University of York
Master of Arts in Early Prehistory and Human Origins
The Master of Arts in Early Prehistory and Human Origins in History is offered by University of York.
Program Length: 2 YEARS.
Master of Arts in Early Prehistory and Human Origins offered by the University of York
Explore what it means to be humanWhat makes us ‘human’? How did early human societies work? How different were Neanderthals from ourselves and why did they die out? What was life like in the Ice Age? Debate these questions and many others within a lively research environment as you build up your knowledge and experience of early prehistoric societies from three million to 5,000 years ago.The archaeology of human origins is a fascinating and dynamic area of research, with new evidence and theories constantly changing our interpretation of who we are.On this course you'll explore the archaeology and approaches to human origins whilst working alongside internationally renowned specialists in early prehistoric archaeology and human evolution. You'll have the opportunity to work on pioneering studies with the potential for significant media exposure and gain ‘hands on’ experience of museum collections at the York Museum. You'll be able to select modules to allow you to explore your own research interests and have the chance to visit Upper Palaeolithic rock art on a field trip to Creswell Crags.
Course contentYou will study 180 credits over the duration of your course. These will be made up of two core modules, two option modules and four shorter 'skills' modules. You will then hone your research skills by producing a dissertation and presenting an assessed lecture on your dissertation topic.Core modulesBecoming Human: Evolving Minds and Societies (20 credits)Hunting and Gathering Societies (20 credits)
Option modulesYou will study two further 20-credit modules and four 5-credit 'skills' modules from our full range of options. Examples include:Mesolithic Lifeways (20 credits)Interpreting Animal Remains (20 credits)Our Place in Nature (20 credits)Human Evolutionary Anatomy (20 credits)Using Archaeological Data (5 credits)Human Bone Practicals I (5 credits)