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Digital and Computational Archaeology
Digital technologies have dramatically changed our view of the ancient world. Computer-based methods enable the discovery of patterns, trends, and associations in large archaeological datasets, the modelling of complex human processes and simulations of virtual pasts. Digital and Computational Archaeology is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of research concerned with the development and application of computational and digital methods in Archaeology.
For many years the University of Cologne has been a leading institution in the area of digital and computational archaeology in Germany and has participated in a great number of digital archaeology research projects and collaborations at the national and international level. The archaeological subdisciplines in Cologne offer various modules in digital and computational archaeology as part of the Bachelor and Master degrees in archaeology. Since April 2018 the MA Archäologie includes the branch of study Archäoinformatik, offering students the opportunity to pursue a broad and deep knowledge on digital applications in archaeology. In addition, starting in winter semester 2021/22, the Institute of Archaeology will offer the two-year international MA Digital and Computational Archaeology, which is fully taught in English. Foci of both study programmes are the fields of Data Science, 3D technologies, Geographic Information Science, spatial analysis and computational modelling.
BA and MA students in digital and computational archaeology are offered the opportunity to use the facilities of the Cologne Digital Archaeology Laboratory (CoDArchLab), which is the hub of archaeological computing research at UoC. The CoDArchLab is equipped with teaching, research and study spaces, numerous workstations, a variety of commercial and open source software programs, as well as specialised computational imaging equipment.
Participating institutes:
- Archaeological Institute
- Institute of Prehistory
- Institute of African Studies and Egyptology
- Institute of Digital Humanities
MA programmes in digital and computational archaeology
You can choose between our two master programmes in digital and computational archaeology, the MA Archäologie (Specialisation Archäoinformatik) and the international MA Digital and Computational Archaeology. In the MA Archäologie (Specialisation Archäoinformatik; offered in English and German) you have the possibility to opt for Study Profile A (four specialisation modules in digital and computational archaeology) or Study Profile B (two specialisation modules in digital and computational archaeology and two specialisation modules in another subfield of archaeology). This master programme is also offered as a 2-Fach MA (two specialisation modules in digital and computational archaeology and two specialisation modules in another discipline). The international MA Digital and Computational Archaeology, which is taught in English, includes five modules in digital and computational archaeology and digital humanities. Furthermore, both programmes include additional complementary and advanced modules with optional courses in archaeology, archaeological science and digital humanities.
| MA Archäologie (Specialisation: Archäoinformatik) | MA Digital and Computational Archaeology | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters (full-time) | 4 semesters (full-time) |
| Begin | winter or summer semester | winter semester |
| Application | mid-July/mid-January | the deadline for applications is mid-July each year - documents for the VPD examination should be submitted to uni-assist by June, 30 at the latest. It is advised to submit them earlier however. |
| Degree | MA Archäologie, Specialisation: Archäoinformatik | MA Digital and Computational Archaeology |
| Requirements | BA in Archaeology | BA in Archaeology |
| Language Requirements | DSH 2 in German, B1 in English | C1 in English |
| More information | Archäoinformatik as a specialisation of the MA Archäologie | MA Digital and Computational Archaeology |