Program Overview

Program Overview

The Faculty of Philosophy offers a Bachelor's program in Prehistory and Protohistory, which is an archaeological discipline that reconstructs history using material culture as a unique historical source of information about past societies.

Program Details

• Degree: Bachelor of Arts
• Type of programme: Undergraduate
• Start of programme: Winter and summer semester
• Standard period of study: 6 semesters
• Language(s) of instruction: German (in exceptional cases also English)
• Fees and contributions: 161.10 € / Semester
• Application procedure: Subjects with no admission restrictions
• Application deadlines: Information about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
• Part-time option: Yes

Course Content

Prehistory covers the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, the Copper Age (Chalcolithic or Aeneolithic period), as well as the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Sources are of an archaeological nature (archaeological monuments, artefacts), meaning that prehistory is quite different to other purely historical subjects. Due to its significant overlap with the natural sciences, research of the Palaeolithic period has developed into a separate, specialized discipline. Protohistory considers the development of early literate societies, for instance of Mycenaean Greece or of Late Antique and Early Medieval Europe. Research of these periods draws on archaeological, as well as historical sources. Pre- and Protohistory – although not generally defined by regional or geographical demarcations – generally focusses on Europe, taking the neighbouring continents of Asia and North Africa into consideration where relevant.

Course Structure

In the first two semesters, students complete introductory courses; proseminar and tutorial I + II, and a lecture. From the third to the sixth semester, students attend a further six courses with practical and theoretical elements. These include two practice classes, as well as a lecture, an intermediate seminar, an archaeological training excavation and a major excursion.

Additional Degrees

• Bachelor 50%
• Master, consecutive