyse and apply competing theories of the interpretation of archaeological evidence
- critically evaluate archaeological principles and methods and apply them to archaeological questions
- demonstrate a critical and reflexive understanding of ethical issues relevant to archaeological practice
- demonstrate a critical judgement of archaeological practices and research traditions
- independently and critically undertake research through the collection and interpretation of archaeological information and report on this process both orally and through written expression
- 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. Advice can 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):
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 |
|
| S1 | ARCY2006 | Archaeology of Death |
|
| S1 | ARCY2100 | Heritage Futures |
|
| S2 | ARCY2220 | 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 | |
| S1 | ARCY3011 | Australia in the Indo-Pacific: The last 65,000 years | |
| S2 | ARCY3012 | Australia in the Indo-Pacific: 500 years of Historical and Maritime Archaeology | |
| NS | ARCY3100 | Doing Archaeology: Advanced Fieldwork and Collections Research |
|