Archaeology/Politics

Archaeology and politics is a combination that might seem surprising but is productively revealing about how the past and the present illuminate each other. Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through material remains, examining how people interacted with their world through a detailed study of objects, sites, monuments and landscapes. It develops meticulous attention to physical evidence, interpretive rigour and an understanding of how material culture reflects and shapes social life.

Politics examines how power is organised and exercised in human societies, from ancient constitutions to contemporary electoral systems, and what forces drive political change and conflict. Together they encourage you to ask large questions about human societies across time and space.

At the University of Glasgow this part-time programme allows you to develop expertise in both disciplines alongside other commitments, with a flexible pace that suits your circumstances. You will study archaeological method and theory, fieldwork, the analysis of material culture and the history of human occupation across different regions and periods, alongside political science, international relations, political thought and comparative politics. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to engage with different archaeological and political traditions in an international educational context.

Graduates of archaeology and politics combinations pursue careers in heritage management, archaeological practice, the civil service, public policy, political research and journalism. The combination of analytical depth, research skill and broad intellectual range that the two disciplines together develop is valued across many professional fields. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in archaeology, heritage, political science, public administration or related disciplines.