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MSc Program in Applied Landscape Archaeology 2017, University of Oxford, UK

Publish Date: Apr 03, 2017

Deadline: May 11, 2017

Oxford is a wonderful place to study and it has unrivalled facilities. We have been running this part-time masters course successfully for thirteen years. The overwhelming response gained from our students is one of satisfaction, enjoyment and fulfilment. We have brought together a good balance of men and women, older and younger students, historic environment professionals and those with a personal or community interest in the subject. We have had some great field experiences and outstanding seminars. Although the coursework requires a solid commitment from you over two years, the course atmosphere is informal and friendly, and we aim to support every student with ideas, guidance and encouragement.

Open evening Tuesday 7 February 2017

There will be an Open Evening on Tuesday 7 February 2017 at Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA from 6:30pm-8:30pm. You are invited to visit the department , meet the Course Director and tutors, and discuss the course. If you would like to attend, please email ppaward@conted.ox.ac.uk.

What the course offers

The MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology is a part-time modular course over two years, leading to an Oxford University Postgraduate Degree in Archaeology. Students become fully matriculated members of Oxford University during their period of registration, and therefore also become a member of a college. The course is designed for the needs of students who wish to study part-time and this includes those who are in full-time employment. Those with a personal or professional interest in landscape archaeology are welcome to apply.

Landscape Archaeology is an increasingly popular and widely-understood concept. Using a multi-period systematic approach, it is concerned with understanding past human impacts on the resources, topography and environment of the whole landscape, from uplands to coasts, and from farmed landscapes to urban/industrial areas.

Many methods of research are being developed in landscape archaeology, including geophysical survey, digital mapping and remote-sensing techniques such as LiDAR. These take their place alongside fieldwalking, historic landscape analysis, aerial photography and selective excavation to provide an effective armoury of techniques for the researcher. Skills such as survey and resource assessment are becoming essential for anyone involved in the management of the historic environment. Effecive communication and presentation of the value and potential of the historic landscape is vital in the world of planning, tourism, outreach and education.

The course involves a combination of academic study and field practice - survey and geophysics form a central theme, and we enjoy the support of Bartington Instruments Ltd for this.

This course is designed to appeal to those who already have experience of studying archaeology (or a closely-related subject) at undergraduate degree or diploma level and who wish to expand their academic, practical and professional skills in landscape archaeology. With a strong (but not exclusive) emphasis on the archaeology of Britain, it focuses on the applications of research methods in varying landscape situations. The course format is flexible and enables students to pursue their own research interests leading to a 15,000 word dissertation.

Student experience

"I found the course both challenging and hugely rewarding, and the skills and knowledge I gained have made a significant contribution to developing my career within the archaeological profession."

Andrew Walsh, Worcestershire Archaeology, formerly National Trust for Scotland archaeologist, St Kilda
 

"I had the most enjoyable time during the 2 years reading for my MSc in ALA. The course is carefully designed covering all relevant aspects of landscape archaeology placing landscape analysis within a strong theoretical framework. I thoroughly enjoyed all modules from the Historic Landscape to Archaeological Prospection and in particular Digital Landscapes and GIS.  The Saturday sessions were very dynamic, delivered by well known scholars and gave a solid introduction to the various topics. After the sessions we would head to the pub where usually very animated discussions followed from what we had learnt. Field trips added considerably to the teaching sessions and the Field Training Week provided the perfect context for landscape analysis. We were able to put in practice various surveying techniques and learnt how to 'read the landscape'. The resources of the Department are excellent, and I cherished the moments and the reading time I spent in many of the libraries the University has to offer. College life gave a perfect background for social networking. Throughout the course the atmosphere was very friendly resulting in long-lasting friendships; we keep in touch on a regular basis and we still manage to meet up twice a year! During the course and through my dissertation I was encouraged to pursue my own research interests in Latin American archaeology and Mediterranean geoarchaeology. The MSc in ALA gave me confidence to further develop my personal research, leading to the presentation of a paper at an international conference."

Mariza Christina Kormann, East Riding Archaeological Society


"This masters course provided me with an extremely useful range and depth of knowledge. Successfully completing it increased my professional confidence and self-belief enormously."

Sharon Soutar, Field Investigator, Historic England

College affiliation

All students studying for a degree (including this MSc) must be a member of a college. A number of Oxford colleges accept applications from part-time postgraduates whereas others do not: please consult the graduate prospectus or enquire with individual colleges. The majority of part-time MSc and DPhil students in Archaeology have chosen to apply to Kellogg College and most of the tutors and lecturers are members of the College. Kellogg is dedicated to graduate part-time students and has developed a unique expertise in attending to the intellectual, social, IT and welfare needs of part-time, mature graduate students. If a college choice is not specified on your application, it will be automatically sent to Kellogg if places are still available there.

Libraries and computing facilities

Registered students receive an Oxford University card, valid for one year at a time, which acts as a library card for the Departmental Library at Rewley House and provides access to the unrivalled facilities of the Bodleian Libraries which include the central Bodleian, major research libraries such as the Sackler Library, Taylorian Institution Library, Bodleian Social Science Library, and faculty libraries such as English and History. Students also have access to a wide range of electronic resources including electronic journals, many of which can be accessed from home. Students on the course are entitled to use the Continuing Education Library at Rewley House for reference and private study and to borrow books. The loan period is normally two weeks and up to eight books may be borrowed. Students will also be encouraged to use their nearest University library.

The University card also provides access to facilities at Oxford University Computing Service (OUCS), 13 Banbury Road, Oxford. Computing facilities are available to students in the Students'Computing Facility in Rewley House and at Ewert House.

Provision for students with disabilities

The Department’s aim is to treat all students equally and we welcome applications from students with disabilities. Individual student needs are taken into account as far as possible, providing necessary adaptations and assistance within the resources available. For example, if practical work such as excavation or surveying would present difficulties, other types of work can be arranged. If you disclose your disability on your application form (which will be confidential) we will aim to make reasonable adjustment to ensure all academically capable students are able to participate.

If you have a learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, there are ways in which the Department can support you in your study. Please discuss with us how we may be able to help you before you start your course. We can refer you to an educational psychologist for assessment, if needed, and aim to have any assistance identified available for you from the beginning of your studies. Financial assistance may be available for the cost of the assessment.

For matters relating to disability or learning difficulty, please contact the Access Officer on 01865 280355 or via email at registry@conted.ox.ac.uk

You can also obtain information from:

Disability Advisory Service
3 Worcester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BX
Telephone: 01865 280459
email: disability@admin.ox.ac.uk

Course structure

The course is divided into two one-year modules, Year A and Year B, which are run in alternate academic years (from October to September):

Year B begins in October 2017
Year A begins in October 2018

All students attend both modules, but they may be done in any order depending on year of admission. Because the course is modular there is no advantage to one combination over the other. Students normally study two consecutive modules and this is regarded as the best way to experience the course. However, in exceptional cases, regulations permit a student to intermit between modules (by permission of the Board of Studies only).

Both one-year modules have one core paper and two advanced papers spread over three terms.

Year A:

  • Core Paper: Method and Theory in Landscape Archaeology
  • Advanced Paper (Artefacts and Ecofacts in the Landscape)
  • Advanced Paper (Archaeological Prospection)

Year B:

  • Core Paper: Managing Historic Landscapes in the 21st Century
  • Advanced Paper (Digital Landscapes)
  • Advanced Paper (Reading the Historic Landscape)
  • Field Training Week

Instead of one advanced paper, students may choose to opt for a ‘flexi-placement’ comprising at least 14 days spread over approximately one year to be spent working at an organisation which is involved in an aspect of landscape archaeology. The Course Director will supply details of these.

The dissertation (15,000 words) is the student’s own project which develops throughout the course and is submitted at the end of the second module. It can be based on a piece of fieldwork, or a methodological or artefactual study. Each student will be assigned a tutor who will supervise their dissertation. A dissertation workshop is held each year to help students work together on this essential course element.

In addition, once every two years (in late June - early July of Year B) a compulsory field survey training week will take place. Each student will also have a series of tutorials with the course director and tutors; these may take place in person or on-line.

Course content and timetable

All assignment titles, submission deadlines, reading lists, field visit and field work locations will be supplied when you have taken up your place. The course is based at Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JA. Some classes may take place at Ewert House, Ewert Place, Oxford (the Department’s teaching annexe off Banbury Rd, Summertown, North Oxford).

YEAR B COURSE OUTLINE, 2017-2018

Matriculation Ceremony Saturday 14 October 2017,
Compulsory for new students; followed by college welcome and lunch. Your college will inform you of other dates in the college. Location: your college

Course Induction (new students only): Sunday 15 October 2017, 10.00am - 3.00pm
One day including orientation session and short field visit within Oxford. Location: Rewley House.

Teaching Sessions

TERM 1
Core Paper (2 x 2,500 word assignments)
METHOD AND THEORY IN LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY
Analysis of conceptual frameworks and research designs in landscape archaeology covering multi-period perspectives
Four Saturdays: 28 October, 11 November, 25 November, 9 December 2017

TERM 2
Dissertation Workshop (all students) 13 January 2018

Advanced Paper (1 x 5,000 word assignment)
ARTEFACTS AND ECOFACTS IN THE LANDSCAPE
Studying palaeoenvironmental evidence and techniques; also surface scatters based on ceramics and lithics: depositional and preservational factors, one practical fieldwalking day.
Four Saturdays: 27 January, 17 February, 3 March, 17 March 2018

TERM 3
Advanced Paper (1 x 5,000 word assignment)
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION
Principles and applications of archaeological geophysics in landscape survey; other techniques such as Lidar interpretation. Two Saturdays and one full weekend: 5 May, 19 May, 23 June, 6 July 2018

Field Survey Training Week
Seven days (Sat-Fri) 2-8 June 2018

 

YEAR B COURSE OUTLINE, 2018-2019

Induction: TBC

Teaching Sessions

TERM 1
Core Paper (2 x 2,500 word assignment)

MANAGING THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPES IN THE 21st CENTURY
Issues and approaches to landscape management in the present day: one field visit.
Four Saturdays: Dates TBC

TERM 2
Dissertation Workshop (all students) - one Saturday: TBC
Advanced Paper (1 x 5,000 word assignment)
DIGITAL LANDSCAPES Digital mapping, analysis and GIS, supported practical teaching and exercises.
Four Saturdays: Dates TBC

TERM 3
Advanced Paper (1 x 5,000 word assignment)
READING THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPE
Historic landscape archaeology; two field visits
Four Saturdays: Dates TBC

Field Survey Training Week (1 week, full-time, runs Saturday-Friday): Dates TBC likely to be May or June. COURSE ELEMENTS APPLICABLE TO BOTH YEARS
Optional Flexi-Placements
Minimum 14 days within a period of not more than one year in terms 2 - 6 (by mutual arrangement of student and placement tutor). Students will be given real work within the organisations, and their placement project portfolios will be supervised by the placement tutors.


Placements must be focused on a specific piece of original or semi-original research or development work within the programme of the placement organisation, eg a digital archive; a finds report; an analysis of a geophysical plot; a fieldwork report, to be presented as a practical portfolio. Text word limit: 5,000 words, equivalent to one Advanced Paper.
15,000 word dissertation
A dissertation must be a piece of independent research, and may involve fieldwork.

Assessment methods

This course is 100% continuous assessment: there are no written exami- nations. Each core paper consists of two 2,500 word assignments, each advanced paper consists of one 5,000 word assignment (or in the case of a placement, an equivalent-sized placement report); the field training week logbook and the 15,000 word dissertation complete the written requirements. At the end of the course, students attend a viva voce (oral) examination.

The total marks over the two-year programme are awarded as follows:
Core Papers 20% (10% each year)
Advanced Papers 40% (20% each year)
Field Week Logbook 5%
Dissertation 35%

IT requirements

This course uses the Department’s online assignment submission system. In order to prepare and submit your course assignments you will need access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification. Students of this course may use the student computing facilities provided in Departmental buildings.

Course tutors

David Griffiths, Director of Studies in Archaeology at OUDCE and Reader in Archaeology, has taught at Oxford University Department for Continuing Education since 1999, prior to which he was a full-time professional archaeologist. His period interests are early medieval, and he runs field projects in NW England, Wales and Orkney.

Tutors for individual papers include:

Dr Alison MacDonald, Departmental Lecturer in Archaeology at OUDCE. Alison's background is in Roman/Classical archaeology.

Dr Olaf Bayer, expert in landscape prehistory and Research Associate at OUDCE, was a temporary Departmental Lecturer at OUDCE in 2014-15 and is now a field investigator working at Historic England.

Dr Tony Johnson, Research Laboratory for Archaeology, Oxford, and Oxford Archaeotechnics Ltd, an expert in practical survey and landscape geophysics.

Roger M. Thomas, Senior Analyst, Historic England, a leading authority in archaeological resource management.

Dr Mike Allen FSA, one of the UK’s foremost palaeoenvironmental archaeologists, has taught on this course since 2010.

John Pouncett, Spatial Technology Officer at the School of Archaeology, Oxford University, teaches the paper on Digital Landscapes.

Who can apply?

Prior to applying, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact our Course Team at email ppaward@conted.ox.ac.uk. The Course Director is available by appointment to talk to prospective applicants about the course; if this is of interest to you please notify the course team. 

For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.


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https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/msc-in-applied-landscape-archaeology

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Disciplines

Archaeology

Culture

Study Levels

Master’s

Eligible Countries

International

Host Countries

United Kingdom