COURSE CURRICULUM

The Archaeology BA at Leicester provides a comprehensive study of human history through material culture and fieldwork, covering the period from the origins of the human species to the twentieth century. In the first year, students develop a foundation in the aims and methods of archaeology, learning practical skills and engaging in local archaeological fieldschools, such as those at Bradgate Park, which include sites from the Mesolithic to the historic period, including the Tudor mansion of Lady Jane Grey and the Iron Age hillfort of Burrough Hill. Core modules introduce students to world archaeology, archaeological methods, critical thinking, and debates in heritage. In the second year, students build on these skills through core modules in fieldwork, heritage, and archaeological theory, while also selecting option modules across various periods and specialisms, including environmental archaeology, prehistory of Britain and Ireland, artefact analysis, and urban and Roman archaeology. Year two concludes with fieldwork on either a university-led project or an approved external project. In the final year, students specialise further through a dissertation and advanced fieldwork module, while choosing from option modules such as zooarchaeology, human skeletal analysis, archaeology of human evolution, archaeology of colonialism, and heritage education. The course equips students with theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and research experience essential for careers in archaeology, heritage, and related fields.