Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Archaeology in Christchurch New Zealand | University of Otago

Archaeology aims to uncover insights about ancient human civilizations by examining physical remnants from bygone eras. These remnants may range from collections of movable objects like stone implements to grand architectural wonders such as Mayan pyramids, as well as entire terrains shaped by human activity. Researchers gather information through on-site investigations and digs, employing both scientific analysis and theoretical frameworks to interpret their findings. While fundamentally rooted in the humanities due to its focus on human cultures and their evolution, archaeology incorporates methodologies from various scientific disciplines. This field serves as our main window into humanity's distant past, tracing the incremental cultural and societal changes that have shaped modern communities. At Otago, students can explore diverse archaeology courses, with postgraduate options for guided field and lab research, especially focusing on New Zealand and Pacific regions.
The Master of Archaeological Practice (MArchP) is a hands-on professional degree that bridges academic concepts with real-world application, designed to cultivate expertise in archaeological heritage preservation among emerging professionals. Students benefit from instruction by top scholars with deep roots in Pacific studies and New Zealand's unique position within this context. Preserving our cultural heritage and archaeological remains has become an increasingly important sustainability challenge. Presently, New Zealand faces a shortage of trained archaeologists in the heritage field. This innovative program addresses both industry needs and student aspirations for advanced qualifications in this domain.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) involves two semesters of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). The curriculum combines structured postgraduate coursework with, in certain cases, a supervised research component that may account for one or two required courses. Typically, applicants must hold an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in the primary discipline(s) of their chosen program.