BA Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year

Year 1

Learning outcomes

1. Understand and apply interdisciplinary academic concepts and theories to various Arts and Humanities disciplines.
2. Independently explore and research topics of your choice to make key decisions in your learning using creative and flexible approaches to subject content.
3. Examine ethical, global and cultural issues from arts and humanities perspectives to explore different contexts.
4. Develop generic and subject-specific skills for interdisciplinary study in the Arts and Humanities, as well as transferrable skills for your future subject discipline as part of an extended degree.
5. Apply critical thinking using evidence to present and explain your own analysis and arguments persuasively to others.
6. Develop and apply Arts and Humanities subject knowledge in various periods and disciplines to historical and contemporary issues using real world examples.
7. Identify connections between different subjects and your personal academic interests to develop an understanding of how other disciplines can inform your chosen degree subject-specialism.

Skills Learning Outcomes
1. Conduct, communicate and explain critical analysis of primary and secondary sources in the Arts and Humanities, including real-world examples and cultural works.
2. Apply critical perspectives, theories and research from interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities study within academic writing and a variety of assessment formats.
3. Synthesise reflection and evaluation of source material and supporting evidence within independent study and coursework assignments across a range of assessment types.
4. Demonstrate, communicate, and appraise interdisciplinary and discipline-specific subject information, ideas, concepts, and theories as a foundation to undergraduate study.
5. Develop digital literacies and use digital tools within academic work at foundation level.
6. Utilise information searching and research skills to inform the structuring and communication of evidence-based arguments.
7. Develop resilience, independence, and core literacies to build confidence and readiness for university study.

Competence Standards
1. Effectively apply academic concepts within the context of interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities.
2. Undertake research to engage with subject content and develop evidence-based arguments.
3. Examine and evaluate issues and perspectives within the context of interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities through applying critical analysis.
4. Demonstrate foundation level skills within interdisciplinary study in the Arts and Humanities including effective communication of key ideas and your own arguments.
5. Persuasively explain your own analysis.
6. Apply subject knowledge to evaluate real world examples.

Assessment

Methods of assessment during the foundation year reflect those that you will find later in your degree to ensure that you are well prepared for continuing study. Assessment is a key way of enabling you to learn by doing, and receiving feedback from tutors supports this process.

You will use numerous academic skills across a range of assessment methods designed for progression here at the University of Leeds, such as essays, reflective writing, presentations, portfolios, source analysis, creative work and timed assessments. The foundation year ensures that your written, discussion and digital skills are developed in preparation for your degree. Assessments in our interdisciplinary modules flexibly allow you to select and explore ideas, and choose themes and issues that interest you within module topics.