2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
FOAR1000 Introducing Liberal Arts
20 creditsClass Size: 100
Module manager: Prof Mark Wynn
Email: m.wynn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2019/20
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This module aims to do three things: [1] introduce students to the idea of inter-disciplinary study, and to explore its fruitfulness; [2] to consider various ideals of personal and intellectual formation and their relation to different visions of the nature of a worthwhile human life; [3] to examine theories and practices of rhetoric and communication, and their relevance for different audiences.Objectives
Students taking this module will learn:- To combine the perspectives of different disciplines to consider a focal theme or question
- To appreciate the opportunities and challenges of cross-disciplinary study
- To articulate different ideals of education and their relation to different conceptions of the good human life, drawing on historical and contemporary sources
- To relate classical and medieval conceptions of a Liberal Arts education to their own course of study
- To understand the contribution of the Humanities and Social Sciences to the study of contemporary life
- To present their ideas clearly and effectively in oral terms
- To vary their style of communication to suit the needs of diverse audiences
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will have learned how to combine the perspectives of different disciplines to analyse a focal question or theme. They will be familiar with some central accounts of the personal and intellectual formation of human beings, and the relationship between those accounts and different conceptions of individual and societal well-being. They will have reflected on the appropriateness of a various styles of communication when addressing different audiences.
Syllabus
The module will be divided into 3 blocks of material.
[1] Students will examine a central question or theme, drawing on the perspectives of different disciplines. Examples of possible themes include: justice, poverty, the environment. The methods of various Humanities and Social Science disciplines will be used to understand the different dimensions of this focal theme.
[2] Students will review various ideals of personal and intellectual formation, drawing on historical and contemporary sources. The traditional ideal of a Liberal Arts education will be introduced, and students will also reflect on the relationship between contemporary ideals of education and various understandings of individual and social well-being. Representative figures whose work may be discussed include Paolo Freire, Zygmunt Bauman, Martha Nussbaum, and Roger Scruton.
[3] Students will consider how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and will have the opportunity to develop their own 'voice' through oral presentations in class.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Workshop | 22 | 1.00 | 22.00 |
| Private study hours | 178.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
Contributing to a weekly log; researching, preparing, and writing the essay; undertaking set reading, and self-directed reading around the essay topic; preparing the research proposal; preparing material for the weekly workshops.Opportunities for Formative Feedback
1 x 2,000 word summative essay at the end of second semester.1 x weekly reflective log
1 x 1,500 word research project
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 2,000 words | 50.00 |
| Research Proposal | 1,500 word proposal, plus presentation | 30.00 |
| Reflective log | Weekly posts on the VLE | 20.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Research Proposal resit - project of 1500 words plus a written account of what would have been presented orally. Reflective log resit - written responses to the VLE exercises - as required of students completing the posts on a weekly basis.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 03/10/2018
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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