ARCH8030 Archaeological Science Research Project 1

Offered By	School of Archaeology and Anthropology
Academic Career	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject	Archaeology
Offered in	Summer Session, 2012, First Semester, 2012, Autumn Session, 2012, Winter Session, 2012, Second Semester, 2012, Spring Session, 2012, Summer Session, 2013, First Semester, 2013, Autumn Session, 2013, Winter Session, 2013, Second Semester, 2013, and Spring Session, 2013
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	This course underpins the research-led teaching framework which is central to the Masters in Archaeological Science program. The student designs and builds an individually tailored course program to address their particular interests, skills requirements and vocational training objectives. It allows students to gain skills which are not taught as part of regular classroom teaching at the graduate level, normally working closely alongside an individual staff researcher selected according to their specialist research focus. The selected researcher acts as chair supervisor and mentor for the project. The project may be either laboratory based, or based on combinations of supervised fieldwork followed by tuition in analysis and data interpretation. The project can include working with a specialist on fieldwork abroad or in Australia, and in topic areas too specialized or cross-disciplinary to be normally formally taught as electives. It may involve working with a specialist to gain skills in an area that is not usually formally taught at the ANU. Examples might include aspects of faunal analysis, midden or residue analysis, palynology, rock art research or advanced geological, GIS, or earth science techniques. The course coordinator arranges teaching for this course in consultation with the student and with available colleagues across contributing Colleges. The course has the same structure, and is complementary to, ARCH8031 Archaeological Science Project 2. The course allows skill development and progression from core frameworks introduced in the compulsory core course ARCH8032, which is a prerequisite.
Learning Outcomes	On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to: Scope, design and implement a research training plan in a specific topic area of Archaeological Science (or cognate areas eg. Quaternary Science). Demonstrate an appropriate level of competency in skills self-identified as training objectives at the concept stage of the project. Self-appraise the outcomes of the project critically and make recommendations as to improvements and "next-steps''. Present results from the project to a high professional standard and/or to a scholarly pre-publication standard.
Indicative Assessment	Research report or reports (total max.6000 words) based on laboratory/fieldwork studies engaged in (100%). A variety of media may be employed in the assessed portfolio as appropriate to the topic chosen eg portfolios of digital maps; annotated image library; analysed and interpreted questionnaire or survey results; laboratory data within summary report, a poster paper to a standard adequate for conference presentation.
Workload	Supervised laboratory/fieldwork archive research, and/or reading course over 12 weeks
Course Classification(s)	SpecialistSpecialist courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide for the acquisition of specialist skills; or 'second degree' and higher level of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs; or knowledge associated with professional accreditation.
Areas of Interest	Archaeology
Requisite Statement	ARCH8032
Programs	Master of Archaeological Science and Master of Archaeological Science (Research)
Academic Contact	Mr Tony Barham

The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.