ME3810 Monastic Scotland: History and Archaeology

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Summer after graduation

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

16

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is NOT available to students as part of any St Andrews degree programme.

Planned timetable

Lecture days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Lecture hours: 9-12 (Week 1-2 only)

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof A I Beach

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof Alison Beach, Finola O'Carroll (Director, Black Friary Archeology Field School), Laura Corrway (Senior Excavation Supervisor, Black Friary Archaeology Field School)

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This five-week Summer School offers students the opportunity to experience first-hand the history of medieval Scotland and Ireland. The course comprises two weeks in St Andrews and three weeks in Ireland participating actively in an excavation of the Black Friary in Trim -- a thirteenth-century Dominican priory. We will also travel to various monastic sites in Scotland and Ireland. The academic approach of the course is problem-based, requiring students to work in groups to define and explore a central, student-generated research question. This course is not open to students on regular St Andrews degree pathways. Classes in Scotland will take place in regular university venues and take up most mornings during the first two weeks of the course. In Ireland (weeks 3-5) there is a 2-hour lecture slot once per week. The Field School has a multi-purpose pod equipped with a projector, etc. where lectures will take place.

Assessment pattern

100% Coursework

Re-assessment

100% Coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

10 Lectures in St Andrews (2/day for 2 weeks) 10 Seminars in St Andrews (1/day for 2 weeks) Field Work (8 hours/day for 3 weeks) Other contact hours: Field Trips in Scotland (20 hours) Evening lectures in Ireland (one per week, total 6 hours) Other student study hours: Group project work (5 hours per week)

Scheduled learning hours

109

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

51

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • To become familiar with the history of Scotland and Ireland in the Middle Ages
  • To understand the fundamentals of Christian monasticism and its place in the religious, social, and economic landscapes of medieval Scotland and Ireland
  • To learn the basic skills the archaeologist, including both excavation and the proper handling and documentation of finds
  • To work effectively in a team under a variety of challenging work and weather conditions