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Humanities in the Workplace

Module description

This module will permit you to study on one or two subject-related placements, totalling at least 40 hours. The module will allow you to develop an understanding of how the skills and knowledge acquired as part of a Humanities degree are applicable to the workplace and to extend relevant work-based skills and knowledge in a reflective way. The module provides an opportunity for you to develop an understanding of a business or work environment through practical work and to gain experience in the use of technologies and applications commonly used in organisations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Workshops: you are required to attend a series of workshops, co-ordinated by the Module Convenor, Employability and Placement Advisor and Employability Manager, with support from the University’s Careers Consultants. Sessions include: Career decision-making, CV and application writing; Recruitment and Selection  (including interview experience); sourcing work placements. These intensive workshops take a blended form.

One-to-one consultations: you will be able to have a consultation with the Employability and Placement Advisor to discuss how you secure and make the most of your placement.

Seminars: you will participate in a series of 7 x 1 hour seminars led by a module tutor. These sessions will enable you to understand employment-related issues from a range of theoretical and disciplinary perspectives. 

Independent work experience and study: with the assistance of the Employability and Placement Advisor, you will be required to organise your own placements, including preparing appropriate CVs and cover letters, and to successfully navigate interviews and employment tests. You will work for at least 40 hours in an agreed professional setting and will reflect on that experience within the context of the module's assessment. It is your responsibility to keep the Module Leader and Employability and Placement Advisor informed of progress in the workplace and of problems that have arisen.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate an ability to reflect critically on practical experiences gained, and the impact they may have on your views and actions
• 2. Establish connections between the skills acquired as part of a degree in the Humanities and the skills required in the workplace
• 3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the social, cultural and political considerations which influence employment settings, using appropriate discipline-specific theoretical perspectives to analyse those settings

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Demonstrate your ability to use appropriate discipline-specific critical approaches to evaluate the social and cultural and political aspects of an employment setting
• 5. Demonstrate an ability to communicate (in writing and in speech) in a manner appropriate to the particular workplace context

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Develop/enhance practical work-based skills and experience
• 7. Negotiate the different types of working relationships with staff within the workplace, and others – directly or indirectly – relevant to the placement
• 8. Demonstrate the ability to identify and reflect on personal challenges and to learn from their resolution
• 9. Demonstrate the ability to use a range of technologies and applications relevant to most work places

Syllabus plan

The module will start in Term 3 of Year 1 where you will undertake Employability and placement focused workshops.

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that the schedule for term 3 will include:

• 16 hours intensive practical workshops with the Employability and Placement Advisor, with support from the University’s Careers Consultants and College Coordinator. Sessions include: Career decision-making, CV and application writing; Recruitment and Selection (including interview experience); sourcing work placements. These intensive workshops take a blended form.
• 1-1- consultation with Employability and Placements Advisor about suitable placements and general placement support.

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that the schedule for Year 2, term 1 will include:

• 7 x 1-hour interdisciplinary seminars
• Consultations with module tutor
• Consultations with Employability and Placement Advisor

Placements are complex and their suitability need to be agreed by both the Module Tutor and Employability and Placement Advisor. You must complete the necessary ‘paperwork’ no later than three weeks before the placement begins. Placements should be completed by the beginning of term 3.

Term 3

• Submission of assessment

Work experience can take place at various points in the year, in one or two blocks or continuously ( full time outside of term time or maximum 15 hours/week during term time). The module is designed to enable the work placement(s) to take place at any point between the last workshop and the assessment.

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the 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 submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

To be provided in consultation with the Module Leader regarding the specific placement.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11078

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Preparatory materials provided as part of the workshops, including guidance on writing a CV, application letters and an occupational profile. Facilities available in the Employability and Graduate Development Service in Reed Mews. Discipline-based supervisors will provide bibliographical guidance.

Key words search

Work, placement, humanities