Swedish name: Masterprogram i landskapsarkeologi/miljöarkeologi
This programme syllabus is valid: HT22 and until further notice
Programme code: HALMM
Credit points: 120
Registration number: FS 3.3.3-1907-21
Responsible faculty: Faculty of Art
Established by: Vice-Chancellor, 2021-02-02
Revised by: Faculty of arts, 2021-09-17
A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are 90 ECTS in any of the following subjects, Archaeology, Environmental Archaeology, Geography, Geology, History, Anthropology, Classics, Biological and/or environmental sciences, or an equivalent/ related subject. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.
After completing the study program, a student who has applied for a degree certificate can obtain a Philosophy Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) according to the local qualification descriptor established by the Vice-Chancellor (see Umeå University's web site). The Swedish translation of Degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) is Filosofie masterexamen. The degree is awarded in the main field of either Landscape Archaeology or Environmental Archaeology.
This education is offered on second cycle level (Advanced). The expectations for second-cycle courses and study programs can be found in Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Higher Education Act. Advanced level education shall be essentially based on the knowledge that students gain in undergraduate education or equivalent knowledge. Advanced level education shall involve deepening of knowledge, skills and abilities in relation to basic education and shall, in addition to what applies to basic education:
* further develop the students' ability to independently integrate and use
knowledge,
* develop a students' ability to deal with complex facts/data, issues and
situations, and
* develop the students' conditions for professional activities that place great demands on independence or for research and development work. Lag (2006: 173).
The national targets for the degree can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance, Appendix 2.
Knowledge and understanding
For the master's degree, the student must:
* demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the main area of education, including both broad knowledge in the field as well as significant in-depth knowledge in certain areas, as well as demonstrating in-depth insight into current research and development work, and
* demonstrate in-depth methodological knowledge within the main area of the education.
Skills and Abilities
For the master's degree, the student must:
* demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyze, assess and handle complex facts/data, issues and situations even on the basis of limited information,
* demonstrate the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues, to plan, and with appropriate methods competently undertake tasks within given time frames and thereby contribute to the development of knowledge, and to be able to evaluate this work,
* demonstrate the ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions, including the knowledge and arguments on which they are based, in dialogue with different groups in both national and international contexts, and
* demonstrate the skills required to participate in research and development work or to work independently and competently in other activities.
Critical Review and Approach
For the master's degree, the student must
* demonstrate the ability to make assessments with regard to the main area of the education in relation to relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects as well as show awareness of the ethical aspects of research and development work,
* show insight into the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society and human responsibility for its use, and
* demonstrate the ability to identify their own need for additional knowledge and to take responsibility for their knowledge development.
To be granted a Master's Degree in Landscape or Environmental Archaeology at Umeå University, in addition to the National goals, the student must achieve the local goals of:
Skills and Abilities
For the master's degree, the student must
* demonstrate the skills required to integrate scientific and humanities methods within a project to increase its effectiveness as a professional archaeologist or researcher
* demonstrate the ability to actively participate in current debates about the chosen main area's place in research and professional archeology.
* demonstrate the ability to be critical of popular notions of the past with a special focus on ancient landscapes, as well as environmental and climate change.
Details of examination procedures (means of assessment) and formats can be found in the individual course curricula.
Each course syllabus states what grades are to be used in each course. Those who pass an exam may not retake the exam for a higher grade.
Student who considers themselves to possess knowledge from previous relevant studies or who have professional or vocational experience that can be comparable to a course or part of a course in the study programme, can apply for transfer of credits. Approved transfer of credits means that the student does not need to take the part, or those parts, of the education that the decision covers. Information about transfer of credits can be found on Umeå University's web site.
Compulsory courses are the courses that all students in the program normally study. Any student who follows the study program is guaranteed a place on all compulsory courses, provided that the eligibility requirements for the current course are met. Eligibility requirements are specified in the respective course syllabus.
Elective courses are a selection of courses that Umeå University offers within the framework of the program where the student chooses which of these courses, he/she would like to register for. The student is guaranteed a place on one of these courses provided that the eligibility requirements for the current courses are met. However, the student is not guaranteed a place on their first-choice course (e.g. if courses are oversubscribed or rested). Eligibility requirements are stated in the respective course syllabus.
Free courses within the program are applied for in open competition. Free courses can be taken at Umeå University or other higher education institutions in Sweden or abroad.
Under the heading "Study plan", the courses included in the program are listed in the order they are read.
Arrangement
This program is relevant for those wishing to:
* develop a career in archaeology, commercial archaeology, field archaeology, landscape archaeology, environmental archaeology, palaeoecology, Quaternary geology or other similar subjects where a knowledge and understanding of human-landscape interactions in the past, and past environments, climates and human activities is important.
* complement previous training with a strong skills set for excavation, survey, analysis, interpretation and presentation of archaeological and environmental archaeological data.
* learn transferable skills applicable to a wide variety of field and lab-based subjects, including both quantitative and qualitative methods.
* understand past landscape, environmental and climate change (both natural and anthropogenic) from a long-term perspective and understand how such change relates to the sustainability of societies.
This is a two-year program, in which the student chooses a subject specialization in either landscape archeology or environmental archeology. The goal is to achieve a master's degree after two years. It is also possible to graduate after completing the first year (Diploma Stage).
The Master's degree program is strongly problem- and solution-oriented with an emphasis on the learning of professional (vocational) and transferable skills in landscape archaeology or environmental archaeology for use in a professional or research career. This is achieved through skills development and application in landscape and environmental archaeology. The degree can be read in its entirety in English if the student chooses to combine with free courses in the English-language.
In year 1 students follow five compulsory courses (60 credits), including a Master/Magister thesis (15 credits) that may be used as part of a Master/Magister qualification (one year Master's degree).
In year 2, students follow a 30-credit core course (Master thesis) and select one of two pathways that either allow them to specialise in a particular set of methods (15 credits) and choose optional/elective courses (15 credits); or choose 30 credits of optional/elective courses. Internships are voluntary; a student who wants to do an internship can do so within the framework of an elective course (15 credits). Students may choose to take an internship amounting to 15 credits. The student is expected to be actively involved in the planning of and search for a suitable internship position. During year 2, the student also writes a master's thesis within the framework of a compulsory 30 credits course. The thesis is the degree project for a master's degree.
Information about deferment of studies can be found on Umeå University's web site.
Information about leave from studies can be found on Umeå University's web site. The application is submitted to the program coordinator.
Information about non-completion can be found on Umeå University's web site. Students who interrupt their education shall notify their dropout to the Program Coordinator.
This syllabus for the program is basically a broadening of the plan that has applied to the master's program in environmental archeology. The previous master's program and its courses are in practice incorporated into this program. Access to courses in the program is governed by the course syllabus.
Courses with an asterisk (*) are mandatory. For year 1, courses with two asterisks (**) mean that they are compulsory and partly common to both disciplines. For year 2 two asterisks (**) mean that the format is the same for both subject areas. To find out what compulsory, elective and free courses entail, see discussion under the heading "General" above.
Year 1
Landscape Archaeology Pathway:
Semester 1
* 1AR073 Landscape Archaeology: Field, Cartography and Surveying Skills…… (15 ECTS)
Course 1. Research skills in landscape studies
Course 2. Field Methods
** 1AR074 Landscape & Environmental Archaeology: Advanced History, Theory &
Methodology………………….………(15 ECTS)
Course 1a (Landscapes Pathway). History and Theory of Landscape
Archaeology Research
Course 2. Methodology and Case Studies
Environmental Archaeology Pathway:
Semester 1
* 1AR075 Environmental archaeology - field and laboratory Methods………….(15 ECTS)
Course 1. Field methods in environmental archaeology
Course 2. Laboratory methods
** 1AR074 Landscape & Environmental Archaeology: Advanced History, Theory & Methodology………(15 ECTS)
Course 1b. (Environmental Pathway). Theory and history of Environmental Archaeology research
Course 2. (As Above)
Year 1
Semester 2
** GIS for Landscape & Environmental Archaeology (15 ECTS)
** Magister Thesis (15 ECTS)
Year 1: Compulsory Module for both Landscape and Environmental Archaeology Pathways: Magister Thesis 15 Credits
Year 1: * Modules with an Asterisk are compulsory modules, those with ** are both compulsory and (in part) the same module for both study pathways
Year 2
Landscape Archaeology Pathway:
Semester 3 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….
Optional Pathways:……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1. Vocational Path……………………………………………………………………………………….………………….
Optional/elective courses (see Options list) or internship…………………..…..……………….
Landscape archaeology - methodological specialism…………………….………………………..
**2. Research Track………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Optional/elective courses (see below) or internship
Environmental Archaeology Pathway:
Semester 3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Optional Pathways:……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1. Vocational Path………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Specializing in archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, palaeoentomology, palynology, digital environmental archaeology)……………………………..…..………………………..
Internship………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
**2. Research Path……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………
Optional/elective courses (see options list below) or internship…………………….
Year 2: ** Same format for both study pathways
Optional/Elective Courses (depending on availability):
Landscape & Environmental Specialisms
Artefact Studies (7.5 ECTS)
Advanced Reading the Landscape (7.5 ECTS)
Soils and Archaeology (7.5 ECTS)
Reading for Meaning (7.5 ECTS)
The Cultural Prehistory of Norrland (7.5 ECTS)
European Prehistory and Material Culture (7.5 ECTS)
Between the Wet and the Wild - Wetland Landscapes & Sustainability (7.5 ECTS)
From the Wild to the Tame - Hunter-gatherer to Farmer landscape studies (7.5 ECTS)
Practical training in environmental archaeology (15 ECTS)
Environmental archaeology - methodological specialisation (15 ECTS)
Environmental Archaeology: Advanced Study in Theory and Methodology II (7.5 ECTS)
Forensic Archaeology (7.5 ECTS)
Note:
Students must arrange work placement and internships themselves (within the optional pathways Year 2 Semester 3).
Optional courses:
Students may read up to 30 credits of optional courses within the framework of the programme. These courses may be taken at either Umeå University or other universities, and can be used to tailor the student's education to their specific interests or requirements.
Year 2:
Semester 4
*Master Thesis 30 (ECTS)
Independent Work/Thesis in Landscape and/or Environmental Archeology
Year 2: * Compulsory Module