This program - not offered at any other Australian University – equips you with the theory and skills required to undertake a scientific study of the past and present of humanity using Archaeology and/or Biological Anthropology perspectives. Students can tailor the program to their own training objectives, through hands-on experience with a variety of world-leading supervising specialists, materials, and fieldwork and laboratory resources. The Archaeological Science stream offers professionally-oriented training and the opportunity to focus on tailored independent research projects. By taking Biological Anthropology courses you will study humans and non-human primates as varied and dynamically changing biological organisms. You will explore primate evolution, ecology, behaviour and conservation; human evolution and behaviour; palaeopathology, bioarchaeology, and forensic archaeology/anthropology.

Four specialisations are available to match your interests:

Primate and Human Behaviour

Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology

Environmental Archaeology and Climate Change

Human Evolution.

Learning Outcomes

1. Clearly understand evolutionary processes as they relate to biological anthropology, and/or understand the theories, methods and practice of archaeological science.

2. Apply scientific method in archaeological science and/or to paleontological and bioarchaeological specimens, morphological materials and/or primate behaviour and ecology.

3. Apply scientific techniques to archaeological and/or biological anthropological problems in the field, laboratory and written form.

4. Critically analyse data and literature within the discipline of archaeological science or biological anthropology to reach independent conclusions.

5. Effectively communicate to others their knowledge of humankind’s place in nature and/or our past.