University of Cambridge: Programme Specifications

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this programme specification.
Programme specifications are produced and then reviewed annually by the relevant faculty or
department and revised where necessary. However, we reserve the right to withdraw, update or
amend this programme specification at any time without notice.
Further information about specifications and an archive of programme specifications for all awards of
the University is available online at: www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/camdata/archive.html

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN ARCHAEOLOGY

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Awarding body
Teaching institution
Accreditation details
Name of final award
Programme title
JACS code(s)
Relevant QAA benchmark statement(s)
Qualifications framework level
Date specification was produced/
last revised
10 Date specification was last reviewed

University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
None
Master of Philosophy
Archaeology
V400
None
7 (Masters)
October 2008
July 2011

Educational aims of the programme

The Department of Archaeology is the principal institution providing archaeological teaching
within the University of Cambridge at the undergraduate, MPhil and PhD levels. It also draws
upon the resources of several other Faculties in the University of Cambridge to support its
teaching programme, including Classics, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and Geography.
The overall aim of the MPhil in Archaeology is to provide Masters-level education in
archaeology at the highest standard. This involves three goals:
To enable students to attain a critical appreciation of archaeology, the human past,
and its place in the modern world. By the end of the course, students are expected to
understand the broader context and methods of archaeology, and to be able to enter
a range of archaeological professions.
To train students in a particular subject of specialisation through a coherent
programme of teaching focused upon a specific topic, area, or methodology, as
defined in the options defined for the course. By the end of the course, students are
expected to be able to pursue independent research in their field of specialisation.
To give students training in a range of general, transferable skills, such as writing,
presentation, research skills, and formulating and analysing arguments. By the end of
the course, students are expected to be able to exercise these skills in any
professional-level work which requires them.

Entry requirements, professional progression, and indicators of quality

Students are expected to enter the MPhil in Archaeology from a range of backgrounds:
From undergraduate degrees in archaeology at the University of Cambridge or similar
UK institutions
From archaeology backgrounds at overseas universities

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From a wide range of cognate fields such as classics, history, geology, or

anthropology, with varying amounts of archaeological background
From practical, often professional backgrounds in field archaeology, museums, or
other related activities
The programme is designed to accommodate flexibly the needs of students with different
backgrounds, and the mixture of students from different national, educational and
professional backgrounds is a strength of the course, the heavily international mixture adding
richness to the student experience. Normally a good 2.1 (in the British system), a GPA of 3.5
or above (in the North American system), or the equivalent in other systems is required for
admission.
In any given year, there are 20-30 students taking the MPhil in Archaeology. Except for
cases where studies have been interrupted by illness, the pass rate has been 100% for the
last 10 years. After the degree, employment rates are high, with less than 6% of Masters
students still seeking employment in the December following graduation. A substantial
proportion (typically 30-40%) of graduates go on to pursue PhD research in archaeology,
often in the Department of Archaeology. To progress to PhD studies, students must achieve
at least a High Pass in both the assessed component of the course and the dissertation, as
well as agreeing upon a topic of research with a PhD supervisor.

Learning and teaching methods, course structure, and assessment

The MPhil in Archaeology is taught through lectures, seminars, practical work, and written
work. The mixture of these methods varies according to the option chosen (see below) as
different topics require different methods, but the common goal is to ensure that students
both acquire a base of knowledge particular to their option and have the opportunity to
acquire and practice professional skills in reading critically, writing, analysis and
presentation.
Lectures are designed to present and discuss the major academic disciplines covered
in each module.
Seminars are designed to provide students with intensive engagement with academic
staff across a wide range of subjects relevant to the courses selected. Seminars are
designed to be interactive and preparation and participation in seminars is expected
of all students.
Supervisions with module lecturers and their regular supervisor give the student the
opportunity to discuss general and specific issues in the conduct of the course. A
supervisor, possibly but not necessarily the same one, will also be appointed for the
dissertation, to help with the choice of topic and monitor the progress of the students
research for the dissertation throughout the year. Supervisions provide the student
with an opportunity to seek academic information and advice and they provide the
forum to monitor students' progress.
Many modules also feature practical work; this can involve learning laboratory
methods, gaining experience in techniques such as constructing museum exhibitions,
and, frequently, working with relevant collections in the Cambridge University
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
The structure of the MPhil in Archaeology includes five elements:
1. One year-long course module which meets throughout the academic year from
October through May and which is assessed through a combination of essays,
practical work and examination appropriate for the topic. Marks from this module
count as 15% of the students final mark.

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2. A second year-long course module, which counts as 15% of the students final
mark.
3. A third year-long course module, which counts as 15% of the students final mark.
4. Research Skills, a module which is taken by all MPhil students in the Department of
Archaeology. This module meets in Michaelmas and Lent terms (e.g. October
through March) and provides training in general skills such as formulating a research
design, analysing data and making presentations. It is assessed through oral and
written presentation of a research design of up to 2000 words for the students MPhil
dissertation and is counted as 5% of the students final mark.
5. The dissertation, an extended piece of independent, original research. Students
work with a particular supervisor to formulate a dissertation project, carry out
research and write it up; typically project formulation and sometimes data acquisition
are done between October and May, while the writing is done over the summer. The
topic of the dissertation has to be approved by the Faculty of Archaeology and
Anthropology Degree Committee; the dissertation is of maximum 15,000 words
(including footnotes but excluding bibliography and appendices) and is due at the end
of August; it counts as 50% of the students final mark.
Assessment for the modules varies as appropriate for the topic, but for most modules will
involve a balance of approximately one-third assessed essays and two-thirds examination.
Some options may involve up to 100% assessed work with no examination, particularly ones
involving training in practical laboratory skills, or advanced courses where progress is better
assessed though in-depth essays; in rare cases where dictated by the nature of the material
(e.g. ancient languages) a module may be assessed entirely through examination. All work is
double-marked and reviewed by the departments external examiner to ensure fairness.
Course options
Students in the MPhil in Archaeology choose a particular course option to pursue. This
provides focus in their studies, specifies a particular member of staff to mentor them (the
coordinator of that option), and governs which combination of modules from the
Departments teaching repertory they put together for their MPhil study. The course option
will be specified in their degree title; for instance a student pursuing the MPhil in Archaeology
with specialisation in Archaeological Museums and Heritage will receive a degree certificate
stating MPhil in Archaeology (Archaeological Museums and Heritage) and will be able to
use this phrasing in their c.v. and future self-presentation.
The range of course options available for the MPhil in Archaeology will change slightly from
year to year, depending upon staff availability. Two lists will therefore be published annually
by the Department of Archaeology, (a) the MPhil course options to be taught the following
academic year, and (b) the MPhil modules to be taught the following academic year. 1 Course
options will normally include:
Archaeological Heritage and Museums
Archaeological Science 2
Archaeology of the Americas
Egyptian Archaeology
European Prehistory
Medieval Archaeology
Mesopotamian Archaeology
1

A sample list of MPhil in Archaeology course options for 2010-11, giving the choice of modules
specified for each one, is appended as Annexe A below. A sample list of MPhil in Archaeology
modules for 2010-11is appended as Annexe B below.
2
The MPhil in Archaeology (Archaeological Science) will incur science-based fees; all other MPhil in
Archaeology options will incur arts-based fees.

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Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Archaeology

South Asian Archaeology
MPhil in Archaeology, course option not specified 3

The choice of modules which students can take will depend upon the course option they
choose. For example, for the Archaeological Heritage and Museums course option, three
modules are specified (Sociopolitics of the Past, Museums, and Management of
Archaeological Heritage). In contrast, two are specified for the Archaeological Science
course option (Archaeological Science, and Practical Application of Scientific Methods); the
student can choose any other MPhil module for the third module. The area-defined course
options (Archaeology of the Americas, European Prehistory, Medieval Archaeology,
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Archaeology, South Asian Archaeology, and World Archaeology)
require the student to take a general module on archaeological method and theory (Core
Archaeology) and a module covering that particular area; the student can choose any other
MPhil module for the third module. This allows students in most options to combine topic,
area and method-oriented modules in a way tailored to their particular research interests. Full
details on module choices and requirements for the normal range of course options are given
in Annexe A below. The students choice of MPhil modules must be approved by the course
option coordinator to ensure a coherent course of study.
Requirements for the award of a degree
Each student is required to reach the pass mark for MPhil work in the Department of
Archaeology (60%) for the aggregate of all four modules taken (the three chosen ones plus
Research Skills); a student may carry one failed module provided that the overall average
mark for the four modules is above the pass mark. In addition, the student must reach the
pass mark of 60 for the dissertation. Degrees are then classed by averaging the aggregate
mark for the four modules and the dissertation as per the categories as set out in the
Departmental marking and classing criteria:
High Pass with Distinction: 75 and above
High Pass
68 - 74
Pass
60 - 67
Fail
0 - 59
Finally, the degree is awarded in October. Students going on to PhD work who need
confirmation of their MPhil degree in order to begin PhD studies are notified immediately at
the beginning of October to avoid interruption to their studies.
Learning support
The Department, the University, and the Colleges provide students with a wide range of
guidance. Each student has a Graduate Tutor in his or her college whose role is to provide
any needed pastoral care and academic guidance. Within the Department, the students first
point of contact is with the coordinator of his or her MPhil in Archaeology course option, who
3

This option is available for students coming to Cambridge who have not yet decided upon a specific
option to pursue, and for students whose particular combination of interests cannot be accommodated
in one of the options on offer. In the former case, it is expected that they will choose a named option to
follow by the beginning of the third week of Michaelmas Term. Students choosing it initially cannot
move into the MPhil in Archaeological Science, as the two have different fee structures. In the latter
case, which is expected to be very infrequent, the combination of options to follow is strictly by
agreement with the option coordinator and the student and coordinator should agree this before
coming to Cambridge. The coordinator for this option will be the overall departmental Convenor for the
MPhil in Archaeology.

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will provide academic guidance and support in meetings throughout the academic year. At
the start of the course, all students receive both a complete orientation introducing them to
the MPhil programme and the Departments resources, staff and facilities and a handbook
giving details of all of these.
The student will also be helped both by the teaching staff for particular modules and by his or
her dissertation supervisor. Beyond this, additional guidance is available from the Course
Coordinator for the MPhil in Archaeology, also the MPhil Programme Director who oversees
all MPhil teaching in the Department, and the Departmental Graduate Officer who is
responsible for graduate affairs generally, as well as the departmental Graduate Secretary
who provides support and administrative help.

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Annex A
MPhil in Archaeology: Options Available
The one-year course of study in Archaeology for the degree of Master of Philosophy
shall consist of three modules, the Research Skills module, and a dissertation.
The three modules specified for each course option and their mode of assessment
are specified below. The Research Skills module is to be assessed through one written
report corresponding to the students presentation of his or her dissertation research design,
of not more than 2000 words length.
In addition to these four modules, the student shall submit a thesis of not more than
15,000 words in length, including footnotes, but excluding appendices and bibliography, on a
topic approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Examination of the dissertation may include, at the discretion of the Examiners, an oral
examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.
In awarding the final degree, the elements shall be weighted as follows: the first three
modules at 15%, Research Skills at 5%, and the dissertation at 50%.
Option A. Archaeological Heritage and Museums
(a) The socio-politics of the past
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
(b) Museums: history, theory, and practice
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
(c) Management of archaeological heritage
Two essays of not more than 4,000
words (50% each)
Option B. Archaeological Science
(a) Archaeological science

(b) Practical application of scientific methods

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
Two written reports upon practical
projects of not more than 4,000 words
(50% each)

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.
Option C. Archaeology
(a) Core archaeology

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(b) Any two other modules offered in the

Department of Archaeology, if all necessary
prerequisites are fulfilled and by consent of the
instructor and the option coordinator, to be
assessed through the modes of assessment
specified for those modules.
Option D. Archaeology of the Americas
(a) Archaeology of the Americas

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000

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words (33%)
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(b) Core archaeology

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.
Option E. Egyptian Archaeology
(a) Either:
Historical Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (I or II,
depending upon availability)

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

Or: Landscapes, built environment, and material

culture of Ancient Egypt)

Two 4,000-word essays (each 50%)

Or: Topics in Egyptology

(b) Core archaeology

Two 4,000-word essays (each 50%)

Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.
Option F. European Prehistory
(a) European Prehistory

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(b) Core archaeology

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.
Option G. Medieval Archaeology
(a) Either Medieval Europe, 5th-11th centuries
AD or Medieval Europe: 11th-16th centuries AD
(b) Core archaeology

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through

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the mode of assessment specified for that

module.
Option H. Mesopotamian Archaeology
(a) Either:
The archaeology of Mesopotamia (Prehistory to
early states or Territorial states to empires,
depending upon availability)
Or: Topics in Mesopotamian Archaeology
(b) Core archaeology

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
Two essays of 4,000 words each (each
50%)
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.
Option I. Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Archaeology
(a) Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeology
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and three essays of not more than
1,000 words each (11% each, totalling
33%)
(b) Core archaeology
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)
(c) Any other module offered in the Department
of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.
Option J. South Asian Archaeology
(a) South Asian archaeology

Three-hour written examination (67%)

and three essays of not more than
1,000 words each (11% each, totalling
33%)
Three-hour written examination (67%)
and an essay of not more than 3,000
words (33%)

(b) Core archaeology

(c) Any other module offered in the Department

of Archaeology, if all necessary prerequisites
are fulfilled and by consent of the instructor and
the option coordinator, to be assessed through
the mode of assessment specified for that
module.

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Annex B
Department of Archaeology
MPhil Modules
(See also http://ts.arch.cam.ac.uk/courses/?course=offered for a complete list of papers
offered and links to those offered in the current academic year).
Paper
Subject
G01 Research Skills

G02

G03

G04

G05

G06

G07

G08

G09

G10

G11

G12
G13
G14
G15
G16
G17

Course Organiser
Professors Martin Jones &
Graeme Barker

Assessment
2000-word research
design and
presentation (100%)
Core archaeology
Drs John Robb & Preston
Examination (67%)
Miracle
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
Dr Preston Miracle
Examination (67%)
archaeology
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
European prehistory
Dr John Robb
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Themes in European prehistory
Dr John Robb
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Medieval Europe: 5th-11th centuries Drs James Barrett & Catherine Examination (67%)
AD
Hills
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Medieval Europe: 11-16th centuries Drs James Barrett & Catherine Examination (67%)
AD
Hills
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Archaeology of the Americas
Dr Elizabeth DeMarrais
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
South Asian archaeology
Dr Cameron Petrie
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Archaeological science
Dr Charly French & Tamson
Examination (67%)
O'Connell
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Material culture
Dr Elizabeth DeMarrais
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Directed reading
Dr Elizabeth DeMarrais
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
Introduction to Egyptian language
Professor John Ray
100% examination
Advanced Egyptian language
Professor John Ray
100% examination
Coptic
Professor John Ray
100% examination
Demotic
Professor John Ray
100% examination
Historical archaeology of Ancient
Dr Kate Spence
Examination (67%)

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Paper

Subject

Course Organiser

Sumerian language and texts

Elementary Akkadian Language and
Texts
Advanced Akkadian language and
texts
Archaeology of Mesopotamia:
Prehistory to early states

Dr Nicole Brisch
Dr Nicole Brisch

Assessment
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
100% examination
100% examination

Dr Nicole Brisch

100% examination

Dr Augusta McMahon

G25

Archaeology of Mesopotamia:
Territorial states to empires

Dr Augusta McMahon

G26

Mesopotamian literature

Dr Augusta McMahon

G27

Mesopotamian religion and science Dr Augusta McMahon

G28

Dr Augusta McMahon

G29

Topics in Mesopotamian
archaeology
Socio-politics of the past

G30

Museums: History theory, practice

Drs Robin Boast & Chris

Chippindale

G31

Management of archaeological
heritage
Practical applications of scientific
methods

Dr Marie Louise Sorensen

Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Examination (67%)
and 3000 word essay
(33%)
Two 4000 word
essays (50% each)
Two 4000-word
practical reports
(50% each)

Egypt I
G18

Historical archaeology of Ancient

Egypt II

G19

Landscapes, built environment, and Dr Kate Spence

material culture of ancient Egypt
Topics in Egyptology
Dr Kate Spence

G20
G21
G22
G23
G24

G32

Dr Kate Spence

Dr Marie Louise Sorensen

Drs Charly French & Tamsin

O'Connell

Papers G17, G24 and G27 will not be offered in 2010-11. They alternate with papers G18,
G25 and G26, respectively. G19 will not be offered in 2011-12

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