Why Bachelor of Arts?
Are you interested in the birth of European civilisation? Fascinated by Greek mythology, like Poseidon and Aphrodite? Intrigued by Egyptian tombs and hieroglyphics?
Archaeology and Classical Studies keeps the past alive for future generations. You’ll explore ruins, decipher old texts and really get a feel for how people lived thousands of years ago. You'll learn how to spot clues in the artefacts left behind and piece together stories that have been silent for centuries.
Whether you want to supervise archaeological digs, curate museum exhibits or make a documentary on Tutankhamun, this degree will encourage your curiosity and set you up for success.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Arts is flexible and future-focused, preparing you for career success. In the Archaeology and Classical Studies major, you’ll encounter millennia of human resilience, struggle and triumph.
Study the Classical world – from Homer to the fall of the Roman Empire, exploring pivotal discoveries and questions in archaeology. Trace the rise and fall of leaders like Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. Investigate the central myths connecting ancient Greeks and Egyptians and their influence in the modern world. Discover the treasures of our Classics Museum collections.
Our curriculum is designed in line with the Australian Archaeology Skills Passport, so everything you learn will be industry-informed and relevant to the field. Build practical skills in archaeological fieldwork, from surveying to sophisticated remote sensing and GIS. Conduct materials analyses in the lab and get familiar with the digital tools of the trade. Graduate with practical, in demand skills, ready for employment in heritage industries, mining, archaeology, government, museums and more.
Key features
Study the art, society, politics and philosophies of ancient Greece and Rome up to early medieval Europe. - Take on the exciting challenge of interpreting ancient texts and artefacts.
- Get job-ready with learning aligned directly to the Australian Archaeology Skills Passport.
- Grow your professional networks, learning alongside experts and active researchers in the field.
- Clarify your future career through research and self-reflection.
- Get familiar with archaeology techniques and technology through an industry internship.
What you'll learn
Our Bachelor of Arts fosters creative thinking, problem-solving and adaptability. Build core skills in writing, communication, analytical thinking and debate. Cultivate cultural awareness as you explore human rights, values and future challenges for our planet. Get real-world experience and access supportive mentors, including in an industry-aligned internship. Through research and self-reflection, you’ll identify your career goals – and develop a proactive strategy for achieving them.
In the Archaeology and Classical Studies major, you’ll learn best practices in modern Australian archaeology – including how to collaborate respectfully with Aboriginal communities. You’ll take exciting courses, including:
- Time travellers: an introduction to archaeology
- World of the Ancient Greeks and Romans
- Alexander the Great and his globalised world
- Myths of Ancient Egypt and Greece
- From bones to holograms: laboratory techniques for archaeology
- Democracy and its enemies: politics in Greece and Rome
- Contemporary issues in archaeology
- Archaeological field methods.
Our archaeology and classical studies staff are actively conducting research across Australia, the Middle East and Europe. Emerging insights from these studies are integrated into every course, enriching your learning experience. By joining the vibrant Classical and Ancient History Society at Adelaide University, you’ll build valuable networks and access extra professional development opportunities.
Our Bachelor of Arts also allows you to explore other interests by taking another major in a different area. Pursue interdisciplinary studies – from history to philosophy – to complement your learning.
Majors
The Bachelor of Arts is also available with majors in the following:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Anthropology
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Creative Writing
- English Literature
- Environmental Management
- French Studies
- Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Geography
- German Studies
- History
- International Development
- International Security
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Population and Migration Studies
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish Studies.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 18 units for Core courses, and
- 96 units for 2 Majors from Majors, and
- 18 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for all Electives
Complete 18 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Time Travellers: An Introduction to Archaeology
|
Course code
ARCY1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
World of the Ancient Greeks and Romans
|
Course code
ARCY1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Alexander the Great and his Globalised World
|
Course code
ARCY2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Heroes, Gods and Monsters: Greek and Egyptian mythology
|
Course code
ARCY2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
From Bones to Holograms: Laboratory Techniques for Archaeology
|
Course code
ARCY2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Democracy and its Enemies: Politics in Greece and Rome
|
Course code
ARCY3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Issues in Archaeology
|
Course code
ARCY3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Archaeological Field Methods
|
Course code
ARCY3003
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 1
|
Course code
SOCI1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
Complete one Major from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Studies
|
Course code
ABORBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Anthropology
|
Course code
ANTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Art History and Visual Culture
|
Course code
ARTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Writing
|
Course code
CREWBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
English Literature
|
Course code
ENGLBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Management
|
Course code
ENVMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
French Studies
|
Course code
FRENBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Geography
|
Course code
GEOGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
German Studies
|
Course code
GERMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Chinese Studies
|
Course code
CHINBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Cultural Studies
|
Course code
CULTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Gender and Sexuality Studies
|
Course code
GENDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
History
|
Course code
HISTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Development
|
Course code
INTDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Security
|
Course code
INTSBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Italian Studies
|
Course code
ITALBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese Studies
|
Course code
JAPNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
|
Course code
LINGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Philosophy
|
Course code
PHILBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Politics
|
Course code
POLIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Population and Migration Studies
|
Course code
POPUBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Screen Studies
|
Course code
SCRNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Sociology
|
Course code
SOCIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Spanish Studies
|
Course code
SPANBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Social Research and Policy Analysis
|
Course code
SOCRBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Kaurna Languages
|
Course code
KAURBARTS
|
Units
48
|
Career outcomes
Archaeology in Australia has clear industry pathways and expectations. Archaeologists are required to complete four years of study to gain employment. Paired with a Graduate Diploma in either Heritage Management or Curatorial and Museum Studies, our Bachelor of Arts majoring in Archaeology and Classical Studies fulfills this requirement. Our curriculum is closely aligned with the Australian Archaeology Skills Passport, so you graduate job ready.
You could manage archaeological digs, uncovering Egyptian tombs or Roman relics. You might write a great epic that draws on your knowledge of ancient Greece. Perhaps you’ll start your own podcast on cryptozoology, dissecting mythical creatures in folklore and legend.
You could also be a:
- Heritage site manager
- Cultural resources coordinator
- Archivist
- Museum curator
- Tour guide
- Land assessor
- Environmental impact analyst
- Heritage consultant
- Historical publication editor
- Construction firm consultant
- Education programs coordinator
- Documentarian.
Industry trends
There is a shortage of archaeologists in Australia, with high demand from the mining industry, archaeology, heritage consulting firms, government departments, Indigenous protected areas and museums. Archaeology graduates enjoy strong employment outcomes, particularly in Aboriginal archaeology. In 2020, the average salary for an archaeologist was AUD$102,430 (Australian Archaeology in Profile: A Survey of Working Archaeologists).
The field is also being transformed by advanced technologies. Digital archaeology, for instance, leverages 3D scanning, virtual reality and augmented reality to create immersive and precise models of historical artefacts and sites. Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies are identifying and mapping previously inaccessible discoveries. With the hands-on experience and digital literacy skills you build at Adelaide University, you’ll be well-equipped to thrive in this evolving field.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
