Course Overview
For your study years 1-3, this course follows the choice and course structure of the BA Ancient Civilisation. During these three years, you will build up your detailed knowledge regarding a specific phenomenon (like religion, gender, art to name only very few examples) and culture (see above) of your choice after having discovered the variety and diversity of ancient societies through their archaeology, texts, histories and mythologies. Museum trips, hands-on workshops and research projects allow you to investigate these cultures first hand.
Your wide range of possible modules will combine archaeology, anthropology, and area studies like Egyptology, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Chinese Studies and Classics as well as focused theoretical specialist modules. Interpretation and reception of past cultures, various case studies, working with specific object groups, or analyses of film, exhibitions and other media will also be part of the syllabus. In your third year you can decide if you would like to write a 40-credit dissertation of a 20-credit independent research project. For this, you are free to pursue a topic of your choice, and the special subject, based upon the tutor's own research and publication specialism.
This will prepare you for the Masters year. Your research dissertation will be worth 60 credits (the same as three modules) and completes the in-depth designed comparative analysis of ancient world civilisations of the ancient Near East, Egypt, China, Mesoamerica and the Classical World (Classical and Hellenistic Greece, Rome).
Key Features
MArts (Hons) Ancient Civilisations is a unique degree programme, giving you the chance to study at a Master level, but as part of your undergraduate study.
You will benefit from the small class sizes and the ability to draw from other disciplines across the humanities. On the Lampeter campus you will become a part of our community and be able to contribute to your learning in a way that is not possible at larger university institutions. Our lecturers are friendly, approachable and committed to making your studies as engaging and stimulating as psosible, keeping up-to-date with current research.
Modules
Modules to look out for:
What Makes CivilisationThis module explores the indispensable features of the phenomenon 'civilisation' through carefully chosen case studies and will enable the student for their comparative studies of ancient civilisations. The module investigates the relevance of social constructs as religion, state, kingship, elite culture, literacy/ orality, cultural memory etc. in theory and applied to specific cultures, primarily drawn from Egypt, the East Mediterranean, China, Mesoamerica and Ancient Rome. This module will take you out on field trips to observe the material culture of several civilisations.
Ancient Civilisations: Comparative Analysis and Critical Perspectives. By choosing an ancient civilisation (including but not limited to China, Mesoamerica, pre- and proto-historic cultures of the East Mediterranean), this student-led module actively analyses concepts of cultures, examine the concept of society and civilisation, but also explore the application of theoretical concepts like orientalism, postcolonialism and materiality to specific cultures. Students work comparatively in workshops and directed self-learning sessions.
Origins and Innovations. Explores the context of various innovations in ideas and material culture in the archaeological record and introduces students to the origins of key developments in past societies: amongst them the origins of agriculture, sedentism, urbanism, state and technologies. These particular case studies are integral to a study of the ancient Near East.
Modules during your fourth year include:
Mediterranean Fieldtrip. The module comprises an in-depth study of the archaeology of a Mediterranean island (either Cyprus or Crete) with a particular emphasis on the archaeological heritage, the creation of narratives and the presentation of the past in museums and on archaeological sites and heritage. The module is based on a fieldtrip to one of the islands.
Ancient Egyptian Religious Beliefs. This module provides you with an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of ancient Egyptian religion and magic from the Naqada Period until the end of the Roman era (4000BC - 400 AD), using case studies to enable the application of the gained theoretical knowledge.
Course Tutor(s)
- Dr Katharina Zinn
- Dr Louise Steel
- Dr Ros Coard
Assessment
There will be a variation of assessments, from traditional exams and coursework, through to practical assessments (in workshops, exhibitions, group projects).
Career Opportunities
You will develop powers of analysis, logical thought and argument within a supportive and encouraging environment. It will be these skills of communication, understanding, analysis and self-management that provide you with a passport into employment. Types of employment could include museum and archive work, journalism, law, banking, local politics, all types of administrative work, marketing and advertising, and teaching.
- Teaching
- Heritage (library, archives, museum, tourism)
- Business and commerce.
- Journalism
- Local government
- Postgraduate research
- General administrative and management posts
- Civil service
Further Information
If you'd like to know more aout the course, and the campus, please feel free to come along to one of our open Days on the Lampeter campus.
On an Open Day you will get to meet staff to discuss the course content, you can meet current students who can take you on a campus tour to see all the facilities, and you can also speak to all the Student Support teams regarding accommodation, finance and student support. To find a sutiable date for you, please visit our Open Day page.
Related Courses
- BA Ancient Civilisations
- BA Ancient History
- MArts (Hons) Archaeology
- BA Archaeology
- BA Ancient History with Ancient Egyptian Culture
Tuition Fees
Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2017/18 are as follows:
UK/EU: £9,000
International: £14,900
Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3% for International students and at the capped fee rate as set by the UK Government for UK/EU students.
You can find further information on fees and how to pay on our Student Finance pages.
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's Bursaries and Scholarships page
Additional Costs
There is an optional fieldtrip connected to a module for second and third year students to the Mediterranean to allow students to visit ancient sites first hand. The Faculty subsidises this trip but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. The Faculty aims to keep the cost in the range £400-£700.
For the Fieldtrip modules, a deposit is usually required in September/October to ensure a place with the full cost due in December/January. Payment is made to the Finance Office on campus or through the online payment facility.
