Combined Honours in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology
Offered by: Faculty of Arts
Convener: Dr Marc Oxenham
Administration: School of Archaeology and Anthropology
Admission requirements:
To enter the Combined Honours School in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, students must be eligible to graduate with a BA pass degree which must include courses to the value of 96 units as specified below:
(a) First year courses: One or both of the first year archaeology courses, ARCH1111 and ARCH1112.
(b) Specific later-year courses: Normally ARCH3000 or BIAN3014, BIAN3015, BIAN2013, BIAN2125, ARCH2054, and either ARCH2017 or ARCH3004A and ARCH3004B. Where appropriate, the honours convener will consider requests to substitute ARCH2035 and ARCH2041 for ARCH2017 or ARCH3004A and ARCH3004B.
(c) Further later courses: the balance of the 96 units should come from later-year courses with an ARCH or BIAN prefix or be listed under the respective majors. At least 6 of these units should have an ARCH prefix and at least 6 should be from the list of ‘thematic core courses' listed under the biological anthropology honours program admission requirements, para. (b).
(d) Level: the average mark across all later-year courses with an ARCH or BIAN prefix must be 70% or more (i.e. at least Distinction level).
(e) Field/laboratory experience: all intending honours students are expected to gain some experience by the time of their honours entry, either in the form of ARCH2017 or ARCH3004A and ARCH3004B as above or by some other means (please consult the convener or other archaeology staff).
(f) Proposal: all intending honours students are expected to submit a preliminary research proposal during the semester before their entry to the honours program. This proposal should be discussed with a willing prospective supervisor. Finding a suitable thesis topic and supervisor are a prerequisite of entry to the honours school.
Intending honours students are strongly advised to plan their coursework consistent with the possibility of combined honours from at least the start of their second year if possible. Many of the courses listed above are offered in alternate years only.
Syllabus
The basic components will be:-
(i) Coursework and seminars in the Archaeology and Biological Anthropology honours programs to the value of 40% of the total assessment.
(ii) A BA honours sub-thesis of 12-15,000 words based on a research project approved by the supervisor(s) and honours convener, weighted at 60% of the total assessment for the honours program. While the School does not require an exact 50:50 balance between the archaeology and biological anthropology components, the substantial involvement of both disciplines should be clear in the end-product.
The convenor will advise regarding the options in (i) above, and regarding the sub-thesis topic and supervision. Enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to the convener and/or other staff as relevant.
Courses Offered in 2009
Fourth Year
ARTS4519F Archaeology/Biological Anthropology IV Honours (full time)
ARTS4519P Archaeology/Biological Anthropology IV Honours (part time)
The information published on the Study at ANU 2013 website applies to the 2013 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2012 website.
