Students will attend a fortnightly 1 hour seminar series to develop critical skills in research design and fieldwork management. In consultation with their supervisor, students may choose to attend a number of seminars running in ARCH8035, Research Seminars in Archaeological Science.

Students will present a seminar describing the aims and method they propose to use in their project; prepare a substantive written version of their seminar research proposal; and submit a detailed literature review.

Successful completion of this course is essential prior to approval for fieldwork.

Key learning outcomes:

• Engagement and understanding with leaders in the field of design and execution of archaeological research
• Critical skill development in examination of the processes of successful fieldwork (as research and data acquisition) in archaeological science
• Understanding long-term research issues in the subject and how these issues can change as new data are acquired
• Skill development in producing critiques of published research
• Understanding the drivers of long term shifts in thinking in archaeological enquiry
• Developing skills in testing regional and global theory in archaeology through site specific targets for research: "thinking global when digging local"
• Understanding the importance of "rogue" results and anomalies in reconfiguring research frameworks
• Development of research questions and proposed methodology for project, presented as a substantive written research proposal
• Critical review of relevant literature, contextualising the student's research aims and methods within their nominated sub-disciplinary specialisation.
• Developed oral presentation and debating skills to present research work to a peer audience.

Candidates will only be graded as pass or fail. To pass this course candidates are required to attend 75% of seminars and substantively contribute to those seminars. Student contributions in terms of discussion or formal responses will be scheduled.

Candidates are additionally required to:

• Present a seminar on their proposed project, defining and discussing their research questions and proposed methodology (20%)
• The seminar will be written up as a document 6,000 words in length (40%)
• A further piece of written work, also 6,000 words in length, will be a critical review of relevant literature, contextualising the student's research aims and methods within their nominated sub-disciplinary specialisation (40%)

Students will work closely with their supervisor in the development of a research proposal and literature review. Workload includes attendance at a fortnightly one-hour seminar, regular meetings with their supervisor, and with substantial reading and preparation work required for engagement in seminar sessions. Workload will average 10 hours per week.

Admission to Archaeology or Bioanthropology (including Forensic Anthropology) HDR program.

Acknowledgement of the different academic and professional backgrounds of commencing HDR students will be taken into account when determining the seminar program for each student. Students must discuss their requirements with their supervisor.

Reading lists and additional resources will be hosted on the MArchSci Wattle site.