Archaeology

The studies in the field of archaeology enable to acquire the crucial knowledge and skills which are necessary to work as an archaeologist. The study is designed so that the students can master the basics of methodology and theory of the discipline, and get an insight into the prehistoric, early historic and medieval development inclusive of material culture, where the focus is laid on Central Europe. The high level of study is secured by a wide spectrum of specialised archaeological courses and courses with wide interdisciplinary overlap. The professional training is provided by an extensive offer of technical and practical courses.

The Department of Archaeology and Museology offers for archaeological studies an extraordinary background in the form of three field bases in which the practical training of students in field research is carried out, the best-equipped workplace for geophysical methods in the Czech Republic, a 3D laboratory, a ceramic laboratory, etc. Thanks to this background, the students can apply their theoretical and methodological knowledge in practice during their studies already. The Department maintains numerous international contacts, within which the students can participate in foreign excavations of an oppidum, in an internship abroad within the Erasmus+ project, or attend regular lectures by foreign lecturers.

One of the objectives is to enable the graduates make a qualified choice of their further specialisation, either by the selected employment or through some of the Master’s programmes.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• explain the basic relations in the prehistoric, early historic and medieval development on the territory of Central Europe, and carrying out educational activity for interested public (lectures, exhibitions)
• write specialised texts on the topics of Central European archaeology, work with professional literature in Czech and foreign languages, using appropriately the computer technology
• take part in realisation of archaeological field research (survey and excavations), carry out ordinary fieldwork, using interdisciplinary analyses
• use in practice geodetic methods and devices, information technologies, laboratory and conservation procedures
• put in effect the principles of monument care within the current legislation

The graduates are prepared in terms of theory, methodology and practice to work as archaeologists in institutions for monument care, memory institutions and public administration. Practical knowledge of geodesy, information technologies and the basics of conservation of historical artefacts can be used by the graduates in many other professions outside archaeology. The graduates in general find employment in all positions demanding the acquisition, analysis and administration of data. The major part of graduates are supposed to continue their studies in a Master’s degree programme, in which they will deepen their knowledge of archaeology and related disciplines.

• No professional status

The standard duration of studies is six semesters. For admittance to the final state examination students must obtain for required, selective and elective courses a total of 180 ECTS credits in the single-subject study and 120/60 credits in the double-subject study (maior/minor studies). Required courses create the basis of specialised tuition within the discipline and their proportion is 64 credits for completus study, 34 credits for maior study (including credits for courses focused on writing a Bachelor’s thesis), and 24 credits for minor study. Semi-optional courses 89/71/36 credits (completus/maior/minor study) students choose according to their interests and intended professional specialization. The remaining credits are awarded to students for completion of a common university degree and completus studies for any current optional courses offered within other disciplines.

A compulsory part of specialised studies is the practical training. The student is obliged to complete practical trainings in field research: one (minor), two (maior) and three (completus) in the extent of three weeks each. Practical trainings in archaeological excavation within the Bachelor’s studies are carried out at archaeological excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology and Museology in Těšetice-Kyjovice, Pohansko u Břeclavi, Rokštejn - research base in Panská Lhota or selectively on Bibracte foreign expedition. Within the optional courses, it is possible to practice on field research or other workplaces of external archaeological institutions, the basics of the structural historical survey, the basics of surface and geophysical prospection and s. o.

Standard extent of a Bachelor’s thesis is 70,000 characters (including spaces). The extent comprises besides the text itself also comments and bibliography, but it does not contain the catalogue of finds, list and description of features, index of abbreviations and illustrations, supplements and title pages. Sufficient extent of the work is determined by the thesis advisor and the state exam commission.

The Bachelor’s thesis is focused on archaeological treatment of suitable, mostly small-scale to mid-scale, topics concerning Prehistory to Modern Times. In the thesis student should demonstrate the ability to treat the topic by oneself. Artefactual topics are preferred, but theoretical topics also can be chosen after consultation with pedagogues. Emphasis is put on formal and technical level of documentation, accurateness of specialised terminology and proper working with professional literature.

Instructions to final state exams are determined by a Directive of Dean of the Faculty of Arts No. 6/2017 On final state exams at the Faculty of Arts of the Masaryk University.

A graduate from Bachelor’s studies in the field of archaeology can (after having met the admission requirements) continue the Master’s studies in any programme of his/her choice. At the Faculty of Arts of the Masaryk University it is possible to continue directly in Master’s studies in the field of archaeology.