BSc / MSci Natural Sciences specialising in Archaeology Programme Specification 2023-24

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised February 2023
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6	Programme Title			BSc / MSci Natural Sciences specialising in Archaeology.
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8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2023		Award type			BSc / MSci
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10	What level is this qualification?			6/7		Length of programme			3 years / 4 years
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12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full-time
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14	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			yes		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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16	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			Natural Sciences
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18	Lead department			Natural Sciences		Other contributing departments			Archaeology, Biology, Chemistry, Environment & Geography.
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20	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
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22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			campus-based
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24	Partner organisations
25	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
26	N/A
27	N/A
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29	Reference points
30	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
31	All programmes and pathways for Natural Sciences have been designed according to the University’s Framework for Programme design for undergraduates. The Academic Quality team have been consulted about any queries that have arisen. The modules are taken from contributing departments and therefore the programmes and pathways will consist of modules that conform to specific benchmark statements. All Natural Sciences programmes and pathways are accredited by the Society for Natural Sciences. The Society has been consulted about the proposed changes and will reassess the programmes once they are finalised. Key to accreditation is the ethos within the programmes of interdisciplinarity and this has been maintained.
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34	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
35	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
36	No
37	No
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39	Exceptions to Regulations
40	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
41	N/A
42	N/A
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44	Internal Transfers
45	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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47		Transfers in:	No			Transfers out:	Yes
48			No				Yes
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50	Statement of Purpose
51	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
52	All Natural Science programmes at the University of York aim to produce leaders in science, technology and industry who will have the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to succeed in complex research and business environments. You will learn how science is conducted in different disciplines, how to operate within different methodological communities, and how to apply techniques and ideas across multiple disciplines. As a Natural Sciences student specialising in Archaeology, you will spend the majority of your time studying in the Department of Archaeology, a department at the forefront of archaeological research and innovative teaching, employing a wide range of teaching methods and assessments. Expert staff have created your degree to offer a range of modules that reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the subject, incorporating aspects of the humanities, sciences and social sciences. The modules have been chosen to complement material learnt in the other science disciplines that you study in your first two years. As well as engaging with key themes and debates in archaeology, students are trained in the hard skills entailed by data generation and analysis; in the design and execution of both independent and team projects; and in the presentation of ideas to public and professional audiences through written, visual, and oral forms of presentation, using a range of digital applications. During your degree you will experience a variety of hands-on practical based activities including a choice of wide ranging specialised skills within the sub-discipline of archaeological science including the options of laboratory work with environmental or bioarchaeological material or prospection, GIS or digital reconstruction. All this, alongside your early foundation in Biology, Environment & Geography and Chemistry (for those on the Archaeology/ Biology/ Chemistry/ Environment & Geography pathway) will mark you out as an Archaeologist with a strong sense of interdisciplinary science. The four-year MSci will further develop your expertise in cutting-edge bioarchaeological approaches and have you playing an active role in the development and/or application of new techniques, providing valuable training and expertise for a wide range of careers and further study in Archaeology or related scientific subjects.
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63	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
64	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
65	BSc(Hons)			No	N/A			360 credits
66	MSci(Hons)			No	N/A			480 credits
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68	Programme Learning Outcomes BSc
69	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
70	1	Engage critically in debates around scholarship that inform current archaeological and heritage issues applicable to multiple periods of human society, using evidence from the UK and elsewhere in the world
71	2	Design, execute and evaluate archaeological and scientific research projects to a standard informed by key scientific and theoretical knowledge and legal and professional principles and methodologies in an international context
72	3	Generate, document and manage primary archaeological data from diverse sources of evidence and contexts and conduct analysis using a range of digital technology, and be able to apply these skills across disciplines
73	4	Operate effectively as constructive and inclusive leaders and confident participants in teamwork using data from multi-disciplinary field and/or laboratory projects.
74	5	Apply critical and creative approaches to problem-solving in complex situations with diverse, fragmentary datasets that reflect biases in their generation, survival, identification and documentation of biological material
75	6	Exploit the synergies between Archaeological science and other science based disciplines by using the principles themes, concepts and methodologies of Archaeology as appropriate to a Natural Scientist.
76	7	Confidently explain, communicate and debate ideas through written, visual, and oral forms of presentation to a wide range of public and professional audiences using print and digital media
77	8	Contribute as independent scholars the field of bioarchaeology and science in general through rigorous and imaginative inquiry in multi-disciplinary contexts
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79	Programme Learning Outcomes - MSci
80	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
81	1	Engage critically in advanced debates and scholarship that inform current archaeological issues applicable to multiple periods of human society, using diverse evidence from the UK and elsewhere in the world
82	2	Design, execute and evaluate archaeological and scientific research projects to a professional standard informed by key scientific and theoretical knowledge and legal and professional principles and methodologies in an international context
83	3	Systematically generate, document and manage primary archaeological data from diverse sources of evidence and contexts and conduct complex analyses using a range of digital technology, and be able to apply critically these skills across disciplines.
84	4	Operate effectively as independent, constructive and inclusive leaders and confident, proactive and collaborative participants in teamwork using data from multi-disciplinary field and/or laboratory projects.
85	5	Apply critical and creative approaches to problem-solving in complex and unpredictable situations with diverse, fragmentary datasets that reflect biases in their generation, survival, identification and documentation of biological material.
86	6	Exploit the synergies between Archaeological science and other science based disciplines by using advanced principles themes, concepts and methodologies of Archaeology as appropriate to a Natural Scientist.
87	7	Confidently explain, communicate and debate ideas through high quality written, visual, and oral forms of presentation with sensitivity to the needs of a wide range of public and professional audiences using print and digital media.
88	8	Contribute as autonomous and self-reflective scholars to the field of bioarchaeology and science in general through rigorous, independent and imaginative inquiry in multi-disciplinary contexts
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90	Diverse entry routes
91	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
92	All our students are welcomed by a dedicated induction session that sets out overall expectations, but importantly also signposts the various ways in which help is available to students. Given the interdisciplinary nature of our programmes, the support is layered on three levels. First port of call for each student is their pastoral supervisor. We ensure that students from non-typical entry routes are assigned an experienced supervisor. Secondly, the chair of BoS and student support team can field more generic questions about learning support and advise on accessing the Academic Skills Community that is essential for our students to fill gaps of skills knowledge. Finally, our set of dedicated subject facilitators and pathway leaders can help students with deeper discipline specific issues. Importantly, we dedicate 30 min of direct face-to-face time between students and subject facilitators in the first week, to make sure the lines of communication are open from the get-go and no student is left behind.
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