REGULATIONS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS HONOURS DEGREE IN ARCHAEOLOGY, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MUSEUM STUDIES (AH14)

1.0     ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

1.1     NORMAL ENTRY

A Candidate must have obtained at least 5 ‘O’ levels including English Language and Two ‘A’ level passes especially in History/Heritage Studies and any subjects in the Humanities.

1.2     SPECIAL ENTRY

Refer to Section 3.2 of the General Academic Regulations for the Undergraduate Degrees of the Midlands State University

1.3     MATURE ENTRY

Refer to Section 3.3 of the General Academic Regulations for the Undergraduate Degrees of the Midlands State University

1.4     VISITING SCHOOL

This is a 3-year degree programme aimed at individuals already employed. In addition to satisfying the general entry requirements, they should atleast have a Diploma in the relevant field.

5. CAREER PROSPECTS

The degree programme prepares students for career options in museums, cultural heritage, global heritage and non-governmental organizations, cultural development planning, and government departments.

 

3.0       ASSESSMENT

3.1     Continuous assessment shall normally constitute 25% of the final examination mark while examinations constitute 75%.

3.2     Dissertations shall consist of between 9000 – 10000 words.

 

13. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Code	Module Description	Credits

 

14.0     MODULE SYNOPSES

CHS 131 Introduction to Cultural Heritage Management

This module introduces students to the concept of culture and cultural heritage management in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa and selected parts of the globe. It examines the trend of development of the idea of heritage management and the discipline in Southern Africa. Forms, values, stakeholders and their subsequent relations are examined. The module also examines systems of heritage management used in Zimbabwe and selected examples outside the country, as well as legal issues of heritage management.

ARC 136 Introduction to Archaeology

This module presents an introduction to the history, methods, goals, and theoretical concepts of archaeology. The module explores how archaeologists employ these material remains to construct interpretations about past societies. Discussions focus on the formation of the archaeological record; the history of archaeology; developing a research design; field methods for recovering archaeological data; chronology; and generating interpretations about the past.

MUS 136 Introduction to Museology and Museography

The module examines how museums and museum theories have evolved, their role in contemporary societies and how they operate within the context of heritage management. It also explores the philosophy of museums in the service of the general public. This module also introduces you to the theoretical, contextual, ethical and practical issues involved in curating, engaging, interpreting, developing and managing museum resources.

MUS 137 Introduction to Information Management

The module provides students with a solid foundation in information management studies. The module provides an understanding of the importance of information to society. It focuses on the theory, methodology and practice of managing information as a strategic resource for organisations or individuals. It introduces the principles that govern the management of information. It presents cornerstone terminology, concepts and practices used in information management.

ARC 107 World Prehistory

The module focuses on the development of humanity from the earliest evidence of human evolution through to the development of human culture. It also examines the development of human societies, from the Stone Age up to the Late Iron Age. It will focus on human technological achievements from the last 3 million years into the historical period. World Prehistory offers the platform for a scholarly deconstruction of the notion which has presented pre-modern humans as undeveloped societies.

ARC 143 Prehistory of Southern Africa

This module compares and contrasts the archaeological traditions in Southern Africa, with a particular focus on Zimbabwe. The course traces the development of human societies, from foragers of the Early to Middle Pleistocene, through gatherers and hunters of the Middle, Late and Terminal Pleistocene, and the Holocene within Southern Africa.  A review is made of the evidence from Southern Africa that suggests that Southern Africa is the Cradle of Humankind responsible for the development and/or advent of modern human beings and modern human behaviour. The module also assesses the level of archaeological development in each of these countries in terms of research done, the archaeological infrastructure, public education with regard to the past, and the use of the past in shaping the present and future.

MUS 143 Museum Communication and Visitor Studies

Museum communication explores the relationship between museums and their audiences. It examines the general principles of effective communication with museum visitors from culturally, socially and linguistically diverse communities. The module introduces students to various media and interpretive techniques and recognises their usefulness in effective communication with museum visitors. The module recognises the importance of visitor studies and evaluation in the development of exhibitions and other museum communication services.

CHS 144 Documentation of Cultural Property

The students are equipped with the knowledge of the role played by documentation in the management and conservation of the cultural property. Students are introduced to the theoretical concepts of documentation and practical techniques of assessing the condition of a heritage place. This module provides the students to understand the basic principles of documenting rock art sites, dry stone walled structures, dagga structures, historic buildings and archaeological collections.

MUS 145 Museum Collections Management

The module focuses on aspects that promote the upkeep of collections for posterity. These include collections management policies, storage facilities, packaging, climate control, handling and documentation of collections. This module provides knowledge and skills in the preservation, conservation and treatment of artefacts held by heritage institutions. Students are given an understanding of the agents of deterioration and how micro-environments can be managed.

ARC 231 Archaeological Theory

Archaeology is a diverse discipline that embraces a wide variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives. This module focuses on the major theoretical positions and debates that have influenced the growth of archaeology as a discipline. This module examines theoretical approaches to understanding the human past. This module explores the major trends in archaeological theory and considers how each of these assists in the interpretation of the past.

ARC 232 Surveying in Archaeology

This module examines current approaches adopted by field archaeologists carrying out detailed site and landscape surveys in Archaeology. Traditional survey methods are considered alongside emerging digital technologies. The module focuses on traditional and electronic survey methods, archaeological drafting, geophysical prospection, digital cartography, aerial and terrestrial photography, satellite remote sensing, and relevant software systems including GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and CAD (Computer-Aided Drafting/Drawing).

CHS 231 Conservation of Cultural Property

This module introduces students to the concepts of conservation of cultural property. It also provides an introduction to the principles, theory and ethics of archaeological conservation. Students are to have a good understanding of conservation issues before going on to research in archaeology and cultural heritage. The module is set within the broad heritage context and it seeks to explore issues and practicalities relating to the care and conservation of a wide variety of cultural heritage.

MUS 231 Curatorship

The module empowers students with skills to design acquisition /collections policy, conduct curatorial research, documentation of collections, conservation of museum collections, exhibition design, tour guiding, use of new technologies, exhibition marketing, museum outreach programmes and project management. It also presents the aspect of museum publication as a follow-up to curatorial or laboratory research.

MUS 232 Gender Studies

This module provides students with an understanding of gender identity and gender representation. The module provides gender studies as an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the complex interaction of gender with other identity markers such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, nation, and religion. Gender-femininity and masculinity is are such a basic form of social organisation that their operation often passes unnoticed.

ARC 241 Archaeological Field and Laboratory Methods

The module focuses on how archaeologists find sites, gather data and proceed to make sense of archaeological traces. It also provides a detailed introduction to fieldwork methods and laboratory analysis, covering site prospection techniques (e.g. aerial photography and geophysical survey), the basics of environmental and bio-archaeology, scientific dating techniques and excavation.

CHS 241 Research Methods and Project Formulation

The module aims to provide an introduction to social research methodology, including qualitative and quantitative research methods, historical studies, and cultural studies, looking at their application in a variety of contexts related to archaeology, museums, and cultural heritage studies. It also introduces students to problem formulation and proposal writing in preparation for Honours dissertations.

CHS 242 Heritage Legislation and Protection

The module provides students with an in -depth understanding of the value of heritage legislation and policies in the protection of both the tangible and intangible cultural and natural heritage. It also evaluates the applicability of these models in the context of heritage management. The module also introduces students to the different international and regional bodies that facilitate the protection of heritage. The module also provides knowledge about the politics of heritage management.

CHS 245 Marketing Heritage Resources

The module deals with the marketing of cultural and natural heritage which among other things includes museums, galleries and heritage landscapes. It focuses on aspects like market analysis, market research, market planning, marketing mix and marketing communications. The main aim of the module is to place cultural and natural heritage institutions at a competitive advantage against competing players in the leisure and tourism industry.                  

MUS 241    Preservation and Conservation of Archives

The module enlightens students on the constraints faced in the conservation and preservation of archives which among other things include environmental, handling and storage issues. It also focuses on measures taken to safeguard the archives. These include disaster planning, conservation planning and the provision of security to archival collections.

MUS 242     Fine Arts

This module exposes students to the visual arts heritage in Zimbabwe and from other contexts. Students are imparted with skills in art production processes, aesthetics and an understanding of the complex Art World/Republic responsible for defining taste. The module also introduces students to African and European/Occidental art traditions and the interrelationship between art and society.

ARC 431    Information Technology in Archaeology 

This module pays attention to information technology within the discipline of archaeology. As archaeological theory evolves to embrace technology and strategies of interpreting material culture, there is an urgent need to also impart students with an appreciation of information technology as it applies and can be applied to archaeology. The appreciation of information technology is not confined to data analysis, but will also consider, all phases of archaeological research to include desktop research, data collection, data storage, and dissemination of information. This module thereby equips students with an appreciation of the potentials and challenges of the application of information technology within the archaeology of Africa and Southern Africa in particular.

ARC 432     Public Archaeology

This module’s focus is on communicating archaeology to the public through multimedia, the press, as well as other vehicles of communication, to bridge the gap between professional knowledge, researchers, and public perception of the discipline. It is also designed to demystify the traditional perceptions of the discipline long regarded as the ‘digging of ancient burials’.

CHS 432    Illicit Trafficking and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage

The module focuses on issues of collections security, illicit trafficking, repatriation and restitution. It highlights the theft of cultural heritage as a serious global problem with deep historical roots involving developed countries. It addresses aspects of networks and routes for stolen cultural material. The module also addresses solutions for countering illicit trafficking which include legal instruments, practical tools and collaborative efforts involving countries, international bodies and institutions involved in the protection and upkeep of collections.

CHS 433    Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

This module examines the origins, issues, policies, and processes of sustainable development in heritage management. It will examine development models and how these affect the management of heritage. The module will also examine the role of contract archaeology in heritage management. The module covers the theoretical aspects of cultural heritage, its management and protection, including international policy and law.

MUS 431     Electronic Data Records Management Systems

The module is aimed at equipping learners with the skills for developing an Information Governance Model that supports the management of electronic records. Focal areas include conducting electronic records surveys, managing electronic records, developing classification schemes, developing access policies in an electronic environment and disposing of electronic records, appraising and disposing of electronic records.

CHS 441 Heritage Presentation and Interpretation

This module examines regional and global trends in the area of heritage presentation and interpretation ranging from the re-organisation of museum exhibitions and displays to the use of heritage in matters relating to the reinterpretation of the past, often misrepresented during colonial times or domination by one group over the other.

ARC 441    Rock Art Studies

Rock Art remains an actively debated context of archaeological material. Not only does it bridge the gap between human evolution and the Iron Age, but this form of material culture has remained highly debated mostly with respect to its execution, dating and interpretation. Rock Art Studies is therefore a module that explores the breadth, depth and future of rock art research within the African context. Relevant examples and case studies will be used to debate the rock art of Southern Africa and to position this discourse within a global perspective. 

MUS 441    Museums and Global Issues

The aim of the module focuses on some issues in which a new museological practice is emerging: new museology, contemporary collecting, politics of participation and access, learning, performance measurement and integration. The module also aims to empower students with an understanding of the climate under which museums are operating, sustainability issues, the politics of dealing with special collections and de-accessioning, the use of new technologies in communicating, and the virtual museum.

ARC 450    Dissertation

The module equips learners with the skills of carrying out the actual research and writing a research project. The students are given an opportunity to research a topic of their choice. With the guidance from a member of the academic staff as supervisor, the learners plan and design an independent research project which relates to their overall programme of study. Candidates are expected to write a dissertation of between 9 000-10 000 words (excluding references) in Times New Roman font size 12 in double spacing.