A FOUNDATION DEGREE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH


A NEW DEGREE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PROFESSION

City College Plymouth, a partner college with the University of Plymouth, welcomed its first archaeology undergraduates in September 2007. The new Foundation Degree in Archaeological Practice is the first in the UK to give students the opportunity to achieve the UK's new Qualification in Archaeological Practice.

Foundation Degrees were set up by the UK Government in 2000 to bring vocational qualifications at degree level to people of all ages. Currently there are over 60,000 students studying for a Foundation Degree in the UK.

Essentially a Foundation Degree is two thirds of a 'normal' degree: it takes two years - and you can, if you wish, progress to a third year to complete a full degree. After two years you can write FdA or an FdSc after your name, and after one further year you can write BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) after your name as well!

Foundation Degrees tend to be more 'vocational' and are usually delivered at local Colleges in partnership with a University.  Many people who could not reach a University because of commitments at home can now access the degree course they want. Classes tend to be smaller too.


AN EXCITING NEW ARCHAEOLOGY COURSE

The new FD Archaeological Practice is different from most other degree courses in the UK:

1. Practice and Theory are integrated with studies of past societies.

2. A substantial part of the course is delivered through online learning, making it easier for people with family or work commitments to take part. You can even enrol for some individual modules, and accumulate credits, if you like, until you achieve the foundation degree in your own time.

3. Much of the course is delivered through short field courses and master-classes, lasting from one day to a week, allowing you to take short periods off work or weekends to attend. (Ideally, you need to live in South West England though). This is known as "blended learning" and is designed to make the course accessible to the widest range of people.

4. The full-time group size is small and friendly - currently seven members in the first year - so you work closely with your peers and build a close relationship with your tutor and lecturers.

5. While you achieve your University of Plymouth FdSc in two years, you will also gather evidence for the new Qualification in Archaeological Practice, endorsed by the UK Government's Creative and Cultural Skills sector council, and the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

6. Students of any age are welcome. Currently the FdSc course has students from the age of 19 to 59. Full-time students are based from late September to the end of May in Plymouth, and work on excavations or surveys for part of the remaining four months. If you have family or work commitments, you can extend your working year until the end of August to spread the load.


You can email: reception@cityplym.ac.uk

or speak to Katherine Graham 01752.305786 or 01752.305300 to book your place on the course from 22 September 2008.

or text or speak to the course leader Win Scutt: 07960.718542 if you want to ask anything or request details about the course; or email him on

archaeologyplymouth@googlemail.com


It is now too late to apply for September 2008. But you can put your name down for next year, which starts in September 2009.

Email archaeologyplymouth@googlemail.com if you are interested to learn more. You do not have to have high grades at A Level as you will be selected on enthusiasm and commitment - and you don't have to have A levels if you can demonstrate good "life experience".

Have a look at the links to modules in the right hand column of this webpage - the "nitty gritty" of the course.

If you want to see how the programme is organised, have a look at last year's Curriculum Guide (2007-8) (9.5 mb file).

 

 

links to MODULES

2008-8-14

Fieldwork: British and Irish Prehistory

Fieldwork: Historical Archaeology

Excavation

History of Archaeological Thought

Site Surveying

World Stone Age Society

Personal and Professional Development

Work-Based Learning

Fieldwork: Roman and Early Medieval

Archaeological Science

Experimental Archaeology

Site Management

Archaeology and Society

Research Skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The great debate on the origins of Britain's early languages has started. Find out the latest news and how you can learn more by following this link.

If you're curious about archaeology, but a total beginner, this site will show you how to find out. Here you'll find advice on good books, weblinks and courses. You can even study 'A' Level Archaeology online.

What's been happening in the world of archaeology? Win Scutt's weekly look at world archaeology over the last seven days. Follow this link to read the stories or listen again to his broadcast.