Program Overview

Ancient History and Archaeology (JH)

B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)

Overview

Ancient History and Archaeology are both concerned with understanding social, political, and cultural experience in the past. This course offers the opportunity to range across these two broad disciplines. Students will study the Greek and Roman worlds by working with historical and literary documents alongside the material remains of ancient sites and artefacts. All material is studied in translation, and no knowledge of Greek or Latin is required, but there are opportunities to take introductory modules in the languages.

Course Details

• Awards: B.A. Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
• CAO Information: CAO Points 400-556 (2024)
• Number of Places: 28 Places
• Next Intake: September 2025

Course Options

Ancient History and Archaeology is studied as a Joint Honours subject with one of the following options:

• TR111 Geography
• TR112 History
• TR113 History of Art and Architecture
• TR114 Modern Language (French, German, Irish, Russian, Spanish)
• TR117 Religion
• TR547 Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations

Admission Requirements

• English Language Requirements: All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Fees

For a full list of undergraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section.

Your Degree and What You’ll Study

Over four years, students will develop a broad understanding of the ancient world through its history and archaeology, moving from introductory courses in the first year to more focused thematic topics in the second and third years, and choosing from a range of specialized options in the final year.

First Year

In the first year, students will take three modules that give a solid introduction to the Greek and Roman worlds and the skills and approaches of the two disciplines. There are approximately six hours of classes per week in the first year.

• Greek and Roman History
• Greek and Roman Art
• Sources and Methods in History and Archaeology

Second and Third Years

Modules in the second and third years offer the opportunity to focus on specific themes and periods in the history and archaeology of the Mediterranean, develop a deeper awareness of methods and theory, engage with ethical issues concerning cultural heritage, discuss key themes of relevance to both the ancient and modern world, and to do ‘hands on’ work with artefacts. Over the two years, students will study topics in: Greek and Roman Archaeology and History, Late antiquity, the archaeology of the Aegean Bronze Age, Minoan Crete, Southern Italy, and Roman Britain. There are also options to do practical archaeological work or an approved study tour to the Mediterranean in place of a taught module in these years.

Fourth Year

If students decide to study Ancient History and Archaeology in the final year, they will be able to choose from a range of special subject options on offer. Modules offered recently include Ancient Cyprus; Entertainment and Spectacle in the Greek and Roman Worlds; Goddesses of the Ancient Mediterranean; Anthropology and the Greeks; Kings and Cities; Constantine; How to be Happy; the Ancient Novel; Roman Satire; The Art of Persuasion; Early Christianity.

Students will also write a thesis on a subject of their choice. This is an opportunity to carry out research that will allow them to develop independent ideas and acquire critical skills while investigating in greater depth an area that particularly interests them.

Study Abroad

Trinity has strong links with many Classics departments abroad, including active participation in the Erasmus exchange programme. The Department has valuable Erasmus links with the Universities of Cyprus, Udine (Italy), Geneva, Bordeaux, and Koç (Turkey). Students are also able to avail of University-wide exchanges, for example, to North America and Australia. These opportunities allow students the option of spending a year or part of a year abroad.

Graduate Skills and Career Opportunities

Recent graduates have entered many fields including archaeology, archaeological consultancy in Ireland and the UK, heritage and museum work (for example in the National Museum of Ireland), art restoration, teaching, and higher education policy, publishing, business, computing, accountancy, government, and social work. Recent graduates are working for companies as diverse as McKinsey and Co and Cambridge University Press. Each year, some of our graduates also opt to pursue a research career in history or archaeology beginning with postgraduate study in Ireland or abroad.