[Menelwen]

Hey here, I'm off to study English lit at Edinburgh but quite recently have had a change of heart. I didn't study sciences at A level but have started to take more of an interest in areas of science by doing independent Reading and the like. Anyway, I was hoping maybe to change to archaeology after the first year as I know I would have the opportunity to study modules of archaeology in my first year, as it is still within the humanities and social science department, but I was Reading up on some of the later modules and it says some of the more 'sciency' modules like isotopes in archaeology are not available to those on the BA humanities and social science program. Is there absolutely no way I could have access to these modules If I do end up changing my course? Many thanks.

[Acaila]

Useful if you post in the right forum and don't post multiple copies of the thread.

[Menelwen]

Originally Posted by Acaila

Useful if you post in the right forum and don't post multiple copies of the thread.

Apologies, my computer was misbehaving. Also, it would be useful if you could actually point me in the right direction.

[Acaila]

I moved the thread to the Edinburgh uni forum before posting that.

[nearlyheadlessian]

Originally Posted by Menelwen

Hey here, I'm off to study English lit at Edinburgh but quite recently have had a change of heart. I didn't study sciences at A level but have started to take more of an interest in areas of science by doing independent Reading and the like. Anyway, I was hoping maybe to change to archaeology after the first year as I know I would have the opportunity to study modules of archaeology in my first year, as it is still within the humanities and social science department, but I was Reading up on some of the later modules and it says some of the more 'sciency' modules like isotopes in archaeology are not available to those on the BA humanities and social science program. Is there absolutely no way I could have access to these modules If I do end up changing my course? Many thanks.

*scratches head* Firstly I'm sure that artorscience? has given a pretty lengthy description already about Archaeology at Edinburgh. But anyway, you appear to be misunderstanding the degree system here. If you change your overall degree it will likely as not be changed to an MA in Archaeology. Once you have entered honours (with pre qualifications in Archaeology 2A and 2B) you are welcome to take any course you like, including Isoptopes in Archaeology. If, however, you are only doing a three year BA then the course is not available for you.

[artorscience?]

Originally Posted by Menelwen

I was hoping maybe to change to archaeology after the first year as I know I would have the opportunity to study modules of archaeology in my first year, as it is still within the humanities and social science department, but I was Reading up on some of the later modules and it says some of the more 'sciency' modules like isotopes in archaeology are not available to those on the BA humanities and social science program. Is there absolutely no way I could have access to these modules If I do end up changing my course? Many thanks.

Just to add to what nearlyheadlessian said.

All Archaeology honours courses (ie those taken in 3rd/4th year) are dependant on you having taken and passed Archaeology 2. If you pass your second year with 50% you proceed to Honours and remain on the MA programme. If you pass the second year with 40-50% you have two options - to resit the year or to proceed to the third year of an Ordinary degree, BA. It is to these people that the Isotopes course is not available. And if you want your degree to have credibility, you want to proceed to honours.

Just to add - Archaeology at Edinburgh is incredibly unscientific, the general programme has very little science and the majority of people on the course are scared of adding up numbers on a calculator. If you are seriously considering a change of degree into a scientific field you might want to look at taking courses from within the College of Science and Engineering.

[lukeyboy]

if you've been accepted onto the BA you will most likely have to be reconsidered to change to an Ma (Hons), if you are accepted onto an MA (hons) however, it is very easy to change to a different course within the same college, i.e. hss, but a bit more tricky to change to a course outwith your matriculated college, as they all have different rules, different policies and different targets etc (yeah its rubbish but its edinburgh, its old and its bureaucratic, get used to it!).

it helps if you offer your dos biscuits at every stage, and don't harang them with the illusion they will be sympathetic, as the 3rd best uni in the uk for research (rae) dos' always seem to be off doing some important studying, and dont take too kindly to undergraduates peskering them.

[Menelwen]

Originally Posted by lukeyboy

if you've been accepted onto the BA you will most likely have to be reconsidered to change to an Ma (Hons), if you are accepted onto an MA (hons) however, it is very easy to change to a different course within the same college, i.e. hss, but a bit more tricky to change to a course outwith your matriculated college, as they all have different rules, different policies and different targets etc (yeah its rubbish but its edinburgh, its old and its bureaucratic, get used to it!).

it helps if you offer your dos biscuits at every stage, and don't harang them with the illusion they will be sympathetic, as the 3rd best uni in the uk for research (rae) dos' always seem to be off doing some important studying, and dont take too kindly to undergraduates peskering them.

Ahhhh well I got on the MA course, I've been having a little internal difficulty with myself in what I really want to do. I emailed them before asking if there was any chance I could take Geography and Archaeology alongside english as part of the 120 credits for the first year, just waiting for a reply now. But if it's as difficult as you say then I'm not sure =/ but it's worth a shot! I met somebody on here once who got in for English and eventually specialised in Archaeology so there's hope yet! Thanks for all the useful advice guys =) and wish me luck!

[nearlyheadlessian]

Originally Posted by Menelwen

I met somebody on here once who got in for English and eventually specialised in Archaeology so there's hope yet! Thanks for all the useful advice guys =) and wish me luck!

Menelwen, listen! If you make the grades and get into Edinburgh then switching to Archaeology will be a definite possibility. Quit worrying and just talk to your DoS when you get here.

[lukeyboy]

it's not difficult, i got the impression you were on the BA course and if you try to change to an MA from that they usually stipulate that you're reconsidered with ucas applicants.

it is a definite possibility, as headlessian states. concentrate on your exams, and then once you arrive check out what the compulsory courses for archaeology are and take them alongside english lit.

if you take the relevant compulsory courses as detailed on drps and the subject is in the same college as you indicate its really easy to change (i started off doing english lit and changed to anthropology).

[Menelwen]

Originally Posted by lukeyboy

it's not difficult, i got the impression you were on the BA course and if you try to change to an MA from that they usually stipulate that you're reconsidered with ucas applicants.

it is a definite possibility, as headlessian states. concentrate on your exams, and then once you arrive check out what the compulsory courses for archaeology are and take them alongside english lit.

if you take the relevant compulsory courses as detailed on drps and the subject is in the same college as you indicate its really easy to change (i started off doing english lit and changed to anthropology).

Yeah that sounds pretty promising but what about Geography which is in Science and Engineering? I do have an A grade A/S in Geography but I still don't know if I can look at doing the Geography and Archaeology MA if it's not in the hss college. Just an option I'm considering

[artorscience?]

Originally Posted by Menelwen

Yeah that sounds pretty promising but what about Geography which is in Science and Engineering? I do have an A grade A/S in Geography but I still don't know if I can look at doing the Geography and Archaeology MA if it's not in the hss college. Just an option I'm considering

You can take first and second year Geography. You can take any modules that you prequalify for (be that through having an A level or by them not having any pre-requisits) in Sci/En or Humanities. The two first year Geography courses have no requirements therefore anyone can take them. Please stop faffing and concentrate on your exams. You have time to change your mind plenty of times between now and mid-September. A lot is possible and it's not necessary to do anything now.

[Menelwen]

Originally Posted by artorscience?

You can take first and second year Geography. You can take any modules that you prequalify for (be that through having an A level or by them not having any pre-requisits) in Sci/En or Humanities. The two first year Geography courses have no requirements therefore anyone can take them. Please stop faffing and concentrate on your exams. You have time to change your mind plenty of times between now and mid-September. A lot is possible and it's not necessary to do anything now.

Thanks, I just like to have some idea of my options, as I'm quite an indecisive person, it's put my mind at rest now.