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ARCH43360: Dissertation (Forensic Archaeology & Anthropology)

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 Tied
Level 4
Credits 60
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Archaeology

Prerequisites

  • ARCH43030 - Research Skills in Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology, ARCH51630 - Osteoprofiling, ARCH42930 - Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology: Theory and Practice

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 forensic archaeological and anthropological theory, methodology and practice in their specialist topic, demonstrating critical awareness and understanding of their research in the wider setting of forensic science.

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 forensic archaeological and anthropological 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 ARCH43030. Students will present their dissertation design in class and will receive feedback. Subsequently, tutorials on a one-to-one basis will give further guidance. Students are asked to submit a formative research design of 1500 words. Students receive written feedback on this and it will inform first supervision meeting. The summative assessment is a 15,000 word dissertation, which is original research.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Supervision Meetings5As arranged with supervisor during Term 3 and summer1 hour5 
Preparation & Reading593 
Oral PresentationOnce in Term 32 hours2 
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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