2018 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Archaeology and Ancient History Major | 2018

This Major is available for students studying the Bachelor of Arts.

The Archaeology and Ancient History major at UOW offers students the opportunity to combine two distinct, but overlapping disciplines that will transform your understanding and perceptions of the past. The Archaeology and Ancient History major is a new major jointly offered by the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry and the Centre for Archaeological Science.

In 2003, UOW researchers uncovered evidence of a previously unknown Hominin species (nicknamed the "Hobbit") in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. This major is an opportunity to become part of UOW's internationally-recognised research in archaeology and the complex story of human evolution.

You will explore the political, social and economic contexts of Rome and Greece. This will be complemented by learning about the ‘Big’ questions in Archaeology, in both our own region and the rest of the world, from early prehistory to the Middle Ages. You will gain field and practical experience using a range of different techniques and sources to examine material remains including fossils, artefacts and relics from a wide range of periods, places and people. Students will round off their major by completing capstone subjects in Archaeology and Ancient History where they will apply the knowledge and skills they have learned to real-world investigations into the ancient past.

Archaeology and Ancient History at UOW will enable you to gain valuable skills and study topics about which both you and our staff are passionate. Graduates from the Archaeology and Ancient History major may gain employment in heritage management, museums, in archaeological research and as teachers.

Major Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this major students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of the underlying concepts, theories and methods by which primary data are obtained, analysed and interpreted in Ancient History and Archaeology;
  2. Critically evaluate the ancient history and archaeology of a number of different geographical regions and chronological phases;
  3. Discuss contemporary debates concerning the study and understanding of the past, including indigenous perspectives and ethical issues relevant to preservation;
  4. Locate, synthesise and evaluate data, information, results and literature pertaining to Ancient History and Archaeology, using appropriate methods, measurements, tools and technologies;
  5. Apply suitable scientific field and laboratory methods and theoretical concepts to questions and problems in the study of Ancient History and Archaeology;
  6. Communicate perspectives and knowledge of Ancient History and Archaeology to a diverse audience using a range of technologies.

The Archaeology and Ancient History major provides a coherent course of study, allowing students to develop specific skills. Each subject in the major is intended to provide an understanding of a topic, area or theme, which can be developed in subsequent years of study. 

Subjects Required For Major Study

The Ancient History and Archaeology major will consist of at least 48 credit points as outlined below:

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points
Core subjects
ARCH102Big Questions in Archaeology6
HIST112Lost Worlds: The 'Big History' of Ancient History6
ARCH202World Archaeology6
ARCH301Archaeology in Action: Understanding the Archaeological record6
ARCH302Digging Down Under: Archaeology of Australasia6
ARCH303Dung, death and decay: modern methods in Archaeology6
HIST386Ancient Texts (Capstone)6
Plus either ONE or BOTH of the following:
HIST262Ancient History: Rome6
HIST259Ancient History: Greece6
Further recommended electives for this major include:
INDS130Indigenous Knowledge in Global Contexts6
INDS150Introduction to Indigenous Australia6
CAVA123Australian Aboriginal Arts6
GEOG123Indigenous Geographies: Questioning Country6
EESC203Biogeography and Environmental Change6
HIST200Oceans of History: Exploration and Encounters6
HIST281Hands-On History6
INDS205Indigenous Peoples and the Environment6
INDS208Working with Indigenous Communities6
ARCH300Directed Studies in Archaeology6
GEOG337Environmental and Heritage Management6

Timetable 

Click on subject codes in the above table for information on sessions of offer for each subject.

To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.

Minor Study

Students completing the Archaeology and Ancient History Major may be interested in the following 24 credit point minors:

Information regarding minors, including which subjects to take to complete a minor, are available on the 2018 General Schedule of Minors page.

Minors appear on the transcript (i.e. academic record), but do not appear on the testamur. To have a minor study recorded on their transcript, students need to declare their minor study by submitting an Application to Declare or Change Intended Major/Minor.

Work Integrated Learning

Undertaking a work integrated learning (WIL) experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts internship program provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their degree in a workplace setting.

Students are also encouraged to consider CRLP200 (6cp). CRLP200 includes a quality assured workplace internship or industry project to give you that competitive edge by developing your professional skills through authentic learning in a real world context. You will focus on your career goals and receive career direction guidance, strengthen your resume and gain skills to navigate the rapidly changing world of work, develop your communication skills and begin to build a professional network.

Honours

See Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

See Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the UOW Course Finder.

Other Information

For further information email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 5 April, 2018