BSc Biology and History and Philosophy of Science

Year 3

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Science)

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 within the disciplines;
- deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within the 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 disciplines;
- make appropriate use of scholarly reviews and primary sources;
- apply their knowledge and understanding by initiating and carrying out an extended piece of work or project;
- conform to professional boundaries and norms where applicable.

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;
All Level 3 modules present a coherent and detailed study of a particular topic in HPS that introduces students to the relevant recent research/scholarship.

- deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;
In each Level 3 module, students learn the relevant standard 'interpretations' and modes of analysis

- demonstrate a conceptual understanding which enables the development and sustaining of an argument;
In learning standard interpretations and critiques of them, Level 3 HPS students learn how to develop a sustained argument that encompasses and or responds to the variety of scholarly views in the relevant topic.

- describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship;
All Level 3 module assessment requires students to address - directly or indirectly - specific aspects of recent research

- appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge in the discipline;
Level 3 modules foster a critical approach in students, enabling them to see some of the limitations of current positions and perspectives in the field, and whether there is need for further investigation to resolve issues of uncertainty.

- make appropriate use of scholarly reviews and primary sources;
Scholarly reviews and primary sources are included in Level 3 course reading lists and or tutorial materials as appropriate, although students are expected to exercise their own skilled use of library and bibliographic resources to identify useful supplementary materials in the primary and secondary literature as appropriate to their individual needs and interests.

- apply their knowledge and understanding in order to initiate and carry out an extended piece of work or project;
All Level 3 students are required to undertake a dissertation of either 20 or 40 credits in order to give them an opportunity to develop initiative and independent learning in a substantial project that embodies elements of research.

- conform to professional boundaries and norms where applicable;
Assessed work by Level 3 students should be written with professional standards of presentation, and referenced to the most appropriate recently published sources. They should also show mature self-critical awareness and identify their position on key issues within major scholarly debates of their discipline.

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

i) the transferable/key/generic skills necessary for employment related to the area(s) studied;
ii) the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility;
iii) the deployment of decision making skills in complex and unpredictable situations;
iv) the communication of information, ideas, problems and solutions in a variety of ways to a variety of audiences;
v) the abili

Transferable (key) skills

The programme provides opportunities for students to practise and develop:
- the transferable/key/generic skills necessary for employment related to the area(s) studied;
- the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility;
- analytical and critical thinking;
- 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 further training of a professional or equivalent nature where appropriate.

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

i) qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment related to the subject area(s) studied;
ii) skills necessary for the communication of information;
iii) skills necessary for the exercising of personal responsibility and decision making.

The dissertation component of the programme of study directly enables students to attain i), ii) iii): students that successfully complete a dissertation will have learned to exercise personal responsibility and decision making. The dissertation introduces them to a new and challenging means of communicating that supplements the 2000 word essay and unseen examination paper.

Other modules studied in the programme all present opportunities to attain transferable/key skills as defined in i) and skills of communication as defined in ii).

Assessment

The achievement of the programme outcomes will be assessed by a variety of assessment methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for each subject and will include:
- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects of the disciplines;
- work that draws on a wide variety of material associated with the discipline;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;
- evidence of an ability to conduct an independent, in-depth enquiry within the disciplines;
- work that is both evaluative and creative.

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:

i) demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects of the discipline;
ii) work that draws on a wide variety of material;
iii) the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion;
iv) evidence of an ability to conduct independent, in depth enquiry within the discipline;
v) work that is typically both evaluative and creative.

The dissertation component of the degree assesses students' capacity to attain all of these learning outcomes, most specifically outcome iv).
All modules assess learning outcomes i) and v).
Outcome iii) is more specifically addressed in the philosophical modules listed in group B1.
Outcome ii) is more specifically addressed in the socio-historical modules listed in groups B2 and B3.