BA Economics and Philosophy

Year 3

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Arts)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:
- understand and demonstrate coherent and detailed subject knowledge and professional competencies some of which will be informed by recent research/scholarship in the discipline;
- deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;
- demonstrate a conceptual understanding which enables the development and sustaining of an argument;
- describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship;
- appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge in the discipline;
- apply their knowledge and understanding in order to initiate and carry out an extended piece of work or project;
- describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship;
- collect and analyse data derived from a range of sources, making use of scholarly reviews and primary sources;
- show a capacity for critical thinking and an ability to evaluate the value and relevance of data within the framework provided by available theory and practice; and
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in chosen advanced specialist areas in Economics.

By the end of the programme students should:
1. be able to engage in reasoned discussion of often highly charged topics with people of opposing views;
2. be able to identify the underlying issues in a debate, to analyse complex problems and to detect relevance and irrelevance;
3. be able to construct a reasoned argument for a point of view, and to present it in clear, structured prose;
4. display openness and independence of mind: be receptive to new ideas and approaches, and be able to subject them to critical scrutiny;
5. be able to read and analyse complex texts, and be sensitive to issues of interpretation;
6. display knowledge and understanding of some central theories and arguments in general philosophy, applied philosophy and the history of philosophy;
7. have first-hand experience of the writings of some major philosophers;
8. be able to engage in informed reflection on their own lives and place in the world, and on the presuppositions of other people, other times and other disciplines.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:
- the generic skills necessary for employment related to the areas studied;
- the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility;
- the deployment of decision making skills in complex and unpredictable situations;
- the communication of information, ideas, problems and solutions in a variety of ways to a variety of audiences; and
- the skills necessary to support future independent learning.

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:
- qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment related to the area(s) studied;
- skills necessary for the communication of information;
- skills necessary for the exercising of personal responsibility and decision making.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:
- demonstrating the ability to apply a core range of aspects of the discipline;
- work that draws on a variety of material;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;
- evidence of an ability to conduct an in-depth enquiry within the discipline; and
- work that is typically both evaluative and analytical.

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:
- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects of the discipline;
- work that draws on a wide variety of material;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;
- demonstrating a broad knowledge base;
- evidencing in-depth investigation.