Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme seeks to:

• encourage in students a sense of enthusiasm for the study of English and foster engagement with reading, writing and visual sources, through a broad and diverse curriculum;
• encourage students to reflect critically upon acts of writing and reading in English, and on the history of textual production and reception;

• promote understanding of verbal creativity and appreciation of the aesthetic features of literary and non-literary texts;

• enable students to think independently, reason critically, analyse different forms of discourse, and weigh the importance of alternative arguments and perspectives;

• instil in students advanced competence in oral and written communication;

• develop a range of subject specific and generic skills of value in graduate employment, including highly developed critical, analytical and research skills.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The English Benchmark Statement

• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)

• SEEC Level Descriptors

• University Learning and Teaching Strategy

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of…

the distinctive characteristics of the different literary genres of fiction,poetry,drama and otherkinds of writing and communication;

a range of authors and texts from different periods of history,including those before 1800;

the relationship between literature and other forms of cultural production;

the role of critical traditions in shaping literary history,and the importance of the linguistic,literary,cultural and socio-historical contexts in which literature is written and read;

the appropriate and precise use of critical,linguistic and stylistic terminology;

the range and variety of contemporary approaches to literary study which may include creative practice and its theorization;

how literature and language produce and reflect cultural change;

the structure and functions of the English language and of its regional and global varieties;

the discipline’s relationship to other disciplines and forms of knowledge.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

use critical skills in the close reading and analysis of texts;

show sensitivity to generic conventions and to the shaping effects on communication of circumstances,authorship,textual production and intended audience;

demonstrate awareness of how different social and cultural contexts affect judgments about the nature of language and literature;

show understanding of the critical and theoretical models that apply to their studies;

appreciate of the central role of language in the creation of meaning;

rhetorical skills of effective communication and argument;

where appropriate, demonstrate the use of theories and techniques of writing in their own creative work.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

present cogent and persuasive arguments both in written and oral form and be able to respond to a range of texts through creative or analytical writing;

critically evaluate the effectiveness and value of a wide range of oral and written communication.

demonstrate advanced and effective research skills,including the ability to access,work with and evaluate digital sources;

demonstrate the capacity for independent thought and judgment through criticalor creativepractice;

deploy a broad range of critical vocabulary and appropriate theoretical terminology;

demonstrate bibliographic skills appropriate to the discipline,and expertise in accurately citing sources and using scholarly conventionsin the presentation of work.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

demonstrate advanced literacy and communication skills;

demonstrate advanced analytical skills and be able to handle complex information in a structured and systematic way;

understand and be able to interrogate and apply a variety of theoretical and interpretive positions and be able to weigh the importance of alternative perspectives;

show the capacity to adapt and transfer the critical methods of the discipline to a variety of working environments;

show their ability to initiate and take responsibility for their own work;

work with others through the presentation of ideas and the collective negotiation of solutions;

demonstrate high-level ITskills and the ability to access,work with and evaluate electronic resources;

demonstrate effective organisational and time-management skills.

4. Programme structure

The Part-Time English degree provides a comprehensive programme of study, allowing students to pursue specialist strands of interest through guided routes or, if preferred, to select a more eclectic range of study.

On the Part-Time English degree programme all students study literature from a historical perspective, as well as developing specialisms within their areas of interest, with the help of structured academic guidance and Personal Tutee mentoring at all levels of study. The programme is structured to provide students at Part A with core knowledge and skills that are necessary for their whole degree. This material is delivered through compulsory modules; every student has a grounding in literary history, the study of language, and critical theory (as well as exposure to specialist options such as creative writing or American Studies). In Part B, in compliance with the English Benchmark Statement, all students choose a module that addresses pre-eighteenth century and post-eighteenth century literature and its contexts. They may, also with academic guidance, develop specialisms through optional modules (see Appendix A). Where students have selected a specialist route, at Part C, they are strongly advised to choose a dissertation topic in their specific area of interest, and a range of optional modules also allow them to complete a portfolio degree in their chosen specialism.

• All module are 20 credits except for the Part C Dissertation module which is a 40 credit weighting.
• Module availability is subject to timetabling constraints. 
• Students may, by following appropriate academic advice, pursue specialist areas of interest through their degree programme.
• Students may select modules (with a total weighting of 20 credits) from those listed in the School Catalogue or the University’s Module Catalogue subject to approval by the School.

• All part-time students will be assessed prior to commencement of their studies and where additional tutorial support is required this will be offered. Students will be required to complete 60 credits per academic year, across semester one and two. Each Part will be completed in two academic years.

Part A

Year One

Compulsory Modules(total modular weight 40 credits, to be completed in semester one)

Optional Modules In addition, students must choose 20 optional credits in semester two. The modules below are indicative of the optional modules typically offered on the programme.

Year Two

Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 60 credits)

Part B

Year One

Compulsory Modules(total modular weight 40 credits)

For each semester, students must choose at least one module from the four modules listed below. One of these must be a pre-1800 module and one must be a post-1800 module.

Optional Modules

In addition, students must choose 20 optional credits in semester one. The following are indicative of the optional modules typically offered on the programme.

School-Wide Module Options

Year 2

Students must choose an additional 60 credits of optional modules in Part B, year two. The following modules are indicative of the modules typically offered on the programme. Students may choose to split their credits across both semesters or to take them all in semester two.

Part C

Year One

Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 40 credits)

NB Students are advised through academic guidance to select a Dissertation topic that reflects their specialist interests. Students can choose to take dissertation in Year One or Year Two of Part C.

Optional Modules (total modular weight 20 OR 60 credits per year. Total modular weight for year one and two 80 credits)

Students may not take an optional module more than once.

If students have chosen to do Dissertation in Year One they must choose an additional 20 optional credits in semester one. The following are indicative of the optional modules typically offered on the programme (This will include ‘Analysing Work Experience’, which is limited to work placements and recruits approx. 6 students per semester).

If students have chosen to take Dissertation in Year Two they must choose 60 optional credits across semester one and semester two.

Year Two (total modular weight 20 OR 60 credits)

Optional Modules

If students have chosen to chosen to do Dissertation in Year Two they must choose an additional 20 optional credits in semester one. The following are indicative of the optional modules typically offered on the programme (This will include ‘Analysing Work Experience’, which is limited to work placements and recruits approx. 6 students per semester).

If students have chosen to take Dissertation in Year One they must choose 60 optional credits across semester one and semester two.

School-Wide Module Options

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also: 

.1   In order to progress from Part A to Part B, obtain at least 40% in all compulsory modules and successfully complete and pass the 10% assessment component in Academic Guidance and Professional Development in the modules EAA700 and EAA701.

.2   In order to progress from Part B to Part C, obtain at least 40% in all compulsory modules.

.3   To be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, obtain at least 40% in all compulsory modules.

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment in any part of the Programme to undergo re-assessment in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C, in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40% : Part C 60% to determine the final percentage mark.