Comparative Art and Archaeology MA

Students are encouraged to think critically and work independently, from a broadly comparative perspective, across the boundaries of regional and period specialisation which have traditionally characterised the study of art. They develop subject-specific, research-oriented skills relevant to their development as practising analysts within the history, anthropology or archaeology of art.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core modules (30 credits), optional modules (60 credits) and a research dissertation (90 credits).

All students are required to take the following:

• Nature, Culture and the Languages of Art: theories and methodologies of art interpretation
• Social and Material Contexts of Art: comparative approaches to art explanation

• Ancient Italy in the Mediterranean
• Archaeology of Buddhism
• Archaeology of Egypt and the Near East: a Comparative Approach
• Aztec Archaeology: Codices and Ethnohistory
• Cities, States and Religion in Ancient India
• Making and Meaning in Ancient Greek Art
• Making and Meaning in Ancient Roman Art
• Maya Art, Architecture and Archaeology
• Social Complexity in Early China: from the Neolithic to the Early Empire
• Society and Culture in Ancient Egypt
• Technology in Society: archaeology and ethnography in the Andes
• The Mediterranean World in the Iron Age
• The Transformation of the Roman Mediterranean

Please note not all modules are available every year.

All MA students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 words.

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures and presentations. Some optional modules include site visits to museums. Assessment is through essays, coursework, oral examination and the dissertation.