Core modules
The objectives of the core modules that are followed by students of both specialisations are to explore themes that are relevant in modern archaeology. These courses incorporate case studies from European and Mediterranean archaeology.
Period 1: Historical Archaeology:
Even though archaeology primarily is focused on material remains, you will make much use of historical sources as well. By discussing case-studies from the Mediterranean and Europe in various periods, you will become acquainted with the pitfalls and possibilities of combining material, pictorial and written sources.
Period 1: Digitization of the Past and Present
In this course, the theoretical and practical basis of various digital approaches used in Archaeology will be treated, as well as their position within the discipline and the broader field of Heritage Studies. Students will learn to become ‘critical consumers’ of digital approaches in research practice as well as in science communication.
Period 2: Research Skills 1: Project Design
Doing research is a key skill in academic and in heritage archaeology. In this course, you will be trained in the first stages if a research process: the design of the research. You will work with staff members and experience which steps are needed to create a research project. You will cooperate in small groups, in which you will have a clearly defined role, so you will acquire specific (digital) skills.
Electives
At many points in your programme, you can choose between alternative courses, allowing you to tailor your programme to your own interests. In period 1 and 2, two alternative courses can be followed that allow you to incorporate knowledge and skills on heritage in your programme.
Period 2: Archaeology, Museums and the Public
In this course, you will explore the role of museums in presenting the past to the public. You will engage yourselves actively with the archaeological collection of the Allard Pierson in interdisciplinary groups with students from other programs.
Research Skills courses and individual skills
Modules with the explicit objective to acquire research skills and to work in a small team are taught in blocks 2, 3 and 4 for the specialisation of European and Mediterranean Archaeology. Together, these classes cover the full research process: from design, through data and analysis to research reporting. In these classes, you cooperate in small teams of students on research projects by ACASA Archaeology staff and focus either on European or Mediterranean case-studies. It is possible to drop the research sills course in block 3 in favour of an internship.
Master’s Thesis
The Master’s Thesis is an important part of the programme, enabling you to conduct independent research under the supervision of one of the staff members. The subject of the thesis must be mutually agreed upon by the student and the academic adviser. A Master’s Thesis seminar is offered to prepare you for the assignment. Thanks to the cooperation between the two universities a wide array of topics are available for supervision.
As an alternative for writing a Thesis, students in the specialisation Digital Archaeology and Heritage may also opt for a Master’s Project: an individual assignment (or group assignment) that is related to an archaeological or heritage research question and results in a digital product, such as e.g. a digital reconstruction or model, or a software application. The Master’s Project also includes an individual, written report, which not only describes the process of development and the results, but also discusses the starting points, approach and methods chosen, and reflects on these choices at a theoretical level.
