This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Postgraduate Handbook 2022-2023 (archived)
Module ARCH40290: Dissertation
Department: Archaeology
ARCH40290: Dissertation
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 4 | 90 | Available in 2022/2023 | Durham |
Tied To
Pre-requisites
- Conservation Theory & Conservation Skills.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- To engage the student in advanced level research; practising, developing and demonstrating their research skills in conservation or object analysis.
Content
- Based in the laboratories in Durham, the student undertakes research in an aspect of object conservation. In doing the research the student becomes familiar with the published literature on a research topic, develops a research design, collects data or information (data/information may be recovered from library, laboratory or field work), critically evaluates it and draws appropriate conclusions. They write and present a dissertation of up to 18,000 words.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- A detailed knowledge of the physical and chemical basis for the decay, stabilisation and conservation processes of ancient and historic materials in order to appreciate and recover the information contained in every object.
- A detailed understanding at an advanced level of archaeological and historic materials and technologies.
Subject-specific Skills
- Developed a capacity to devise experiments or derive information to answer fundamental research questions in conservation.
Key Skills
- An advanced knowledge of methods of analytical investigation.
- Communication skills in written, image, computer and verbal formats to a professional standard.
- Demonstrated to a professional standard an ability to undertake research, collect information (data) and critically evaluate it, and to draw appropriate conclusions.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Teaching is primarily provided through tutorials.
- Learning is primarily achieved through undertaking the research.
- Assessment is achieved through an 18,000 word dissertation.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorials | 14 | 0.5 | 7 | ||
| Seminars | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Self Study & Research | 892 | ||||
| Total | 900 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100% | Dissertation | 18000 words | 100% | 1 |
Formative Assessment
Research Design (3K words) - early December, Seminar & Poster - February / March.
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.