Heritage and Archaeology
Department of Archaeology,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Course description
You'll be prepared for roles within the heritage protection and commercial sectors, and heritage presentation organisations. Our department has a strong reputation in the heritage sector and you'll have ample opportunity to capitalise on our external partnerships.
There are three pathways: Landscape Archaeology, Managing the Historic Environment and a Cross-discipline pathway that provides a more holistic analysis of both landscape and the historic environment. Within those pathways, you'll have the freedom to choose specific periods or methodologically-based themes to suit your career aspirations. The Landscape Archaeology pathway is more practical, teaching you how to investigate and understand historic environments. Managing the Historic Environment trains you in the development of policy, research agendas and planning, and discusses how we present heritage and the historic environment to the public. The cross-disciplinary option combines themes from both pathways, but all three pathways emphasise the importance of conserving and maintaining our heritage.
MA students
You'll also go on a work placement and complete a report as part of your placement experience OR choose your own research project and complete a dissertation.
Your future
This course prepares you for a career in the sector and teaches you how to tackle pressing issues. Or you could progress to doctoral research – this course is excellent preparation for a PhD.
The transferable skills you’ll develop are valued in lots of sectors, including business, journalism and teaching. Helping you prepare for your career is part of our job. Whatever your ambitions are, we’re here to support you.
Modules
Core modules
Cross-discipline
- Landscapes in archaeology: method and practice
- Heritage, place and community
- GIS for Archaeology
- Digital Cultural Heritage
- Dissertation or work placement
Landscape Archaeology
- Landscapes in archaeology: method and practice
- Heritage, place and community
- GIS for Archaeology
- Landscape Survey Project
- Dissertation or work placement
Managing the Historic Environment
- Landscapes in archaeology: method and practice
- Heritage, place and community
- Heritage, history and identity
- Digital Cultural Heritage
- Dissertation or work placement
Optional modules
Cross-discipline
- Reinventing Archaeology
- Heritage, history and identity
- Investigating Ancient Environments
- Landscape Survey project
- Later Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain and Ireland
Landscape Archaeology
- Heritage, history and identity
- Investigating Ancient Environments
- Mediterranean Landscapes
- Later Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain and Ireland
Managing the Historic Environment
- GIS for Archaeology
- Investigating Ancient Environments
- Landscape Survey project
- Experimental Archaeology
- Heritage, museum and field: archaeology in practice
Teaching
You'll be taught through a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and field trips.
Assessment
Your assessments will include essays, portfolio work, practical work, exams and a dissertation or a placement report.
Duration
MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Postgraduate Diploma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Postgraduate Certificate: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Entry requirements
Usually a minimum 2:1 honours degree in an arts, humanities or science subject. But your interest in and understanding of archaeology is more important than what you studied at undergraduate level.
English language requirements
Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.
Fees and funding
Apply
You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
Colin Merrony
Programme Director
c.merrony@sheffield.ac.uk
0114 222 2929
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.