External summary

Classical Archaeology as a discipline has traditionally included the study of Classical Art as well as the Archaeology of Greece and Rome. The staff who teach Classical Art and Archaeology at Edinburgh are all experts in, and passionate about, different aspects of the subject, and we welcome graduate students who share our interests. The material we study may take us into art history, social history, or scientific archaeology, but we focus on the Greek and Roman civilisations (broadly defined — we study the cities of Athens and Rome, but also the furthest reaches of the Roman Empire).

The MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology is designed for a variety of applicants, but in particular those who have previously studied some aspect of the Classical World (Ancient History, Classical Archaeology, Classical Civilisation or Greek and Latin). It takes advantage of the complementary expertise of the other members of staff in Classics in order to provide an interdisciplinary curriculum. Students are also provided with training in research methodology alongside other graduate students in Classics, and are thus given a grounding in research methods which is invaluable for further postgraduate research at doctoral level.

The degree provides students with a range of courses on Greek and Roman art and archaeology which are designed to reflect the research interests of the various lecturers: by choosing courses of interest to them, each student’s programme will be different, and a further element of personalisation is provided in the choice of dissertation topic. Classical Archaeology students also attend the weekly Classics Research Seminars, and form their own subsection of a lively graduate community in Classics.

Educational aims of programme

The MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology is a taught one-year postgraduate programme, which studies the ancient Greek and Roman worlds from the Iron Age to the Late Roman/Early Byzantine period through their material remains. It draws upon the expertise of several members of the Classics Subject Area who have research interests, teaching experience and experience of postgraduate supervision in this area and complements others in Classics, such as Ancient History and Hellenistic Studies.

The principal aims of the programme are:

• To provide students with the intellectual background, training, and support necessary for the conduct and critical assessment of research in Classical Art and Archaeology.

• To provide students with advanced knowledge of and competency in a specific area of Classics.

• To familiarise students with various methods used in the study of Classical Art and Archaeology and enable them to work in a manner that is theoretically and methodologically engaged.

• To equip students with knowledge of Greek and/or Roman artefacts and their interpretation through study of original objects and monuments and careful analysis of secondary literature

• To develop and test the ability of students to formulate and sustain a substantial piece of research in Classical Art and Archaeology.

The programme provides an academic experience both for those who wish to undertake a taught MSc course at postgraduate level and for those who require the training and confidence that the MSc degree provides as the basis for further postgraduate study or as a foundation for careers in museum work, the cultural heritage industry, or education through the following attributes: 

• it provides students with the intellectual environment, background, training and support essential for the conduct of research in Classical Art and Archaeology;

• it provides students with a specific body of advanced knowledge;

• it trains students in advanced methodology and in the evaluation of evidence of varying and sometimes conflicting kinds through the close study of relevant primary and secondary sources;

• it familiarises students with archaeological debates and modes of archaeological explanation;

• it trains students in the discipline of rigorous argument;

• it trains students to conceive and execute a coherent project in archaeological research and writing;
• it develops a range of more generic transferable skills, such as precise oral and written communication, independent study, problem-solving and time management.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

Graduates from the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology will possess and demonstrate:

• An advanced knowledge of the material culture of the Classical world and how it can be used to enhance understanding of the societies that produced it

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used by Classical Archaeologists, including specialisms such as (depending on the options chosen) numismatics or the study of Greek vases

• An advanced understanding and critical appreciation of the role played by art and artefacts in expressing political, religious and other ideas in the Classical world

• A greater understanding of the differences between the various areas and periods of the Classical World, and how they relate to one another

• A sophisticated understanding of the relationship between the evidence drawn from art and archaeology and other types of evidence (literary, historical etc.) for Classical society

• Knowledge of and discrimination between a range of viewpoints and interpretations of the material remains of the Classical civilisations

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

Graduates from the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology will possess and demonstrate:

• An advanced ability to draw conclusions from the material remains (Art, artefacts and archaeology) of the Graeco-Roman civilisations

• An advanced ability to collect and organise information about the material remains of the Classical World

• An advanced ability to describe and analyse objects and sites and to assess their role and significance within their relevant societies

• An advanced ability to identify interpretations of the evidence that are contentious and to discriminate between them

• An advanced ability to formulate and defend their own opinions and interpretation of the evidence
• An advanced ability to think creatively and imaginatively

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

Graduates from the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology will possess and demonstrate:

• A high ability to exercise informed critical judgement with regard to the study of Greek and Roman art/archaeology
• A high ability to gather, organise and evaluate complex and varied primary data independently
• An advanced ability to use the data collected alongside secondary reading to formulate complex arguments
• An advanced ability to formulate their own opinion on the basis of the ancient evidence, and to express views that are new or different.
• An advanced ability to test, modify and strengthen their views through collaboration and debate with other students and staff
• An advanced ability to reflect on the role played by art and material culture in both ancient and modern societies.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

Graduates from the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology will possess and demonstrate:

• An advanced ability to make effective use of oral, written and visual means to communicate their understanding of the Classical world to others

• An advanced ability to argue lucidly, coherently and concisely, both in writing and in speaking

• An advanced ability to present visual material in a coherent and accessible way

• An advanced ability to think on their feet in response to unexpected evidence or questions

• An advanced ability to present the results of their research lucidly in a way accessible to non-specialists as well as specialists both orally and in writing
• An advanced ability to present their views in collaboration with others

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

Graduates from the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology will possess and demonstrate:

An advanced ability to assimilate and process a wide range of information from a variety of sources

• An advanced ability to work independently and formulate for themselves research questions and the methods to answer them
• An advanced ability to think under pressure
• An advanced ability to manage workloads and meet deadlines
• An advanced ability to contribute to wider debates and issues on the basis of their knowledge of the Classical world
• An advanced ability to collaborate effectively with others and to learn from them.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

Graduates from the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology will possess and demonstrate:

• A range of archaeological and /or art historical skills, depending on the options chosen

• A high command of bibliographical and library research skills

• An advanced ability to use a range of research resources such a libraries, picture databases and catalogues, archives and museums

• An advanced ability to employ a range of electronic resources and presentation aids (eg electronic databases, powerpoint etc.)

Programme structure and features

The MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology offers a rigorous academic programme of study that enhances students understanding of issues of equality, diversity, and sustainability through the study of societies that are different to our own, not least in their material culture. Students on this programme are required to conceptualise their own place in today’s world against the backdrop of a material culture, or, rather, cultures, that are on the one hand very different to our own, but that have left nonetheless a visible sustained legacy to the modern world in many forms, including building techniques; perceptions of materials, space, or beauty; the self; light; visibility; etc.

Structure and SCQF credit values

Programme Structure and Credit Values

The modular structure of the MSc in Classical Art and Archaeology allows students to construct a flexible curriculum which permits concentration on areas of particular interest alongside breadth of coverage.

Students choose four courses from a list of options (worth 20 credits each and normally examined by essays of 3500-5000 words). These enable them to work with increasing independence on advanced scholarship and prepare them for the final stage of the Masters, the dissertation (60 credits). Latin or Greek modules may be taken in place of one or two of these courses. In addition there are two required research training courses (20 credits each).

The course is taught through a combination of small-group seminars and one-to-one supervision with private study.

Courses that may be available:

The SCQF credit level of the courses offered on this programme is SCQF Level 11. In exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the Programme Director, the Classics Graduate Director and the Head of Classics, up to 20 credits may be taken from SCQF credit level 10.

The dissertation (60 credits) is 15,000 words in length and is an independent research project supervised by one or more members of the academic staff. You have considerable freedom to define your own dissertation project, as long as it is a feasible project which one or more staff members have the expertise to supervise.

Progression requirements

Following the coursework stage (based on semester one and two courses), the Board of Examiners meets in May and is responsible for deciding whether students have satisfied the requirements of the Diploma stage of the programme and whether candidates can progress to the dissertation stage of candidature for the Masters programme.

In order to progress to the masters dissertation candidates

• attain at least 80 credits with a pass at masters level or more in each of the separate elements and

• be awarded an aggregate pass at masters level for the 120 credits of study in semesters one and two

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Practices

The programme's outcomes, detailed below, are assessed by means of coursework for the courses taken and the dissertation. Coursework will total approximately 15,000 words, while the dissertation is 12,000-15,000 words.

Modes of Study

The programme may be taken full time over twelve months or part-time over twenty four months.

Exit Awards

Requirements for the Award of the Diploma

In order to be awarded the diploma candidates must:

• attain at least 80 credits with a pass at diploma level or more in each of the separate elements and

• be awarded an aggregate pass at diploma level for the 120 credits of study examined for the diploma

Requirements for the Award of the MSc

In order to be awarded a masters degree candidates must:

• have satisfied the requirements for progression, as laid out above, and

• attain 60 credits, by achieving a pass at masters level for the dissertation

Requirements of the Award of the MSc with Distinction

The Masters degree may be awarded with distinction. To achieve a distinction, a student must have been awarded at least 70% on the University’s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation and must also have been awarded a mark of at least 69% for the coursework element.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Teaching and Learning strategies employed at the University of Edinburgh consist of a variety of different methods appropriate to the programme aims. The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the course.

Teaching and Learning Activities

Seminars

Practicals and museum/site visits

Language classes and tutorials

Assessment methods and strategies

Assessment

Courses can be assessed by a diverse range of methods and often takes the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit. 

Various assessment methods are used dependent on course options taken, but may include essays and written exams.

Career opportunities

This programme provides an academic experience for those who wish to undertake a taught course at postgraduate level, and for those who require training in research methodology and the confidence it provides as the grounding for further study at doctoral level.  It might also provide a foundation for careers in related areas such as museum work, the cultural heritage industry, or education for example.

However, having chosen courses of interest to them, each graduate’s programme will be different, and a further element of personalisation will have been provided by their dissertation topic.  Outlined in this DPS are a range of specific skills and abilities they have the potential to develop.  Graduates may also combine skills gained from their undergraduate studies, along with other non-academic experience, to decide on their next steps. 

Subsequently, graduates from this programme go into work in a wide variety of job sectors and roles, or further study and vocational training.  Given that the career options are broad, an ability to identify their individual interests, motivations and skill set, to research opportunities, and gather sufficient relevant experience  is key to success.  For information and support with career planning, consult the postgraduate section of the Careers Service website:  www.ed.ac.uk/careers/postgrad

Other items

The Programme Director is responsible for monitoring and reporting on students’ overall academic progress, as well as offering pastoral support. The Graduate Officer in the Subject Area will offer additional academic and pastoral advice and support to each student.  The Graduate Officer, in conjunction with the Programme Director and the Head of Classics, will ensure that a supervisor is appointed to guide students through the process of completing the dissertation. (Depending on the choice of topic, two supervisors may be appointed.)

Access is provided to a networked wireless graduate study room with 38 desktop PCs, as well as two further graduate study rooms containing book collections, wireless networking and study space. These are maintained by Information Services via an e-Learning and Web Development Officer. Information Services also offer students access to training courses in a range of computing applications. 

MSc students are also encouraged to engage with and attend the various research seminar programmes organised by the School so as to familiarise themselves with current research issues and to develop their discursive skills.