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Programme description - The Bachelor's Programme in Archaeology
Field of study in the B-arch. programme:
The Management and Conservation of Cultural Heritage
Degree
The Bachelor’s programme in Archaeology leads to a Bachelor of Arts. Duration of the programme is 3 years (180 ECTS credits).
Programme coordinator
The Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tromsø, the programme board.
Language of instruction
Norwegian.
Application deadline: 15. April
Admission requirement
University admission certification.
Programme description
The bachelor's programme in Archaeology will give students an introduction to the method and theory of this academic field. In addition, the cultural history of the North is examined from the end of the last Ice Age through to historical times. Here, particular emphasis is placed on the northern Norwegian/northern Scandinavian past.
The compulsory teaching in the course of the first year includes presentations and analysis of the cultural historical development from the first hunter-gatherer-fishing community that migrated here at the end of the last Ice Age through to the early Middle Ages.
The ground is prepared for students to take part in a compulsory field course at the end of just one year’s study, and here they learn the procedure for a scientific archaeological dig. This includes surveying techniques, documentation and the handling of finds. The course also provides an introduction to the registration of cultural remains, i.e. how to discover, identify and describe physical traces of, for example, settlements and burial places.
The archaeologist makes use of a series of different methods in describing, systematizing and analysing the finds that constitute source material. A detailed introduction is therefore required in academic methods, covering dating methods, climate and food studies, past technology, etc.
The choice of methods is obviously also linked to academic theory. One of the archaeologist’s objectives is to study social, religious and cultural relationships and changes in the past. Aside from a discussion of how we can express ourselves regarding past societies, on the basis of what are sometimes extremely sparse remains, it is also necessary to acquire a more general understanding of society, culture and processes within and between groups in society.
Aside from the compulsory subjects, courses are offered that relate to different aspects of this academic field. There are courses linked to specific cultural history periods and issues, or more methodical and/or theoretical subjects. By this means, students may either choose to orientate themselves towards a more specialized area within this field or, alternatively, acquire a broad introduction to the many sub-disciplines within this field.
Competence objectives
In the course of three years it is possible to obtain a degree in Archaeology that provides a direct or indirect qualification for work within such interesting sectors as
- The preservation of cultural remains
- The museum world
- The information branch
- Culture-based tourism
- Cultural life in general
- Work in the education sector
The bachelor studies programme in Archaelogy forms the basis for master’s degree studies in Archaeology. This advanced course of study in Archaeology offers academic competence within the same job market as the bachelor degree, but with a master’s degree in Archaeology there is a greater potential for becoming involved in larger-scale projects and more responsibility in working as an archaeologist. The master’s degree course of study, in turn, forms the basis for full research training in Archaeology in the form of a doctorate (dr.art/Ph.D).
A bachelor's programme in Archaeology also provides competence as far as working within the field of preservation of cultural remains and the museum system is concerned. This degree can also contribute as part of a pedagogical training that is used for work within the education system. The explosion of culture-based tourism within the tourist industry as a whole (so-called ‘culturism’) has also resulted in an increased requirement for candidates with competence in a cultural historical field. This training also provides a good basis for working within cultural life in general.
Subject organization
The bachelor's programme in Archaeology at the University of Tromsø has a programme that extends over three years. A bachelor degree in Archaeology consists of 180 points (ECTS), of which 90 points must be in Archaeology. Of these, 70 points are compulsory (these are called ‘subjects’). In addition, students choose courses worth a further 20 or more points in Archaeology (these are called ‘specialized subjects’). It is important to stress that in tandem with studying courses in Archaeology, students will also study other relevant subjects. Here, too, the freedom of choice is extensive, in order to comprise a range of studies suited to every individual. A period of study at an academic institution abroad may be incorporated within the three years of study.
Some subjects have compulsory prerequisite qualifications, whereas other subjects are open, though relevant prior knowledge may be recommended here. All subjects, as a rule, extend over a whole semester. Field courses, which have to be contained during the summer period, form an exception to this rule.
Compulsory subjects:
- FIL-0700: Ex.phil., 10 points.
- EXF-0710: Ex.fac. 10 points.
- An introductory subject (ARK-1000 Archaeology: interpretation of the past, or equivalent), 10 points.
- ARK-1001 Archaeology in the North: from the Ice Ages to the birth of Christ, 10 points.
- ARK-1002 Archaeology in the North: from the birth of Christ to historical times, 10 points.
- ARK-1003 The North in pre-modern times: archaeological perspectives, 10 points.
- ARK-1004 Field course (summer course), 10 points.
- ARK-2001 Understanding the past: theoretical perspectives in archaeological research, 10 points.
- ARK-2002 Problem-solving in Archaeology, 10 points.
- ARK-2017 Project course, 10 points.
Specialized subjects:
Linking an archaeological training to other academic fields
Archaeology is an interdisciplinary field that requires knowledge from many academic fields. It is therefore important to think about what course combinations may best support a bachelor degree in Archaeology. In this respect students have many choice possibilities. If the student wishes to specialize in the Iron Ages or the Middle Ages, i.e. historical archaeology, courses in History or Religious Studies will be relevant. If a student is more interested in the older periods of prehistory, e.g. the Early or Late Stone Ages, courses in Social Anthropology or Quaternary Geology will be relevant. As far as archaeology in the North Calotte region is concerned, competence in a language such as Sami, Finnish or Russian is also relevant. It is important that a student should receive guidance at an early stage of his/her bachelor degree studies, both in respect of recommended specialization modules in Archaeology and as far as support modules in other relevant fields are concerned.
Students who wish to work in the education sector are advised to amass 60 points from other teaching fields in terms of support subjects (subject group). This will then provide a teaching competence in two fields. Practical pedagogic training (praktisk pedagogisk utdanning, PPU) must also be completed after the bachelor/master’s degree.
Student exchange
Study period abroad: 30 points. It is recommended that this should take place during the fifth semester.
A period of study abroad may be chosen to complement the teaching offered by the Institute for Archaeology (i.e. selected similar themes in a different context) or to supplement the programme with themes that are not taught at the Institute. It is recommended that a period of study abroad should be completed via existing links with the Institute’s co-operative partners, but other alternatives may be approved, subject to evaluation by the Institute. From the point of view of the experience gained, the gains from such a period of study abroad will be maximized if the student has completed the compulsory subjects in the bachelor degree programme.The period of study abroad must be linked to Archaeology. The 30 points gained from studying abroad may be incorporated in the compulsory 90 points. However, it is recommended that students should take 90 points in Archaeology in Tromsø, so that the 30 points gained from studying abroad are supplementary to this.
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