MLitt Material Culture & Artefact Studies

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University of Glasgow

Comments about MLitt Material Culture & Artefact Studies - At the institution - Glasgow - Scotland

• Objectives
  This programme is designed to provide a broad grounding in the fields of artefact and material culture studies. You will be introduced to the specialist skills of archaeological finds analysis and related topics pertaining to artefact collections. In addition to a strong practical element, the programme also develops a theoretical awareness of the complexities of interdisciplinary material culture studies and related professional issues in the management and curation of cultural materials. Overall, this programme will prepare you to participate at both a practical and theoretical level within the field of specialist artefactual analysis as well as the demands of the cultural resource sector with respect to material culture. At MLitt level, the two strands of the programme enable you to prepare for further doctoral research whilst also providing opportunities for valuable vocational experience in the commercial environment.
• Academic title
  MLitt Material Culture & Artefact Studies
• Course description
  The core courses introduce you to the theoretical and practical demands of material culture studies and artefact analysis:
  
      * Material culture in context introduces current theoretical and methodological perspectives in material culture studies. Key themes include changing perspectives on the meaning of objects in archaeological thought, the presentation and management of cultural objects and understanding modern material culture.
      * The process of artefact studies looks at the treatment, analysis and interpretation of objects from archaeological recovery in the field through specialist examination and conservation to final museum display and long-term curation.
  
  The optional courses offer the opportunity to explore and develop particular areas of more detailed study. They draw upon the particular interests and expertise of the contributing staff and the options available may therefore vary slightly depending on staff availability.  They are also subject to a minimum number of students.
  
  You need to select three options, of which at least two are selected from the following options:
  
      * Lithic analysis
      * Working with pottery
      * Science-based analysis of archaeological materials
      * Early medieval artefacts
      * Viking and late Norse artefacts (AD 750-1350).
  
  You may also choose one of the following options:
  
      * Acquiring professional skills
      * Critical themes in the treatment and display of objects
      * A course drawn from another archaeology programme by agreement with the programme convener
      * A History of Art MLitt course such as Scientists, antiquarians and collectors or Collecting and display: viewing art in 18th century China
      * Multimedia analysis and design or 2D digitisation, offered by the Humanities Advanced Technology & Information Institute.
  
  A work placement may be undertaken by MLitt students to gain valuable work experience in a museum, archaeological unit or other cultural institution. The duration of work placements will usually be around 10 weeks with an additional period of self-study if developing a research report or exhibition proposal on material within the institution.
  
  The MLitt dissertation may be undertaken as an alternative to the work placement. It represents a sustained piece of scholarly work on a topic to be agreed and undertaken between May and September.

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