Introduction

In addition to its biological dimensions and evolutionary history among the primates, the human being is characterized by its organization into complex societies of individuals sharing common values and cultural traits, which have evolved since its appearance some 200,000 years ago. 

Understanding humanity's past history, understanding how it functions today, and anticipating its development in a world undergoing major changes are all steps that require us to integrate the many facets of the human being. 

While university courses tend to deal separately with the biological, anthropological and archaeological aspects of human societies, this new Bachelor's program in biology, anthropology and archaeology - the only one of its kind in Europe - aims to combine these three related disciplines and thus envisage, study and understand human beings in all their complexity. The program is co-organized by the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters (FIAL), the Faculty of Science (SC) and the Faculty of Economics, Social Sciences, Politics and Communication (ESPO).

Biology considers the anchoring of the human being in the dynamics and laws of the living world. Anthropology approaches the human being as a social and cultural being, and archaeology, finally, examines the material evidence of the presence and action of men and women of the past in close connection with their natural and social environment.

At a time when a new balance between humanity, the living world and the environment is crucial, this interdisciplinary bachelor's degree aims to train students capable of proposing a nuanced, critical and creative analysis of a complex world, in order to add value to the debates and actions needed to meet this major challenge.

Your profile

You're passionate about human beings in all their facets, and you're interested in both the exact sciences and the humanities. Crossing disciplines and methods of analysis appeals to you, and juggling diverse concepts and learning doesn't scare you. You're motivated to embark on a demanding but exciting course of study. 

Your future job

At the end of this bachelor's degree, you will be able to rigorously analyze the human being within the living world, and within historical and contemporary societies and cultures, and to grasp contemporary global and local changes and issues. You will be particularly well-equipped to navigate a world of relationships between individuals, perceiving the similarities and differences between the human species and the other species that make up biodiversity, as well as the relationships that exist between all these interdependent species, including human societies. 

At the end of your Master's degree in archaeology, armed with a solid theoretical background and a number of professional experiences, you'll be able to move into the heritage and archaeology professions, working in excavation and prevention departments, or in the management of public or private archaeological and scientific collections in museums; into the organization of cultural events, as an exhibition manager and content producer in maisons de la culture, cultural centers and museums; or into archaeological research, focusing on the multiple interactions between humans and their natural and living environment.

At the end of your Master's degree in Anthropology, you'll have an extremely versatile diploma that opens the door to a wide range of professions in research, public administrations, NGOs, associations, development cooperation, teaching, social aid and (inter)cultural action, consultancy and journalism.

On completion of your Master's degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, you will be able to pursue a variety of exciting careers in the world of biomedical science and research, biotechnology, medicine and health, the pharmaceutical industry, teaching and science communication, as well as project management and consultancy in these different fields.

Once you've completed your Master's degree in Organismal Biology and Ecology, you'll be able to move into a multitude of professions focused on understanding and preserving biodiversity, as well as the impact of living organisms on our environment. These include ecological research in universities, government agencies, environmental NGOs or specialized companies; nature conservation and natural resource management, environmental consulting, science communication and environmental education.

Your programme

The programme combines teaching in the exact sciences and earth and life sciences (organismal biology, cellular and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, palaeontology, earth sciences, mathematics, hominisation and evolution, biogeography, vertebrate palaeontology) and the humanities (anthropology, sociology, archaeology, art history). It therefore offers a high degree of versatility, which is reflected in the particularly varied expertise of its many lecturers. 
Alongside the extensive theoretical courses, the programme also includes a great deal of practical work and fieldwork, with laboratory work, excavations, work on museum collections and socio-anthropological explorations. 

The interdisciplinary focus of this programme is reflected in a specific course on 'Societies, Environments and Transitions' taught in block 3, and an activity integrating the three disciplines, organised each year and bringing together all the students in this bachelor's degree.

The bachelor's degree is organised into three annual blocks that combine teaching and activities in the three disciplines. After two common blocks, two paths are possible. An identical interdisciplinary programme in the third block enables students to go directly on to study for masters degrees in anthropology and archaeology. The third block consists of a large number of courses in biology and related disciplines, enabling students to pursue a Master's degree in biology (biochemistry and molecular and cell biology OR organismal biology and ecology). 

Your parcours

Bachelor's degree (direct access to Master's degree in Anthropology, or Master's degree in Art History and Archaeology)
You have an interdisciplinary background combining human sciences (anthropology, sociology, archaeology, art history) and exact sciences (organismal biology, cellular and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, paleontology, earth sciences, mathematics). You have acquired field experience in archaeology and anthropology. 

You have direct access to the Masters in Anthropology or History of Art and Archaeology organized by UCLouvain. Access to biology masters is still possible, but requires a preparatory module.

Composition of the bachelor's degree (direct access to Masters in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Organismal Biology and Ecology)
You will have an interdisciplinary education combining the humanities and the exact sciences, with a preponderance (56%) of activities from the bachelor's program in biology. 

You have direct access to the Master's degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology OR the Master's degree in Organismal Biology and Ecology organized by UCLouvain. The courses in your 3rd block program differ depending on which of these two Masters you choose.