The MA in Human Osteoarchaeology is a full-time programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

In Semester 1 students will be required to attend lectures, seminars, practicals and field trips for all taught modules. In Semesters 2 and 3 students will develop a particular topic into a 20,000 word dissertation. The dissertation is to be completed by the end of September of the first year from the date of first registration for the programme.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I
AN6001 Regional and Topographical Anatomy (10 credits)
AR6009 Mortuary Theory (5 credits)
AR6011 Biocultural Approaches to Human Remains (5 credits)
AR6014 Osteoarchaeology Laboratory (10 credits)
AR6031 Palaeopathology (10 credits)
ST2001 Introduction to Biostatistics (5 credits)

Part II
AR6003 Dissertation in Human Osteoarchaeology (45 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2021/2022 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2021/2022.

Postgraduate Certificate in Human Osteoarchaeology
Candidates who pass at least 30 credits of taught modules may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Human Osteoarchaeology.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Human Osteoarchaeology (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding of the history of development of bioarchaeology and its relationship to other archaeological and biological sub-disciplines;
• Apply knowledge of human biological variability and its relevance to cultural, historical and archaeological contexts;
• Apply knowledge of a range of bioarchaeological methods which involve the quantification and analysis of age at death, sex, activity patterns, growth and development and pathological conditions identifiable in human remains;
• Provide differential diagnoses for observed pathological conditions in dry bone;
• Record, quantify and analyse bioarchaeological data within an archaeological context, and present the data in different forms;
• Design a research project in bioarchaeology and implement same;
• Communicate effectively with the archaeological community and with society at large.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Human Osteoarchaeology (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding of the history of development of bioarchaeology and its relationship to the broader discipline of archaeology;
• Apply knowledge of human biological variability and its relevance to cultural, historical and archaeological contexts;
• Apply knowledge of a range of bioarchaeological methods which involve the quantification and analysis of age at death, sex, activity patterns, growth and development and pathological conditions identifiable in human remains;
• Record, quantify and analyse bioarchaeological data within an archaeological context, and present the data in different forms.