Introduction To Archaeological Science
UndergraduateLTU-ARC2SCI2025
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Price from
- $1,164
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Introduction To Archaeological Science
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Locate and appropriately use relevant sources investigate and present justifiable arguments about the validity and usefulness of scientific techniques applied to archaeological questions.
- Explain and discuss common archaeological science techniques used in the field. The principles behind the techniques and what they are used for and their limitations.
- Examine and analyse scientific data applied to archaeological problems, generating arguments based on appropriate graphical and numerical manipulations.
- Demonstrate an understanding of current trends and arguments in areas of archaeological science and how these areas have contributed to archaeological knowledge by composing a well justified argument using correct referencing.
- Scientific techniques in archaeology
- Scientific dating
- Materials analysis
- Bioarchaeology
In this subject, you will learn how scientific techniques can be used to answer archaeological questions. Through the exploration of a virtual simulated site, students are introduced to the theory behind a range of common archaeological science techniques, applying this to their own archaeological datasets. Students uncover, analyse and interpret archaeological data on past landscapes, dating, materials analysis, biochemical techniques and bioarchaeology. We will investigate how to interpret scientific data and how this is in turn used in archaeological interpretation, improving scientific literacy in both academic and professional contexts.
This is a level 2 subject. Please consider the subject credit point requirement before enrolling. This subject includes live sessions with the expectation of student attendance and participation.
- Online quizzes (through LMS) completed fortnightly through the semester (750 words equivalent). (20%)
- Five 250 word assignments to be completed in association with tutorials through the semester. (Total 1250 words equivalent) (40%)
- One 2000 word referenced report. (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Others
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed the following subjects are ineligible to enrol in this subject: ARC3SCI (Diets, Dating and DNA: Archaeological Science)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
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