This four-year, joint honours course combines archaeology's examination of material evidence from our past and present with anthropology's focus on human development and contemporary cultures and societies. Studying these two disciplines together allows you insight and understanding of what it means to be human.By examining human development, behaviour and different cultures, you will better understand the roots of these issues, and learn how other societies have tackled comparable problems – and how contemporary societies are addressing them now.Using methodological approaches from the sciences, social sciences and humanities, you will examine the diversity of human experience. You will learn about the biological evolution of our earliest ancestors, the pre-historical and historical development of different cultures, and present-day ways of life and social issues.<br><br>A key component of this course is a fourth year so that you can further your studies for a semester at one of our partner universities abroad, and complete a half-year placement.These placement and study abroad opportunities are taken during your third year of study.A professional placement allows you to apply – and increase – your academic knowledge while enhancing your employability.Previous placement students have analysed samples in labs, processed human remains, worked on hominin skeletal morphology, drawn archaeological finds, conducted collections-based research, studied the ecology of the Crusades through isotope analysis and faunal remains, investigated paleoclimate records, and participated in castle excavations in Spain.<br><br>Studying a joint honours degree in archaeology and anthropology means you will develop a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills in the humanities and the sciences, preparing you for a diverse range of career opportunities.The archaeology, heritage, education, public and not-for-profit sectors are popular choices for graduates of the archaeology and anthropology disciplines.Roles within marketing, advertising, PR and the media require the communication and analytical skills you will develop during your studies. A career in insurance or the law is also possible, requiring the ability to formulate and articulate arguments based on facts – an ability that will be nurtured during your time at Reading.Anthropology can be a path into international development (with governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations), agriculture, health, and social research, and social policy.