BA English & Environment

Year 3

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Arts)

Learning outcomes

In addition to the outcomes achieved in at Levels 1 and 2, on completion of Level 3/4 students should have provided evidence of:
- Having acquired a detailed knowledge of two fields (English literary studies and environmental social science) and demonstrate a broad familiarity with the main concepts, information, practical competencies and techniques which are standard features of the two disciplines. They should have also acquired the critical and analytical tools needed to compare and combine them;
- Having developed a refined critical understanding of contemporary environmental issues and debates, of the cultural and historical differences that inform them, and of the various means by which these issues and debates feed into contemporary environmental practice as well as a variety of cross-disciplinary and/or cross-platform environmental texts;
- Being able to use generic and subject specific intellectual qualities so as to be able, for example, to present a structured and coherent argument and have a broad knowledge of relevant critical terminology.
- Having built a solid understanding of the relationship between environmental theory (in conceptual and philosophical terms) and environmental practice (in terms of, e.g. sustainable development, wilderness management or environmental policy actions);
- Having contributed to environmental thought and/or action through their own autonomous research, and through mutually productive interactions with industry stakeholders (e.g. environmental agencies or NGOs);
- Having established an in-depth awareness of the various ethical implications of environmental-focused research and impact.
- Having a broad awareness of the importance of the literary, cultural and socio-political contexts in which the literature which they have studied was written and read and be able to apply the critical and analytical skills which they have acquired to these texts; and also to be able to make appropriate use of scholarly reviews and primary sources.
- Having the ability to describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship in both disciplines and, at the same time, to be able to appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge in the discipline.
- Understanding and demonstrating coherent and detailed subject knowledge and professional competencies some of which will be informed by recent research/scholarship in both disciplines; and also be able to deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within both disciplines.
- Being able to apply their knowledge and understanding in order to initiate and carry out an extended piece of work or project while conforming to professional and academic boundaries where applicable.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:
- Skills necessary for employment related to the subject area studied;
- Skills necessary for the communication of information, ideas, problems and solutions in a variety of ways to a variety of audiences;
- Skills necessary for the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making in complex contexts;
- Skills necessary for appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

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:
- Ability to work across and apply a broad range of aspects of the subject area(s);
- Ability to draw on, combine and adapt a wide variety of subject-related materials;
- Strong evidence of the ability to challenge received opinion and to conduct independent, in-depth enquiry within the subject area.