BA Professional Studies(Part-Time)
Year 5
Learning outcomes
On completion of the Honours Degree students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: -the concepts, information, practical competencies and techniques which characterise the disciplines that have been drawn upon over the programme to examine issues such as leadership, communication and new media; -why different disciplines think as they do in terms of their theoretical underpinning and methodologies and why they arrive at different standpoints on an issue;-how links and connections can be made across disciplines in order to understand selected themes and issues in depth; -how to apply skills of analysis, synthesis and extrapolation through working on a broad canvas rather than within a single subject discipline;-how to apply inter-disciplinary learning to identifying potential solutions to issues relevant to the local and global context;-how ethical issues and practical constraints operate in different disciplines;-different research paradigms and the implications of these for study and more broadly ;-how to make proficient use of generic and subject specific intellectual qualities to:-understand and demonstrate coherent and detailed knowledge and professional competencies informed by recent research/scholarship;-deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry;-demonstrate conceptual understanding and ability to synthesize material from a range of disciplines in order to develop a sustained argument;-evaluate critically the appropriateness of different methods of enquiry and problem solving;-describe and critically comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship;-appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge;-make appropriate use of scholarly reviews and primary sources;-apply their knowledge and understanding in order to initiate and carry out an extended piece of work or project;-effectively communicate information, argument and analysis in a clearly structured piece of writing;-professional and disciplinary boundaries;-their strengths,and goals for further personal and professional development;
Transferable (key) skills
Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:-ability to study ‘live' and ‘big' issues from multiple perspectives and to relate theoretical understanding to experience and practice;-research skills required for enquiry along with the ability to communicate complex information, understanding, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms and to a variety of audiences;-ability to apply knowledge and transferable skills to professional contexts and personal careers aims;-capacity to exercise initiative and personal responsibility;-ability to deploy decision making skills in complex and unpredictable situations;-ability to plan for future work and continuing personal /professional development;
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:-opportunity to draw on understanding of relevant concepts, theoretical perspectives and techniques from a range of disciplines and to engage critically and constructively with contemporary issues and professional contexts;-use of a range of formats for assessed work that demonstrate skills of effective communication for both academic and professional settings;-demonstration of the ability to explore new ideas and to test, evaluate and criticise received opinion;-demonstration of a broad knowledge base and ability to draw on a wide variety of material;-evidence of an ability to conduct independent, in depth enquiry and produce work that is both evaluative and creative;