Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module ARCH3362: ARCHAEOLOGY DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS)

Department: Archaeology

ARCH3362: ARCHAEOLOGY DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS)

Type Level Credits Availability Module Cap Location
Tied 3 40 Available in 2005/2006 None. Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • Professional Training (Techniques of Archaeological Fieldwork) (ARCH2102) AND Archaeological Method and Theory (ARCH2121).

Corequisites

  • Two or more Final Honours modules in Archaeology.

Excluded Combinations

  • Archaeology Dissertation (20 Credits) (ARCH3371).

Aims

  • To significantly develop students' skills in independent research, the analysis and presentation of evidence and the structuring of argumentation by producing an extended (12,000 words) dissertation in a selected specialist area of archaeology.

Content

  • The student will undertake an extended piece of supervised independent research and investigate in depth the approved topic using an appropriate range of practical, laboratory and/or field techniques and produce a well-argued and presented report.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge
  • At the end of the module, the student will have:
  • selected and developed a significant research topic, and demonstrated the ability to undertake independent research activity.
  • demonstrated the ability to achieve the above using a range of practical, laboratory or field skills.
  • conducted significant background reading and other secondary research into the topic.
  • prepared and presented the text, drawings and supporting material of a finished dissertation to an acceptable standard.
Subject-specific Skills
  • undertaking research in and reporting n a specific area of archaology, using core skills listed below.
Key Skills
  • Independent study
  • Design of a research programme
  • Collection, analysis and interpretation of primary data
  • Presentation of data and arguments in written and visual form

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • TEACHING & LEARNING: Tutorials; self-guided learning.
  • ASSESSMENT: Dissertation; draft chapter of dissertation

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Tutorials 8 4 Per Term 1 Hour 8
Preparation and Reading 392
Total 400

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Dissertation 100% dissertation 12,000 words max 100%

Formative Assessment

Progress report/draft chapter 3,000 words, early in Epiphany term.


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.