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ARCH51860: Dissertation (Human Bioarchaeology & Palaeopathology)

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Open
Level 4
Credits 60
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Archaeology

Prerequisites

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To ensure that students have the opportunity to engage in research, practising, developing and demonstrating research skills in a particular facet of the subject.

Content

  • Under guidance of the assigned dissertation supervisor, students will cover the following:
  • familiarisation with published literature on a specific topic
  • development of a research design
  • data collection; evaluation and drawing of conclusions. Data may derive from fieldwork, library or laboratory
  • writing and presenting a dissertation of up to 15,000 words in a manner and format appropriate to the subject area.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Students will show in-depth knowledge of bioarchaeological theory and methodology in their specialist topic, demonstrating critical awareness and understanding of their research in the wider setting of bioarchaeology.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Students will demonstrate familiarity +with published literature relevant to the subject, be able to gather data and critically evaluate findings.

Key Skills:

  • The ability to collect and analyse relevant bioarchaeological materials and/or data, draw relevant conclusions and to present these in an appropriate form.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The planning of research and dissertation outline is discussed in a lecture as part of ARCH40130. Students will present their dissertation design in class and will receive feedback. Subsequently, tutorials on a one-to-one basis will give further guidance.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Tutorials10over vacation1 hour10Yes
Preparation & Reading588 
Oral Presentation11st week of term2 hours2Yes
Total600 

Summative Assessment

Component: DissertationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
dissertation15,000 words100 

Formative Assessment

Research design 1,500 words - feedback will be given.

More information

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