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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Postgraduate (History, Classics and Archaeology)

Postgraduate Course: Research Sources and Strategies in Archaeology (PGHC11079)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course has two main aims: 1) to help you to commence research for a dissertation and to provide guidance on good research practices; 2) to give you practice in some practical research exercises and communication skills, including presenting a research topic or proposal to peers using PowerPoint, preparing a poster about your proposed research and writing a research proposal.
Course description The course differs from most other MSc Archaeology/Osteoarchaeology courses in that it is not tied to any single theme, period or place, although there is a strong emphasis on Research Skills (including communication skills) and general knowledge of academic practice within the discipline. The first part of the course (semester 1) consists primarily of potential research subjects and formats in Archaeology, coupled with presentations on selected topics. The second part of the course (semester 2) deals mainly with research and dissertation writing skills, ethics, SPSS, and presentation skills (visual and written). The course encourages you to learn while thinking more actively and independently about your own research.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Research Sources and Strategies in Bioarchaeology (PGHC11475)
Other requirements All students taking this course must attend the Health & Safety Awareness training session at the start of the semester. If this course is not on your Degree Programme Table you must seek the permission of the course organiser before being enrolled in this course.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 60 %, Practical Exam 40 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework:
a 1,500 word (excluding bibliography) research proposal (40%);
a poster (20%)

Non-Written Skills:
a PowerPoint presentation (40%)
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Devise a programme of research and to locate relevant sources of information.
  2. Understand and apply research skills to the investigation of material or other topics for a dissertation;
  3. Develop and sustain original scholarly arguments in oral and written form by independently formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence;
  4. Demonstrate originality and independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers.
Reading List
Biggam, J. 2011. Succeeding with your Master's Dissertation. A step-by-step handbook. Open University Press (2nd ed).

Swetnam, D. & Swetnam, R. 2009. Writing your Dissertation. Howtobooks, Oxford (3rd ed).

Wallace, M. & Wray, A. 2011. Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates. Sage Study Skills. (2nd ed).
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsRSSinArch
Contacts
Course organiserDr Robert Leighton
Tel: (0131 6)50 8197
Email: Robert.Leighton@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Mel Baker
Tel: (0131 6)50 4030
Email: mel.baker@ed.ac.uk
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