Prospectus

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Master Internship: Applied Archaeology

Course
2020-2021

Admission requirements

Admission to the Master Archaeology programme, specifically the Applied Archaeology track.

Description

In this internship you will apply and hone your previously acquired skills, preferably within a professional context, to enhance your employability. The internship provides a much-needed practical component to complement the more theoretical aspects of the master programme.

The internship involves a small practical project of at least 15 working days, and can take various forms: fieldwork (excavation or survey), policy advice, heritage management, material study, etc.
Before the start of the internship, you will write a feasible work proposal, which has to be approved and evaluated by the course coordinator and internship provider before the internship can take place. An important component is to gain more practical experience within the chosen field.

However, it is also essential that you learn to make your own decisions. You will critically reflect upon the practical activities, and place these in a wider comparative framework (be it theoretically, methodologically or regionally), as well as contextualise the importance of the activities, and evaluate how this experience affects your own development in the chosen field. This will be part of the requirements for the internship report.
The practical skills demonstrated will be evaluated in a written assessment form by the work supervisor of the institute where the internship is carried out, but the final mark will be assigned by the internship coordinator. The internship comprises:

  1. Work plan (proposal), including:
  • relevant internship information (project background and aims, internship duration, on-site supervisor/project leader);

  • methodological and theoretical framework of the research subject of the internship;

  • aim and research questions of the internship;

  • your motivation: how this internship contributes to your academic or professional development;

  • reflection: how you will contribute to the internship project.
    Please note: approval of the work plan is required before the internship starts, and is to be handed in 8 weeks before the start of the internship!

  1. Internship, minimum of 15 working days.

  2. Reflective report, referring to the work planning, including:

  • an evaluation of the research context, including a literature review and the theoretical framework;

  • a description of work done during the internship, including the results;

  • a critical discussion of methodology and practice, including recommendations;

  • a critical personal reflection: evaluation of your own functioning and acquired skills.

The Internship Applied Archaeology is part of the learning line 'fieldwork'. This learning line runs through all years of study, and consists of the courses Field Techniques, Fieldschool 1, Fieldschool 2, Internship BA3 and -optionally- Internship MA Applied Archaeology. Skills acquired are maintained in a portfolio.

Course set-up

2 introduction classes (September and March) + 15 days of internship.

Course objectives

  • Learning how to apply advanced practical (archaeological) skills, including a critical interpretation and view on the chosen methods;

  • Gaining (more) experience (under supervision) in working in a professional environment;

  • Ability to understand and critically review the relevance of archaeology and heritage in present-day society;

  • Ability to understand and critically review the legal and social context and obligations of a project or company;

  • Ability to critically evaluate the operationalising of a research project;

  • Ability to write a feasible work plan, containing a methodological framework, clear research questions, and a demonstration of how to operationalise the research questions;

  • Ability to successfully and independently carry out a project within a limited period of time;

  • Ability to write a scientific report on the results, describing the activities and why certain choices were made, and critically reflect on the results and operationalisation of the research questions, also in a broader, multidisciplinary context and in the context of one’s own academic development;

  • Ability to work in a professional team;

  • Enhancing your employability by increasing practical skills needed for a future job.

Timetable

Course schedule details can be found in the MA and MSc time schedule.

Mode of instruction

One introduction class about framework internship and work plan, expectations of and from students; examples of good internships and autonomous work under supervision.

Course load

  • Internship of 15 working days in the Netherlands or abroad (4 ec);

  • Work proposal and reflective report (1 ec).

Assessment method

  • Work proposal (10%);

  • Evaluation of the practical skills (50%);

  • Internship report (40%).

A retake consists of an improvement of the evaluation report within 3 weeks after the first submission, but only if all other requirements have been met.

All exam dates (exams, retakes, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the MA and MSc examination schedule.
The internship report needs to be handed in within 6 weeks after the end of the internship.

Reading list

To be announced.

Registration

Registration via uSis is mandatory.
You can use the study activity number in the timetable for registration.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact dr. R. (Richard) Jansen.

Remarks

  • Compulsory attendance during the internship;

  • Final examination is also possible in Dutch.