Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

(a)  To enable technical or design graduates to advance their knowledge and skills to level 7.

(b)  To enable technical or design graduates to develop their knowledge in a focussed way, through the choice of specialised routes through the course, to improve their effectiveness as designers.

(c)   To enable technical or design graduates to undertake a substantial design and evaluation project with a focus on a particular area of design.

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

Subject benchmark statement (No PGT Design SBS)

Architecture shares many characteristics

The subject benchmark statement seeks to encapsulate the nature of a rich and diverse academic discipline.

“The creative activity of design that lies at the core of “Design” education is

characterised by diversity of method, theoretical underpinning and aesthetic expression.

The contested nature of design gives rise through debate to the advancement of the

subject. Design is a complex process that brings together creative conception and

highly pragmatic detailed development, and is closely related to other important aspects

of “Design” study: technology and environment; cultural context; management,

practice and law; and communication. It is, therefore, the interaction of ideas, intentions

and operations that gives “Design” its distinctive character and allows for the variety

of university programmes………………………………………” QAA

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:

K1 – current problems and/or new insights of their academic discipline;

K2 – techniques applicable to their own subject area;

K3 – sustainable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative, innovative and overcoming difficulties by employing their knowledge in a flexible manner;

K4 – the major arguments and issues in User Experience Design practice; appropriate research methods; business and enterprise concepts relevant to user experience design

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

C1 – advance their knowledge and critical understanding in the relevant area and to develop new skills appropriate to level 7 achievement;

C2 – develop and apply decision-making strategies in complex and unpredictable situations;

C3 – identify with, respond to and critically reflect upon the opportunities and dynamics for learning with their peers and other external contexts;

C4 – act autonomously in planning and in implementing tasks.

C5 – Interpret User Experience techniques and apply human behaviour data to resolving design problems;

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

P1 – the ability to use a range of techniques and research methods applicable to advanced scholarship in the subject relevant to the discipline;

P2 – develop and employ rational, pragmatic and practical steps necessary for a concept to become reality;

P3 – demonstrate numeracy, computer literacy and attention to detail when dealing with specific software tools;

P4 – the ability to create and iteratively evaluate interactive product and service concepts;

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able demonstrate transferable skills in:

T1 – professionalism – including acting professionally in accordance with ethical proprieties;

T2 – problem solving – including clarification of questions, consideration of alternative solutions and evaluation of outcomes;

T3 – communication – including visual, written and oral presentation and discussions;

T4 – management – including self-learning, and project and time management;

T5 – methods and methodologies applicable to teamwork;

T6 – communicate ideas, concepts, theories and arguments with different audiences through a range of practical methods and outcomes including visual, written and oral.

4. Programme structure

In the following table, ‘c’ indicates a compulsory module.

 *Students must select from either DSP811 or DSP812 dependent upon the nature of the method they will undertake the brief.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must meet the requirements specified in Regulation XXI.

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