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MSc Professional Human Osteoarchaeology

  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2022/23 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2022/23 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

COVID-19 update


Find out how we're adapting during COVID-19.

Our MSc Professional Human Osteoarchaeology course provides advanced instruction on the osteological methods, theories and techniques needed to identify and analyse human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts.  

It highlights training for professional practice in the commercial sector, providing details on report writing, project pitches, health and safety, ethics and the law.

Archaeology at the University of Reading is a thriving and research-orientated department, with 97% of the Archaeology department’s research overall judged to be world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised in the latest REF (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

You will have the opportunity to learn directly from leading academics in modules that immediately relate to their areas of expertise. Our programme’s teaching staff have established international reputations for research in human osteology and chemical analysis specialising in the study of the life course (infants and children, puberty, old age) and diet.

Modules are designed to provide you with the key skills required for a professional career, following the ‘Osteology Specialist Competence Matrix’ published jointly by the British Association of Biological Anthropologists and Osteoarchaeologists (BABAO) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). In addition, academic research and writing skills will enable you to engage with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and Historic England’s Management of Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE).

The Department of Archaeology curates over 800 human skeletons providing an excellent resource for teaching human anatomy, analytical methods, adult and juvenile osteology, and palaeopathology in fully-equipped dedicated laboratories.

This programme has been developed in response to industry need, and in consultation with professional practitioners. You will have the opportunity to engage with professionals through talks and site visits, allowing you to develop vital contacts for your career.

This highly flexible degree is offered both part-time and full-time, and can be used to develop or advance vocational training, or provide a solid foundation for future research. Modules may also be studied on an individual basis as part of your continual professional development (CPD).

 You can also get a feel for the course by checking out a taster session recording, delivered by academics from the Department.

Overview

Our MSc Professional Human Osteoarchaeology course provides advanced instruction on the osteological methods, theories and techniques needed to identify and analyse human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts.  

It highlights training for professional practice in the commercial sector, providing details on report writing, project pitches, health and safety, ethics and the law.

Archaeology at the University of Reading is a thriving and research-orientated department, with 97% of the Archaeology department’s research overall judged to be world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised in the latest REF (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

You will have the opportunity to learn directly from leading academics in modules that immediately relate to their areas of expertise. Our programme’s teaching staff have established international reputations for research in human osteology and chemical analysis specialising in the study of the life course (infants and children, puberty, old age) and diet.

Modules are designed to provide you with the key skills required for a professional career, following the ‘Osteology Specialist Competence Matrix’ published jointly by the British Association of Biological Anthropologists and Osteoarchaeologists (BABAO) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). In addition, academic research and writing skills will enable you to engage with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and Historic England’s Management of Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE).

The Department of Archaeology curates over 800 human skeletons providing an excellent resource for teaching human anatomy, analytical methods, adult and juvenile osteology, and palaeopathology in fully-equipped dedicated laboratories.

This programme has been developed in response to industry need, and in consultation with professional practitioners. You will have the opportunity to engage with professionals through talks and site visits, allowing you to develop vital contacts for your career.

This highly flexible degree is offered both part-time and full-time, and can be used to develop or advance vocational training, or provide a solid foundation for future research. Modules may also be studied on an individual basis as part of your continual professional development (CPD).

 You can also get a feel for the course by checking out a taster session recording, delivered by academics from the Department.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for 2023/24 have not yet been set. For your reference, entry requirements for 2022/23 were:

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: A good second-class honours degree (2:1 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK. Previous subjects of study may include, but not be limited to archaeology, anthropology, history or biology.

Structure

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Analysis of Human Remains

Code:

ARMAHR

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This highly practical module provides the essential methods and skills you will need for the advanced study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts. You will apply the most recent approaches used to assess sex, age, stature, handedness, ancestry, and parity in adult skeletal remains, as well as learn a broad range of metrical and non-metrical measures in both adults and children. The specific techniques required to analyse non-adult human remains will be explored. The history, development and limitations of each method will be outlined through a series of fully-illustrated lectures and reinforced during the practical class.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Report 70%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

In at the Deep End: Professional Practice

Code:

ARMEPP

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This unique module prepares you for the reality of working on a modern archaeological site as a professional osteoarchaeologists. You will learn about burial legislation, ethics and health and safety aspects of working as a professional. It takes a ‘forensic’ style approach to the understanding how to excavate human skeletal remains, supervise cemetery excavations and make quick decisions about excavation and sampling strategies. You will be introduced to the roles of other professionals that work on-site, how to work with clients, tender and to make well-reasoned recommendations to those in the commercial and academic heritage sectors. You will be introduced to the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Management of Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) and associated professional standards (by CIfA, and BABAO). It also explores other job roles including working for museums as educators and curators of human remains. You will meet a variety of specialists working in Museums, Units, and Government agencies through guest lectures and site visits.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Issues and Debates in Bioarchaeology

Code:

ARMIDB

Convenor:

DR Gundula Müldner

Summary:

This module provides graduate students with a conceptual understanding of human bioarchaeology that enables them to evaluate the nature of the evidence used in the discipline, to critically assess arguments and interpretations and to evaluate their appropriateness for different research questions.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Musculo-Skeletal Anatomy

Code:

ARMMSA

Convenor:

DR Ceri Falys

Summary:

This module introduces the musculoskeletal system, dental anatomy, skeletal development, and how the action of the soft tissues (muscle, tendons and ligaments) produce the characteristic morphology of individual bones.  You will gain comprehensive knowledge to enable you to accurately identify complete and fragmentary adult and child skeletal remains from archaeological contexts, and become familiar with anatomical terms and names of structures. This detailed knowledge of the human skeleton builds up over the module with regular marked assessments and feedback sessions.

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Palaeopathology in Adults and Children

Code:

ARMPAC

Convenor:

DR Ceri Falys

Summary:

An analysis of trauma and disease within a skeletal sample is a critical element of any archaeological cemetery investigation. This module provides critical skills needed for human osteologists to fully interpret the skeletal data. You will learn to identify and address key archaeological questions for inclusion in specialist reports and for primary research projects. The module covers a variety of conditions and how they are differently expressed in adult and child remains. The focus on child skeletal remains is a unique aspect of this module.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Report 20%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Preparing for Research

Code:

ARMPIR

Convenor:

DR Ceri Falys

Summary:

This module comprises a series of Dissertation workshops, a Masters Conference and information on statistical approaches and presentation of your research.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research Project

Code:

ARMRPP

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This module comprises a sustained period of independent supervised research in the writing of a Masters Level Dissertation.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 5%, Oral 5%, Dissertation 90%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Science and the Dead

Code:

ARMSTD

Convenor:

DR Gundula Müldner

Summary:

Understanding of taphonomy and biomolecular methods which are now being routinely applied in burial archaeology are essential for any archaeologist specialising in the study of human remains. This module was designed for graduate students with an interest in the scientific analysis of human remains to provide them with an understanding of the key biomolecular methods that are currently employed by modern archaeology to reconstruct the living from the dead.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
ARMAHR Analysis of Human Remains PROF Mary Lewis
ARMEPP In at the Deep End: Professional Practice PROF Mary Lewis
ARMIDB Issues and Debates in Bioarchaeology DR Gundula Müldner
ARMMSA Musculo-Skeletal Anatomy DR Ceri Falys
ARMPAC Palaeopathology in Adults and Children DR Ceri Falys
ARMPIR Preparing for Research DR Ceri Falys
ARMRPP Research Project PROF Mary Lewis
ARMSTD Science and the Dead DR Gundula Müldner

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £12,100

New international students: £25,800

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

  • See list of Archaeology scholarships

 


Careers

The demand for trained and skilled archaeologists is set to grow exponentially over the next decade, due to a high number of large scale infrastructure and investment projects planned on a national scale, both in the UK and abroad.

This flexible programme provides the foundation for work within commercial archaeology companies, as curatorial and education staff in the museum sector, or within the University environment. It also prepares you for a PhD in bioarchaeology and related subjects.

As part of your experience, you may be invited to participate in osteology placements, or have the opportunity to produce professional human bone reports on small assemblages, excavated by staff in the department. You may also benefit from opportunities to work abroad on staff projects yielding human remains (e.g. Iran, Spain), and on samples from current research projects (e.g. Grave Goods, Crusades) that require post-excavation analysis, including human bone processing.

A taster of Human Osteoarchaeology

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