UNIVERSITY OF KENT. Degree and Programme Title BA Liberal Arts with integral Year Abroad

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1 Degree and Programme Title BA Liberal Arts with integral Year Abroad 1. Awarding Institution/Body University of Kent 2. Teaching Institution University of Kent 3. Teaching Site Canterbury 4. Programme accredited by N/A 5. Final Award BA Liberal Arts with integral Year Abroad Honours Certificate in Liberal Arts Diploma in Liberal Arts 6. Programme Liberal Arts 7. UCAS Code (or other code) LV99 8. Relevant QAA subject benchmarking group(s) QAA benchmark statements consulted in constituting programme: Anthropology English History Languages and Related Studies Law Philosophy Sociology 9. Date of production/revision October 2012/January Applicable cohort(s) September Educational Aims of the Programme The programme aims to: Provide an excellent quality of undergraduate level education in the field of Liberal Arts. Provide a cross- disciplinary, research- led, inspiring learning environment. Provide a pioneering educational opportunity within the UK context through which students will progress into high- level careers and related postgraduate opportunities. Develop the following range of aptitudes and skills: communication, language, reasoning, numeracy, information literacy and research methods. Promote engagement with a range of disciplines and thereby enable students to pursue careers in a range of complex organisational settings. Promote an understanding of the relations between disciplines and an appreciation of the ways in which cross- disciplinary thinking leads to alternative and approaches to contemporary global challenges. 1

2 12. Programme Outcomes The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas. The programme aims have references to the subject benchmarking statement for Anthropology (Anth), History (His), English (Eng), Languages and Related Studies (Lang), Law (Law), Philosophy (Phil) and Sociology (Soc). Knowledge and Understanding A. Knowledge and Understanding of: Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated 1. Principles and application of underlying modes of inquiry within different academic disciplines and contexts. Anth 4.5.2; His 3.1.2; Eng 3.1.2; Phil 4.2; Soc Cross- disciplinary understanding of qualitative and quantitative reasoning Law 6.2; Phil 4.8.2; Soc The relation between technological and economic development and cultural change in historical context. Anth ; His 3.1.1; Soc 3.2.5; Soc The forces and events shaping contemporary thought and behaviour across a range of practices and disciplines. His 3.1.4; Eng 3.1.7; Law 6.1, Phil 4.2.4; Soc Teaching and learning Lectures, seminars, tutor- led and self- directed learning, case study analysis, research project Assessment Course tests, continuous assessment including essays, seminar discussion, oral presentations, dissertation The Year Abroad, which will take place in various non- UK Kent- accredited institutions or at work placement sites arranged between programme convenors and students, will be assessed by Kent Liberal Arts team through a written report on learning activities and their pertinence to the Liberal Arts programme. 5. The varying ways in which different disciplines and practices across the arts, the social sciences, history and politics - conceptualise the contemporary. Anth 4.5.4; Phil 4.2; Soc Ways of communicating seminal ideas across the fields of the social sciences, sciences, arts and humanities. His 3.1.7; Law 8.1; Phil Ways in which multi- disciplinary approaches and inter- disciplinary thinking can address future cultural and political challenges, e.g., environmental crisis, the state and meaning of democracy and the potentialities of scientific development. 2

3 8. How the study of given historical contexts can inform contemporary policy and practice. His A selected topic within a given discipline and application of appropriate research methods. Skills and Other Attributes B. Intellectual Skills: 1. Research skills: how to formulate research questions and hypotheses to address problems across a range of disciplines. Anth 5.4.4; Law Analytical skills: interpretation of arguments, evidence and data; marshalling information from published sources; critical evaluation of own research and that of others Anth 5.4.3; His 3.1.5; Eng 3.3.2; Law Information technology: use of appropriate technology to retrieve, analyse and present information Anth 5.4.5; Eng Numerical evaluation: the use of appropriate analytical methods in handling statistical evidence and data Anth 5.4.9; Law C. Subject- specific Skills: These should include practice and professional skills 1. Reasoning: how to construct arguments within different intellectual contexts and disciplines; how to formulate and address research questions and problems. Anth 5.4.2; Eng 3.3.1; Law Communication: how to communicate across disciplines; how to mediate key ideas between disciplines; how to speak and write persuasively in discursive contexts. Anth Language: functional use of a second language equal to the demands of professional communication Lang Presentation of research: how to write essays and a dissertation in an appropriate style in keeping with the conventions of different subject areas Eng ; Law Teaching and learning Lectures, seminars, tutor- led and self- directed learning, research project Assessment Course tests, continuous assessment, oral presentations, dissertation The Year Abroad, which will take place in various non- UK Kent- accredited institutions or at work placement sites arranged between programme convenors and students, will be assessed by Kent Liberal Arts team through a written report on learning activities and their pertinence to the Liberal Arts programme. Teaching and learning Lectures, seminars, tutor- led and self- directed learning, research project Assessment Course tests, continuous assessment, oral presentations, dissertation The Year Abroad, which will take place in various non- UK Kent- accredited institutions or at work placement sites arranged between programme convenors and students, will be assessed by Kent Liberal Arts team through a written report on learning activities and their pertinence to the Liberal Arts programme. 5. Numeracy: how to handle and interpret 3

4 numerical evidence in differing intellectual contexts. 6. Careers: a recognition of career opportunities for Liberal Arts graduates D. Transferable Skills: 1. Communication: ability to organise information clearly, present information in oral and written form, adapt presentation for different audiences Anth 5.4.5; Soc Reflection: make use of constructive informal feedback from staff and peers and assess own progress to enhance performance and personal skills Anth Self- motivation and independence: time and workload management in order to meet personal targets and imposed deadlines Anth 5.4.7; Eng ; Phil 4.10; Soc Team work: the ability to work both independently and as part of a research group using peer support, diplomacy and collective responsibility Law 8.2.5; Soc Teaching and learning Lectures, seminars, tutor- led and self- directed learning, research project Assessment Course tests, continuous assessment, oral presentations, project report, dissertation The Year Abroad, which will take place in various non- UK Kent- accredited institutions or at work placement sites arranged between programme convenors and students, will be assessed by Kent Liberal Arts team through a written report on learning activities and their pertinence to the Liberal Arts programme. 4

5 13. Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and Awards The BA Liberal Arts is a four- year (full time) programme comprising 480 credits and featuring a compulsory year abroad (Stage 3). The programme harnesses strengths across key disciplines at the University of Kent to address global issues from different approaches political, economic, cultural and historical while also providing academic and transferable skills in areas such as scientific method, numeracy, reasoning and communication. Employability is a salient aim of the programme and will be addressed not only through the teaching of transferable skills (including language facility) but also through access to appropriate supervised work placements in the third year of the programme. University initiatives around employability will be integrated into the pedagogy. Each stage comprises 120 credits and is structured as two 12- week terms together with a 6- week examination term. Outside of the core Liberal Arts programme modules, students in stages 1, 2, and 4 have the opportunity to select options from a range offered across all three faculties upon prior agreement with module convenors and the Programme Director. Students take C level modules in stages 1 and 2, I level modules across all stages (with permission of programme convenors in stage 4), and H level modules in stages 2 and 4. Modules selected will be approved by the programme director as being congruent and additive to the core programme and comprising the appropriate number and level of credits. Stages will be weighted as follows: Stage 2: 40%, Stage 3: 10%, Stage 4: 50%. At Stages 1 and 2 students are required to take a foreign language in preparation for the year abroad. The Study Abroad year (stage 3) will be undertaken at selected Kent- validated University partners or in appropriate Work Placement sites and is underpinned by prior language training. At its discretion the university allows for failure in certain modules to be compensated by good performance in other modules, or in certain cases of documented illness, or other mitigating circumstances, condoned. Failure in certain modules may neither be compensated, condoned nor trailed and are indicated by the symbol * below. Students successfully completing Stage One of the programme and meeting credit framework requirements who do not successfully complete Stage Two will be eligible for the award of Certificate in Liberal Arts. Students successfully completing Stage One and Stage Two of the programme and meeting credit framework requirements who do not successfully complete Stage Three will be eligible for the award of Diploma in Liberal Arts. Students successfully completing Stage One, Stage Two and Stage Three of the programme and meeting credit framework requirements who do not successfully complete Stage Four will similarly be eligible for the award of Diploma in Liberal Arts. Code Title Level Credits Term(s) Year 1 (Stage 1) Compulsory Modules LB3aa Modes of Reasoning I C 30 Autumn & Spring LBcc Roots of Transformation C 15 Autumn LBdd Optional modules Understanding the Contemporary Intermediate- level Language (to be selected from existing language provision) 30 Credits to be selected and approved by programme C 15 Spring C 30 Autumn and Spring C 30 Autumn/Spring/ Autumn and Spring 5

6 Year 2 (Stage 2) director Compulsory Modules LB5aa Connections I I 15 Autumn LB5bb Connections II I 15 Spring Optional modules Year 3 (stage 3) Intermediate- level Language (to be selected from existing language provision and build upon Stage 1 language training) 60 Credits to be selected and approved by programme director I 30 Autumn and Spring At least 30 credits at I level Year abroad to be spent with Kent- validated partner Year 4 (Stage 4) Compulsory Modules 60 Autumn/Spring/ Autumn and Spring LB6aa Landscapes of the Future I H 15 Autumn LB6bb Landscapes of the Future II H 15 Spring LB6cc* Liberal Arts Dissertation* H 30 Autumn/Spring Optional modules 60 credits to be selected and approved by programme director At least 30 credits at H- level (I level modules by permission) 60 Autumn/Spring/ Autumn and Spring Optional Module list: There is a significant range of appropriate modules available across the university which will, with agreement of convenors, be opened to Liberal Arts students. This integration of the university s multi- disciplinary curriculum into the Liberal Arts training is a core element of the programme. The following is a list of options as of December 2012; other options are in the process of being agreed and will only be available in accordance with timetabling constraints and by agreement of the programme convenor with respective schools and lecturers students will be advised that access to popular modules cannot be guaranteed. Student choice of options will be bespoke in that individual study programmes will be arranged and annually reviewed by students and Liberal Arts lecturers, taking account of student career plans and the requirements of pertinent disciplines for progression to post- graduate study or employment. HI775 Literature and Science in the Twentieth Century (15 credits) first year CP320 The Romantic Movement (15 credits) first year SE301 Introduction to Social Anthropology (30 credits) SE594 Anthropology and Development (15 credits) SA303 Environmental Issues (15 credits) 6

7 CP611 Postmodernism (15 credits) CP650 Decadence in Fin de Siecle Europe (15 credits) LW608 Law in Action (15 credits) PL579/605 Logic (30 credits) PL622/623 Advanced Topics in Reasoning (30 credits) SO525 Environmental Politics (30 credits) SO594 Terrorism and Modern Society (15 credits) SO657 Digital Culture (15 credits) S0659 Risk and Society (15 credits) 14. Work- Based Learning Where relevant to the programme of study, provide details of any work- based learning element, inclusive of employer details, delivery, assessment and support for students. There are no compulsory work- based learning elements to this programme; however, the research project and year abroad may offer specific opportunities to work with non- HEI research collaborative partners (with co- supervision by Kent staff). These opportunities would be investigated and assessed on a case- by- case basis as they would be dependent upon the needs of the non- HEI partners, but they would not affect the assessment of the programme as they would fit within the existing module pattern. The Work- Based Learning Year Abroad will be assessed by Kent Liberal Arts team through a written report on the work activities and their pertinence to the Liberal Arts programme. Students in the Work- Based Learning Year Abroad will have weekly contact with an assigned supervisor by Skype and/or and will, when appropriate, be visited on site by the supervisor 15. Support for Students and their Learning 7

8 Personal tutorial system Each student will have an academic advisor from the key teaching team College Master Issues relating to non- academic student welfare, e.g. accommodation Employability Points Scheme Students will be encouraged to engage with relevant transferable training Induction programme Students will participate in this programme during Welcome Week Student Handbook This will outline module information, programme structure, arrangements for assessment hand in and the pastoral support available Extra- curricular Seminar programmes (during academic term time) Students will be encouraged to make use of seminars from visitors in related areas and these will be publicised to the student body Student Learning Advisory Service Providing student support on a self- referring or, in some instances, recommended basis Personal Development Planning MyFolio and (where appropriate) LinkedIn will be recommended to enable students to build a portfolio of skills and promote employability and networking opportunities Year Abroad students in Stage 3 (Year Abroad) will be in weekly contact with an assigned supervisor from the Liberal Arts programme by Skype and/or and will, where appropriate, be visited on site by that supervisor. 16. Entry Profile Entry Route The admissions process will be open- minded given the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, and we hope to attract students with diverse subject backgrounds, cultures and qualifications. Nevertheless, we are seeking students with AAB at A- level, 33 points overall or 17 points at Higher Level in IB Diploma, or equivalent. Foreign language education post- 16 is desirable but not required; the nature of the subjects would be assessed on a case- by- case basis. Students with non- traditional qualification or significant and relevant work experience may be admitted. Students from overseas for whom English is not the first language will, in addition, be subject to the standard entry requirement for English. What does this programme have to offer? A 4 year multi- disciplinary undergraduate level education in the field of Liberal Arts Research- led teaching expertise in a range of disciplines relating to Liberal Arts. A pioneering educational opportunity within the UK context within which students will be trained in a range of disciplines and methods so enabling them to progress into high- level careers and related postgraduate opportunities. Excellent teaching and learning facilities and a vibrant undergraduate community. A stimulating, supportive and flexible learning environment that will motivate students to achieve their full potential. Instruction in a range of aptitudes and skills: communication, language, reasoning, numeracy, information literacy and research methods. Engagement with a range of disciplines, and inter- disciplinarity, so enabling students to pursue 8

9 careers in a range of complex organisational settings. Language and cross- cultural training Personal Profile A critical and enquiring mind. An interest in multi- disciplinary and inter- disciplinary learning A desire to study a different language and within a different culture A commitment to different research methods and modes of argument A willingness to seek to apply multi- disciplinary thinking to current and emerging problems and issues A willingness to think creatively across disciplines. 17. Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the Quality and Standards of Teaching and Learning Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the curriculum and outcome standards Student evaluation forms Annual monitoring procedures, e.g. module and programme reviews External examiners' reports and response to those reports Periodic programme review Peer observation External practitioner teachers and advisors from NHS Regular teaching team meetings Mentoring of new teaching staff Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and standards Staff/Student Liaison Committee School Learning and Teaching Committee Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee Learning and Teaching Board Indirect advice and monitoring by School learning and teaching committee Board of Examiners Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and their learning experience Student evaluation forms Staff/Student Liaison Committee Personal tutorial/academic Advisor system National Student Survey Results Staff Development priorities include: Training of all new staff Training of all staff new to university teaching; PGCHE is compulsory Mentoring for new and part- time teachers. Training and mentoring of postgraduate seminar leaders Staff development courses for use of innovative assessment Programme team meetings 9

10 Conferences (these are already part of research roles) 18. Indicators of Quality and Standards In the last national review of teaching quality the School of Anthropology and Conservation was judged to be providing an "excellent" standard of education. In the year the NSS judged Anthropology teaching the best in the UK. These standards will provide a benchmark for the programme. Members of staff regularly sit on national committees and are frequently asked to be external examiners for schools, nationally and internationally. The following reference points were used in creating these specifications: The national benchmark statements for Anthropology, English, History, Languages and Related Studies, Law, Philosophy and Sociology The results of the Periodic Programme Review undertaken in the School of Anthropology. The Anthropology School Research Plan The University Plan. 19. Delivery Campus Canterbury 10

11 MODULE MAPPING LB3aa: Modes of Reasoning LB3cc: Roots of Transformation LB3dd: Understanding the Contemporary LB5aa: Connections I LB5bb: Connections II LB6aa: Landscapes of the Future I LB6bb: Landscapes of the Future II LB6cc: Research project Core modules deliver programme learning outcomes; optional modules are additive and are therefore not listed below. NB. Module codes are to be confirmed and have been used to facilitate programme and module mapping. A B C D CR LB3aa 30 X X X X X X X X X X X X X LB3cc 15 X X X X X X X X X X LB3dd 15 X X X X X X X X Lang3aa 30 X X X X X LB5aa 15 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X LB5bb 15 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Lang5aa 30 X X X X X LB6aa 15 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X LB6bb 15 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X LB6cc 30 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 11