BSc (Hons) Archaeological, Anthropological & Forensic Sciences

UCAS code 4K2M

This is a highly employable sciences degree that blends laboratory and field investigations within a meticulous and inspirational academic framework. It is a broad-based course which bridges the gap between the sciences and humanities, and which will prepare you for a wide range of fascinating career opportunities in archaeology, anthropology, forensic investigation and other applied sciences.

Expert-led learning

You will receive expert-led theoretical and practical teaching across the closely related human investigative sciences of crime scene investigation, archaeological and anthropological theory, and scientific problem solving. This course will develop you as a motivated researcher with a strong portfolio of transferable skills while also allowing you, in your second and third year, to select a combination of units of study based on your own personal interests and career ambitions.

You will also attend BU’s archaeological field school at the end of your first year, where you will participate fully in a large-scale excavation, where in previous years, our students have discovered significant finds that have changed the way we view the past. The skills learned and developed during the field school also have direct relevance to data-gathering in the domain of the forensic sciences (including crime scene investigations), so it’s a unique opportunity to gain experience of working on a real site and to put into practice the skills developed elsewhere in your degree.

Employability prospects

To improve your employability prospects once you graduate, the course includes a five-week and an optional 30-week professional placement. Many graduates go on to work in the heritage sector, with employers including English Heritage, Historic Scotland and the National Trust, leading commercial units such as the Museum of London Archaeology Services, Oxford Archaeology and Wessex Archaeology, as well as police forces and a wide range of scientific laboratories.

This course has allowed me to gain a range of knowledge and skills from field archaeology and osteology to modern lab techniques in forensic sciences, paleopathology and genetics.

Ana Gonzalez Ruiz, graduate

Key areas of study

Key Information

Accreditations:

This course is recognised by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) and accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA)

Duration and delivery: 3 years full-time with optional 5-week placement, or 4 years full-time with a minimum 30-week placement

Entry requirements: 104 - 120 tariff points

Required subjects: None

If English is not your first language: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading or writing and 5.5 in all other components or equivalent

See website for latest details of: Entry requirements, contact hours and course costs

Introduction to Archaeology & Anthropology | Chemistry | Introduction to Forensic Investigation | Archaeological Field Skills | Studying Ancient Materials | Biological Anthropology | Crime Scene | Forensic Science | Becoming Human | The Science of Human Remains | Scientific Diving | Digital Approaches to Archaeology & Anthropology | Independent Research Project www.bournemouth.ac.uk/arch-sciences