Prospectus

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Honours College Archaeology & Society

Honours Education

This programme links two areas of interest to archaeology:

  • deepening, in the form of theoretical lecture series and individual research;

  • broadening, with a focus on society, entrepreneurship and leadership.

In order to emphasise archaeology's multidisciplinary character, the programme features collaborations with other faculties and the University College. Also, there is cooperation with museums and society-oriented archaeological companies, such as RCE (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; Cultural Heritage Agency), municipalities, and other government agencies.

This track offers highly motivated students the opportunity to expand on the regular bachelor's programme with 30 ec in deepening and broadening courses.

The track is available to students from all faculties who meet the general selection requirements. Therefore there are no specific admission requirements for this track.

In order to be admitted, you need good grades but most of all motivation, the ability to make meaningful contributions, and the ability to take a critical stance towards academic research. Furthermore, you need to demonstrate initiative, and you should not be afraid to bring current popular opinions up for discussion.

Bachelor 1

In the first year, high-performing students are invited to take part in the exploratory Honours College programme.

In February and March, a seminar (5 ec) is organised which provides an introduction to various themes and aspects from the archaeological work field.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Orientation seminar 5

Bachelor 2

The second year of the Honours track Archaeology consists of a theoretical seminar and two internships: the Honours internship and a Research practical.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Honours Assignment 5
Honours Internship 5
Honours Theory Seminar: Materials we live by 5

Bachelor 3

The third year consists of 10 ec. You can choose from one of the many Honours Classes (5 ec) which are organised by the faculties and you can attend an elective at Leiden University College (LUC) in The Hague.

In July, you will be sent a list of all the Honours Classes for which you can register. The elective at LUC should first be discussed and approved by the track coordinator.

A flexible Honours programme

Within the Honours Track, besides the standard programme, there is also room for flexibility. This means that students with a good argument may choose an alternative for a number of standard units: the Research practical, the Honours internship and the LUC elective.
Proposals for an alternative for these units will be submitted to the Facultu of Archaeology Board of Examiners. The board will provide advice which is then submitted to the Board of Examiners of the Honours Academy.

Observations
A number of rules have been agreed relating to this flexible track:

Students may not propose standard subjects from the Archaeology programme as an alternative for the Honours Internship, the Research internship or the course at the University College. This is because units from the standard track may also be followed as a minor and additional course and therefore do not have the status ‘Honours Course’.

Students may propose alternatives which are outside the standard track. These might include a summer school, participation in a seminar/workshop or course at an international institute or following an Honours course in another track. These alternatives, accompanied by a good argument, must be submitted to the Faculty of Archaeology Board of Examiners.

Students may choose an extra Honours Class to replace one of the three units described above.

Students are offered the opportunity to replace the Research practical by organising a workshop/seminar with guest speakers. They may choose the theme of the workshop/seminar themselves or adopt a theme proposed by the Honours coordinator. A clear task allocation will be established to ensure that the workload corresponds with the 5 ec which normally apply to the Research practical. Each student is asked to write a report following this seminar.

The requirement that the Honours Internship must have a strong archaeological focus will be less strictly applied. Thus internships of a more cultural-historic nature may also be proposed. Furthermore, students may do these internships at other institutes than only institutes which focus on archaeology (including Ministries and schools).
Internships abroad may also be proposed. However, we do ask the student to explain why he/she wishes to do this internship. Above all, it must be a socially-oriented internship and not an academic internship.

Procedure
If a student proposes an alternative that falls outside the standard Honours track, this request must be submitted to the Faculty of Archaeology Board of Examiners. The student must provide a detailed motivation letter containing:

Reason for replacement:

  • Demonstrate why the proposed seminar/course/workshop offers broadening and deepening;

  • Demonstrate that this replacement corresponds with a workload of 5 ec;

  • Show which part of the Honours Track is being replaced;

  • The assessment method and the proposed assessor.

With regard to the Honours Internship and the Research practical, this will initially take place in consultation with the Honours coordinator who will make further arrangements with the students. Following further consultation, in both cases a form will be drawn up. Draft forms for both forms are available on the Honours Track Brightspace page. These documents will be submitted to the Honours coordinator and the Board of Examiners. If approved, they will be signed by both parties.