Classical Archaeology BA at Kings College London

Overview

Discover the ancient world through its art, architecture and cultural landscapes. This degree focuses on the art and archaeology of Greece and Rome, and investigates the Near East and Byzantium beyond. Our location in the heart of London allows easy access to the capital’s world-class cultural institutions, such as the British Museum, Museum of London and V&A Museum.

Key benefits

• Top five for Classics in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2018). Our Department is renowned for its quality of teaching, student experience and cutting-edge research.
• King’s Department of Classics is one of the largest in the UK, with unique coverage from the Bronze Age to Modern Greece.
• Collaborations with the British Museum and other cultural institutions, which are incorporated into undergraduate teaching.
• Our degree courses combine focus and flexibility, allowing you to pursue your interests. Some archaeological modules are taught jointly with ancient historians for a wide coverage of study skills.
• You will acquire analytical and presentational skills valued by employers, leading to careers in heritage-related professions, the media, education, civil service and the performing arts.
• The possibility to transfer to the Classics (Greek & Latin) BA in Year 2, provided that in Year 1 you took Greek & Latin Literature: An Introduction (30 credits) and a Greek or Latin language module (30 credits).

Description

The Classical Archaeology BA course comprises of modules totalling 360 credits and will be studied over three years. You also have the opportunity to participate in a fully-funded trip associated with the classical archaeology modules, courtesy of the Rumble fund.

Your first year of study will consist of one required module that provides a rounded introduction to classical archaeology, and will develop your analytical skills and introduce you to advanced historical theory and methodology.

You will also cover a range of art historical and archaeological approaches, including chronological, site-based, thematic, museum-based and regional.

While focusing on art and archaeological modules, you can also select modules in literary studies and philosophy, and you can learn Latin or Greek at a level appropriate to your prior knowledge.

The second year of is made up of optional modules, allowing you the freedom to develop your study pathway to reflect your interests. You will study art and archaeology modules totalling 60 credits, plus further modules totalling 60 credits, of which 30 may come from another Department in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities or the Department of War Studies. You also have the opportunity to study abroad in the second semester of the second year or for the whole of your second year.

In your final year, you have the option to complete a 10,000-word dissertation on an approved subject of your choice with emphasis on self-directed research. The optional modules you will also study reflect the current research and expertise of staff in the department, providing you with the opportunity to study specialist subjects in-depth.

Career prospects

Our graduates go on to work in a range of professions, including law, banking, the civil service, information technology, librarianship, education, heritage industries, the media, journalism and the performing arts, while others choose to stay and pursue postgraduate qualifications at King’s.

Career destinations

Recent graduates have found employment as:

• Assistant Tax Advisor, Ernst & Young
• Human Resources Administrator, Health resources International
• Web Administrator, Intrico Products Ltd
• Illustrator, Self Employed Illustrator
• Marketing and Publishing Graduate scheme, the telegraph Media group
• Research Intern, Environment Agency
• Sales Operations Admin, Associated Press TV news
• Latin Teacher at a university
• Client Relations Associate, Fidelity Investment Managers
• Customer Management Executive, CMC Markets