Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2001: Subjects indexed by faculty
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Archaeology and ancient history


The discipline

Coordinator: Colin Hope
Archaeology, together with ancient history, is the reconstruction of past societies using whatever type of data remains, whether this be structural, artefactual, documentary or literary. It explores the genesis, evolution and characteristics of the patterns of human existence on both cognitive and practical levels. The geographical focus is upon the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world and temporally from the beginnings of urbanism among early agricultural communities until the fourth century CE, thus upon complex societies. Within this broad spectrum emphasis is placed on the study of Egypt and its interaction with neighbouring regions. Studies which combine a variety of methodological approaches are encouraged and priority is given to those which involve practical components, whether in the field or in relation to museum collections, both of which can be arranged through the Centre. The application of scientific techniques to the study of archaeological material is welcomed. Research strengths include: settlement and mortuary archaeology with specific reference to the Predynastic Period - Old Kingdom, the New Kingdom and the Ptolemaic-Roman Periods, both within the Nile Valley and the Saharan region; the history of New Kingdom and Ptolemaic-Roman Egypt; ceramic studies; ancient technology; numismatics; and the archaeology of early Christianity.
Supervision of PhD and masters by research candidature is available. Due to its active participation in fieldwork in Egypt, the Centre for Archaeology and Ancient History is ideally placed to provide students with new and previously unpublished or unstudied data that can be incorporated into research programs. Research interests of staff are available at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/archaeology/Research.htm.

Master of Arts in Archaeology and Ancient History by coursework and research*

General information

* SUBJECT TO APPROVAL.
Course code: 2846 * Course fee: Local students - HECS; international students - $A13,000 * pa * Course director: Colin Hope
Monash's Centre for Archaeology and Ancient History offers the only program in Victoria and one of only two in Australia which provides supervision of research degrees in Egyptology, and one of the few offering supervision in related areas of Near Eastern Archaeology. This course is designed for students wishing to combine coursework with research and for whom a research process of induction, training in methodology and concepts, and supervised project design will be particularly useful. Both mid-year entry and part-time enrolment are possible.

Entry requirements

The completion of a BA honours degree in archaeology, ancient history or, at the discretion of the course director, a related discipline (results of H2A or better) or the Masters Qualifying in Archaeology and Ancient History with a research component (results of H2A or better both for the program overall and the research component). In the case of overseas or interstate applicants, qualifications matching the above, to be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Course structure

The course comprises two 12-point subjects and a thesis of 25,000 to 35,000 words. The two subjects must be completed in the first year (if full-time) or the first two years (if part-time). All students will complete ARM5740 (Reading the ancient past) and ARM5060 (Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt), unless they have previously completed ARM4740 and ARM4060 as part of another program, in which case they will complete ARM5010 (Research topics in archaeology: the New Kingdom) and ARM5020 (Research topics in archaeology: Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt). Note that the minimum pass grade for subjects in the Master of Arts in Archaeology by coursework and research is 60 C; in other words, a grade of credit or above is required in every subject and for the thesis.

Masters Qualifying in Archaeology and Ancient History with a research component*

General information

* SUBJECT TO APPROVAL.
Program code: 1988 * Program fees: Local students - HECS; international students - $A13,000 * pa * Program director: Colin Hope
This program, which is offered full-time over one year or part-time over two years, seeks to develop skills in investigation, analysis, research methods and writing in archaeology and ancient history and help prepare students for a successful transition to graduate study in these disciplines. Coursework subjects will introduce key methods, themes and approaches in archaeology and ancient history, focusing in particular on Egypt and the Near East which constitute the strengths of the Monash Centre for Archaeology and Ancient History. The program is also designed to develop skills in planning and implementing a research program, and in writing and oral communication. Students will apply these skills and insights in a 9000-word research project supervised by a member of academic staff. This program may be of particular value to students from other institutions who wish to proceed on to postgraduate research with a stronger grounding in recent developments in archaeology, in the particular specialisations of the Monash Centre, and in relevant research and writing skills. Mid-year entry is available.

Entry requirements

A pass degree of Bachelor of Arts, with results of at least credit level in the third part of a major sequence in archaeology or ancient history or, with the approval of the program director, a related discipline. Students who have previously completed fourth-year-level subjects in archaeology and ancient history with grades of credit or above may apply for a maximum of 50 per cent credit at the time of their application, provided that those subjects have not been used to qualify for another degree. All requests for credit are subject to the approval of the program director and the faculty. Credit will not be granted for the research component of the program.

Program structure

The program requires completion of 48 points, composed of:

Two 12-point core subjects:

And one other 12-point subject selected from the list below:

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