Description

Liberal Arts with Research Project

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

A two semester compulsory module, Liberal Arts introduces key concepts and skills relevant to students wishing to study law, humanities and social sciences. In the first semester, weekly lectures use Western history, politics, literature, and art to take us from the eighteenth century to the twenty-first by exploring themes of Revolution and Change, Empire and War, and The New World Order.

The second semester research project involves the creation of an extended writing project and supporting portfolio of work. The project is an extension of concepts and events introduced in semester one. Elements of the project assess critical thinking, self-evaluative and research skills, and the planning, creation and completion of the project.

Module aims - intentions of the module

1. To introduce an inter-disciplinary exploration of key concepts around themes relevant to the study of humanities and social sciences.
2. To design, plan and complete an extended writing project which may be academic or creative in nature.
3. Evaluate outcomes including your own learning and performance in relation to agreed objectives.

By achieving 1 – 3 above, to provide students with skills relevant to an undergraduate degree programme in the social sciences/humanities.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate understanding of key events, debates, issues and concepts studied on the module
• 2. Design, plan and complete a research-based extended written project with all relevant supporting material

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Develop an ability to research a topic, extract and synthesise information from a range of sources to further identify, and engage with, key issues within the module’s themes
• 4. Demonstrate an ability to analyse and critically evaluate texts and other forms of information

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. With tutor support, take responsibility for your own learning and work independently
• 6. Evaluate outcomes in relation to agreed objectives and to own learning, research, and performance
• 7. Communicate effectively in a format appropriate to this discipline

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

A two semester module for all humanities, law and social science students, in the first semester, weekly lectures introduce and explore themes such as Revolution and Change, Empire and War, and The New World Order with a focus on British history and Western social, political, literary, and artistic perspectives. This module features a range of study methods which typically include lectures, workshops, seminars, and self-study. Seminars ensure that key lecture concepts are understood and offer opportunities to discuss lecture content, text extracts and case studies. The course will enable you to

• understand key terms, ideas, and concepts related to the subject of study
• engage with a number of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences
• distinguish between fact and opinion, between what is relevant and what is not, and between opposing views based upon conflicting evidence
• extract and synthesise information and formulate a response
• practise the skills of independent learning, and time management

Topics typically include

• French and Industrial Revolutions
• Romanticism and the Gothic
• The British Empire
• Globalisation, urbanisation, capitalism, and environmental issues
• The Great War and the rise of European fascism

The second semester Research Project develops and assesses your ability to create an extended, research-based written project. The project, chosen by the student, will connect to concepts or events studied in semester one. The project may be of an academic and creative nature. Aside from the project, supporting documentation will include a Research Review offering an evidence-based discussion of the concepts and critical context which influenced the project, a Portfolio, including a project log, drafts of written work, a reflective statement, and a complete bibliography depicting how the project evolved and its artistic/critical context.

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for reasons judged legitimate by the Mitigation Committee, the applicable assessment will normally be deferred. See ‘Details of reassessment’ for the form that assessment usually takes. When deferral occurs there is ordinarily no change to the overall weighting of that assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to resubmit your Individual Portfolio. A grade of 40% will be awarded if this assessment is passed.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Suggested pre-course reading and viewing:

A GCSE History: Understanding the Modern World Paperback – Student Edition (2016) David Ferriby, Dave Martin, Ben Walsh

Samsara (Film, 2012) directed by Ron Fricke.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2014) by Yuval Harari.

Civilisations (BBC TV Series, 2018).

Module has an active ELE page

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Additional sources available on ELE and provided by class tutor. 

Key words search

Liberal Arts, Literature, Art History, Romanticism, Gothic, British Empire, Revolution, Globalisation, War, War Poetry, Capitalism, The Great War, Research Project