MA (Landscape Archaeology)
College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies
Key facts
Entry requirements
A NQAI Level 8 degree in Archaeology awarded at Second
Class Honours Grade 2 standard overall with at least a Second
Class Honours Grade 2 in Archaeology or its equivalent in
education and professional experience. An interview forms
part of the selection process.
Duration:
1 year, full-time
Next start date: September 2012
ECTS weighting: 90
Average intake: 12
Closing date:
Please refer to the offer rounds/closing date webpage.
Taught
Course overview
The landscape has become an increasingly important and
significant concept in today’s Ireland, and is a central avenue
for both academic research as well as for contemporary
heritage management.
Drawing on a wide range of expertise in prehistoric and historic
landscapes, the MA (Landscape Archaeology) offers an intensive
one-year programme in landscape archaeology. The course
provides a critical understanding of landscapes, their components,
character and relevance in today’s society.
Course outline
The history of landscape archaeology is explored, as are contemporary philosophical treatments of the concept of landscape. Various issues surrounding the protection, management, and presentation of archaeological landscapes are considered and case-studies are used to examine the wide range of such landscapes and their components. There is emphasis on fieldwork training and a critical understanding of the range of sources used. Students are provided with a basic foundation in GIS and its applications in archaeology and are introduced to electronic survey and digital mapping, geophysical prospection, and data processing. Practical demonstrations and field exercises are an important element of the programme.
Programme content (subject to change):
Landscape Perspectives
Interpreting Landscapes
Managing Landscapes
Investigating Landscapes
Digital Landscapes
Geographical Information Systems and Landscape Archaeology
Dissertation
The programme is based on six modules:
Landscape perspectives: you are introduced to the fascinating world
of landscape studies, and its theoretical foundations.
Interpreting landscapes: this module focuses on how different
archaeological landscapes can be read and interpreted based on
case studies reaching from the Neolithic to the present day.
GIS and Landscape Archaeology: this is an introduction to the basic
concepts of GIS, and via tutorials you will gain basic proficiency in a
selection of archaeological applications in ArcGIS 9.3.
Managing landscapes: the role of archaeology in the planning
process is explored. You are also introduced to the politics of
landscape and Public Archaeology.
Investigating landscapes: The wide range of sources and methods
used in landscape archaeology are explored, with a focus on their
potential and limitation.
Presenting landscapes: Via tutorial you are introduced to Adobe
Photoshop. The module also consists of a week’s field school in the
Burren, Co. Clare.
Applications and selections
Applications are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application code(s) above.
Who teaches this course?
Dr Stefan Bergh
Dr Carleton Jones
Mr Conor Newman
Dr Michelle Comber
Dr Elizabeth FitzPatrick
Dr Kieran O'Conor
Ms. Maggie Ronayne
Mr. Joe Fenwick
Ms. Angela Gallagher
In addition, up to 15 guest lecturers contribute to the course and these include staff members of other academic departments in NUI Galway and archaeologists from the National Roads Authority, from local authorities, from private consultancies, from other academic institutions and from The Discovery Programme.
Requirements and assessment
Course modules are assessed by a combination of essays, class
projects, assignments and/or seminar presentations, to a total
of 450 marks (50% of total). The dissertation of 15,000 words
comprises the remaining 450 marks (50%).
Find out more
Dr. Stefan Bergh
T 353 91 492 052
E stefan.bergh@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/archaeology/Graduate_Program/ma_landscape_archaeology.html
