Master of Arts in Digital and Computational Archaeology

Digital and Computational Archaeology is concerned with the development and application of digital technologies and computational methods in archaeology. The Master of Arts in Digital and Computational Archaeology is designed to equip archaeology graduates with practical, theoretical, and critical skills in a variety of established and emerging digital technologies, and support a career in academia, cultural resource management, and museums as well as public and private cultural heritage organisations. Students of this programme will develop skills in data science, web technologies, data modelling and database design, 2D and 3D digital documentation, GIS, spatial analysis, statistics, programming, and computational modelling. They will also be offered the opportunity to use the facilities of the Cologne Digital Archaeology Laboratory (CoDArchLab), which is equipped with teaching, research, and study spaces; numerous workstations; a variety of commercial and open-source software programmes; and specialised computational imaging equipment. Students of the MA Digital and Computational Archaeology will have the opportunity to... develop core computing skills in data science (database theory and design, data visualisation, and representation), Web technologies, and programming (Python, R), and become acquainted with current issues in archaeological data management and policy. familiarise themselves with the use of state-of-the-art 3D technologies and media and learn which techniques are best suited for data capture, documentation and analysis in different situations and contexts (e.g. fieldwork, museum, research projects). think critically on the application of geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis, and computational modelling in archaeology, and learn how to best apply computational methods to gain insight into the socio-political organisation of past societies. learn to identify current issues, problems and developments in the field of digital humanities and gain practical experience in the application and development of methods and tools that can benefit humanities research more broadly. take work placements ("Praktika") in excavations, museums, or cultural heritage management organisations and test their practical skills in real life situations.