This course provides flexible intensity of learning as a 6 unit course. The course delivers low-intensity online learning built around an intensive class of 5 days duration. The content is variable - offering a variety of core areas of research expertise in Archaeological Science, always taught over one academic session. The course has a standard generic structure, but with varied topic content, like a reading course or sub-thesis.

Students commence the course with 4-5 weeks of tuition on-line at low intensity as preparation. The student then attends a 5 day intensive course normally on campus at the ANU, at the ANU Kioloa Field station, at NARU or at another laboratory or residential field location. This intensive five day program is followed up with work on tasks and course assessments with on-line supervision at low intensity, for delivery and completion by the end of the session.

In 2011, and normally each year, this course will deliver a minimum of three Master Class courses. The content and topics will vary from year to year, and will be selected according to student demand. At least ONE Master classes will be offered in each of the ANU Summer, Autumn and Spring Sessions from eg: 

• Lithic Artefact Identification and Analysis
• Coastal Shell Middens and Mounds in the Australian tropics
• Radiocaron dating for Archaeologists: potential and pitfalls in the Analysis, Interpretation and Calibration of radiocarbon age-estimates
• Isotope studies in Archaeological Science and Forensics Studies
• Forensic Geoscience and Archaeology
• Spatial Mapping in Archaeology

The basic topic list of modules available for each academic year will be published on the website and made available on study@ in the Spring Session of the preceeding year. 

On satisfactory completion of the course the student will have:

• Developed a basic understanding of skills and concepts in the thematic area defined for the Master Class.
• Practiced the core skills and handled materials, data and/or equipment which are appropriate to a basic level of research training or professional practice in the thematic area of the Master Class.
• Acquired a sound overview of contexts and situations in which the theme area is applied in archaeological practice.
• Reached  a level of expertise appropriate to designing a small project or desk-top study in which skills defined for the theme area of the Master Class could be applied.
• Achieved a critical level of understanding of basic literature for the theme area of the Master Class. 

Delivery of a scoping tasks/review paper ahead of the intensive week (30%); contributions to intensive course discussion/sessions and attendance (20%) and a project paper, completed in the second half of the academic session based on the module theme (50%), supported by on-line mentoring. All assessment to be completed within one ANU academic session. Word lengths not to exceed 2000 words on the scoping tasks/review paper (30%) and 4000 words on the project paper (50%).

The workload of this course will normally comprise i) 60 hours of preparation ii) 30-40 hours of intensive laboratory and/or field based tuition spread over 5 days for which attendance is compulsory and iii) up to 30-40 hours of follow-up tasks and/or private study for delivery of assessment tasks.

None beyond satisfaction of enrolment criteria for the MArch Sci program in which the student is in program.

Knowledge commensurate with the introductory level of the MArchSci program (ARCH8032).

Varies by theme topic, but general preparatory and introductory background will normally be found for each Master Class module within one or more of the following MArchSci program recommended texts:

Balme, J. and Paterson, A.  (eds) 2006 Archaeology in Practice : a student guide to Archaeological Analyses. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford.

Brothwell, D.R. and Pollard, A.M. (eds) 2001 Handbook of Archaeological Sciences. John Wiley Interscience: Chichester.

David, B. and Thomas, J. (eds) 2008 Handbook of Landscape Archaeology. Left Coast Press: Walnut Creek.

Students enrolling in this cousre will need broad-band access.