MSc Bioarchaeology

at Durham University

Core modules (all routes):
 

• Research and Study Skills in Archaeological Science (30 credits, Term 1): The foundational skills module for the degree, which provides you with an advanced understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods, research design, and presentation and communication skills required for post-graduate level study and beyond. It will be team taught by a range of staff in the Department and Archaeological Services.

• Topics in Archaeological Science (30 credits, Term 2): This module explores key topics, research themes, and scientific methods in bioarchaeology, and enables you to critically evaluate their potential and limitations. It will be team taught by five of the Departments bioarchaeologists.

• Dissertation (60 credits, Term 3): The capstone of the degree, this 15,000-word thesis provides you with experience of sustained, rigorous, independent research on a bioarchaeology topic selected by you or a member of staff and guided and supervised by a member of staff who is an expert in the chosen field.

If you elect to take the general Bioarchaeology degree you will complete your degree by selecting any two of the modules from list A, or one from list A and one from List B.

List A modules:
 

• Environmental Archaeology (30 credits, Term 1): This module combines theoretical lectures, data analysis and presentation, and practical laboratory experience in three key strands of environmental archaeology: geoarchaeology, archaeobotany and zooarchaeology. It will be led by Professor Mike Church and Dr. Karen Milek.

• Osteoprofiling (30 credits, Term 1): This module is taught through lectures and practical laboratory sessions. In this module you will learn all aspects of skeletal analysis, including bone fragment identification, techniques of sex determination, estimating age-at-death (children and adults) and metrical and non-metrical assessment. As well as experience with different skeletons each week, you will be given a skeleton to work on and to present a report on at the end of term. It will be led by Professor Becky Gowland, Dr Daniel Gaudio and Dr Tina Jakob.

• Isotopic and Biomolecular Archaeology (30 credits, Term 2): This module focuses primarily on aDNA and isotopes. It combines theoretical lectures, data analysis and presentation, and practical laboratory experience. You will be expected to work as a team to produce datasets on which your three assessments (a specialist report, an academic poster and a non-specialist science communication) will be based. It will be led by Professor Janet Montgomery and Dr Eva Fernandez-Dominguez.

• Practical Guided Study (30 credits, Term 2): This module involves a practical-based research project on a topic selected by you in which you already have prior expertise, with training and supervision provided by a member of staff who is an expert in the chosen field. It results in a specialist report of 4,000 words.

List B modules:
 

• Themes in Palaeopathology (30 credits, Term 2): This module will be lead by Dr Tina Jakob and provides you with knowledge about how to conduct palaeopathological research using a biocultural approach, by considering specific themes and the evidence used to investigate them.

• Research Topics in Archaeology: Migration and Movement of People in Medieval and Post-Medieval Britain (30 credits, Term 2): This module will be led by Dr Andrew Millard and explores the isotopic evidence and the ancient and modern genetic evidence for the movement and migration of people in the past.

• Research Topics in Archaeology: Vikings, Fire and Ice – Environmental Archaeology of the North Atlantic Islands (30 credits, Term 2): This module will be led by Professor Mike Church and examines the nature of human-environment interactions across a variety of island systems in the North Atlantic, and addresses themes of colonisation and human impact, adaptation to marginal environments, and economic continuity and change.

• Research Topics in Archaeology: Current Geoarchaeology – Reconstructing Archaeological Sites (30 credits, Term 2): This module will be led by Dr Karen Milke introduces you to the range of geoarchaeological approaches currently being used to research daily life, living conditions, the use of space, and human-animal relations on archaeological sites.

A minimum of an upper second-class (2:1) degree (GPA 3.3.) or equivalent in Archaeology, Anthropology, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, or related disciplines. Relevant working experience will also be considered.

Reference Requirements

One satisfactory reference is required.

Fees and funding
 

• Home students    £11,000 per year
• EU students    £23,750 per year
• Island students    £11,000 per year
• International students    £23,750 per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Many of our postgraduates move into an academic career, either teaching or by taking up post-doctoral research positions in universities. Others join museums or national and regional heritage organisations. Some work in professional archaeology, in national or local planning departments, while others elect to use their analytical and presentation skills to gain positions in industry, commerce and government.