BA Ancient History and English

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 command of the key concepts, information, practical competencies and techniques which constitute English studies and Ancient History, some of which will be informed by recent research/scholarship in the two disciplines;
- demonstrate a skilled knowledge of generic and subject-specific qualities, i.e.,
- present a structured and coherent argument
- have detailed knowledge of critical terminology
- deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within the two disciplines;
- 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 two disciplines;
- make appropriate use of scholarly literature and primary sources;
- apply knowledge and understanding in order to initiate and carry out an extended piece of work or project;
- conform to professional boundaries and norms where applicable;
- have a sound knowledge of the varieties of language and forms;
- have experience of a considerable amount of English literature from a range of literary periods and locations, including substantial study of texts before and after 1900;
- have a critical and sophisticated command of the importance of the literary, cultural and socio-historical contexts in which literature is written both before and after 1900;
- develop and deploy dynamically and self-consciously a range of critical skills;
- develop and deploy dynamically and self-consciously a range of analytical skills;
- demonstrate an advanced and critical knowledge of the social, political cultural contexts of English as a medium for literature;
- demonstrate a command of the English language via an engagement with literary materials;
- demonstrate a critical knowledge at least four particular and specific literary fields, through a combination of research-led option and core modules or via the planning and production of a dissertation;
- show a further enhanced knowledge of Ancient Greek and / or Roman history: the aspect(s) involved will depend on choice of options;
- undertake independent study into a chosen topic or topics in either of the partner subjects.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment, such as independence of mind, initiative, group work, locating and handling information, analytical ability, problem-solving, oral and written communication, intellectual integrity, empathy
- the transferable/key/generic skills necessary for employment related to the area(s) 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;
- the ability to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

This may typically include, to an extent commensurate with the level of study:
- independence of thought, initiative, intellectual integrity and empathy;
- capacity for critical reflection and critical judgement;
- ability to gather, memorise, organise and deploy information and to extract key elements from data and identify and solve associated problems;
- ability to select and apply appropriate methodologies;
- ability to engage in analytical, evaluative and lateral thinking and to marshal argument;
- ability to present material orally and in written form;
- ability to work with others, under pressure, and to meet deadlines;
- self-discipline and self-direction, peer and self-appraisal
- communication of information and ideas to a variety of audiences, e.g. through dissertation based on self-directed original research, oral presentations, essays
- ability to act as an autonomous self-directed professional through experience of independent directed research
- basic IT skills.

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:

- research-based training;
- qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment at graduate level entry;
- skills necessary for the exercising of personal responsibility;
- decision making;
- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects of the two disciplines;
- work that draws on a wide variety of material;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;
- evidence of an ability to conduct independent, in depth enquiry within the two disciplines;
- work that is typically both evaluative and creative;
- demonstrating advanced knowledge of English Literature;
- demonstrating advanced knowledge of Ancient Greek and / or Roman history.

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the syllabuses of the modules chosen within those specified for the year/programme, but will typically include elements of both formal examination and assessed essay work.