Modules

During the Foundation Year (Humanities) you will study the following compulsory modules: •Study Skills •Investigative Project •English •History You will also study two modules from the following options: •Media and Cultural Studies •Statistics/Further Mathematics •Psychology Course and module overview: Compulsory Modules Study Skills The module will provide the learner with opportunities to explore their examination and revision techniques and overall planning along with furthering their written and discussion skills. Skills addressed would include note taking, essay writing, discussions, referencing, planning assignments and revising for examinations, whilst also recognising different approaches to studying. Investigative Project To enable the learner to become competent researching, planning and writing an independent interdisciplinary project. The learner will develop oral presentation skills and deliver and evaluate an oral presentation. English English Studies combines a variety of units that focus on the processes of reading and writing. Students are encouraged to take a close look at how different meanings are created through a close study of author’s work in units such as “Introduction to Poetry”, “Reading Novels”, and a study of Shakespeare. Further, there is an opportunity to study these and other forms such as journalism, blogging etc. to produce work in the Creative Writing unit. History This module focuses on development of the historical skills of investigation, analysis of primary sources, recognition of key debates and contending perspectives and presentation of findings. You will develop a competence in using a range of sources including sites and buildings, museums, census data, social surveys, election manifestos, oral and written testimonies and archive film to ask questions of, and understand, the past. These skills are developed through studying three discrete topics: the development of local towns from the Celto-Roman period to post-industrial society; war and social change in the twentieth century; and the ‘swinging’ sixties. From the beginning of the course, the emphasis is on ‘doing’ history and on presenting your findings through a variety of formats including oral presentations, a research project and essays. Optional Modules Statistics / Further Maths You will study a number of topics during this module including Introductory Statistics, Algebraic Techniques and Introductory Calculus. Psychology Psychology is the study of behaviour and this module will investigate the development of behaviour throughout the life span, from birth right up to older adulthood. Through a variety of real life case studies and your own piece of psychological research, you will examine what happens when things work out positively (attachment and bonds, pro social behaviour), and also what can happen when things don’t work out as expected (mental health issues, anti-social behaviour). Media and Cultural Studies Culture and Media Studies offers a close look at a number of important organisations, practices and issues, and explores the ways in which they work, including their impact upon our society. You will study topics including “What is News?”, “Advertising, Shopping and Consumerism”, “Images and Representations” and “Does Violent Media Create a Violent Society”. Media and Cultural Studies is aimed at getting behind the stories in the headlines and asking what these tell us about the world that we live in, and the cultures of which we are a part. For full details of BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing modules, please see the relevant course entry.