Programme Specifications

History

September 2023

This programme caters for a degree scheme which allows the student to take a course in which one-half of the content is in Mathematics and the remainder in another subject.

The educational aims of the programme are:

· To provide students with knowledge and understanding in a range of topics in Mathematics, which may include some topics in Statistics.

· To develop skills in the application of such knowledge and understanding to the solutions of problems in Mathematics.

· To develop the ability to transfer subject-specific skills to a range of topics in Mathematics.

· To allow students to develop subject-specific knowledge and skills in another discipline in parallel with their studies in Mathematics.

· To prepare students for careers in which a combination of the skills developed in Mathematics and another subject is particularly appropriate. 

· To develop analytical reasoning skills, team-working skills, information technology skills and other skills appropriate to a wide range of careers.

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other  attributes in the following areas:

• A1 Knowledge and understanding of human societies in the past through the study of a range of historical periods and themes in more than one country, and in different cultural contexts

• A2 The ability to frame historical questions, and to search for and locate appropriate secondary and primary evidence in diverse forms, including the electronic.

• A3 The ability to read and use, critically and empathetically, a range of secondary texts and primary sources

• A4 The appreciation of the complexity and diversity of situations, events and ways of thinking in the past.

• A5 The understanding of the difficulties inherent in historical interpretation, and the means whereby historians deal with ambiguity, incomplete evidence and differences of viewpoints

• A6 The appreciation of the basic critical skills of the historian in establishing and using rules of evidence and testing the validity of statements by developing a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to produce and interpret historical knowledge

• A7 Intellectual independence in the setting and solving of problems, the acquisition of bibliographical skills, the ability to gather, sift, select, organise and synthesise historical evidence, and the ability to formulate appropriate questions and to provide answers to them using valid and relevant evidence and argument.

• A8 Reflexive and critical awareness of the forces of historical change and the ways in which they are explained in historiographical debates

• A9 The marshalling of lucid and coherent arguments in written and oral forms.

• A10 The ability to listen and to respond to the arguments of others.

• A11 The understanding of the social value of History, and the fostering of a life-long enjoyment of History as a subject.

Learning/teaching methods and strategies:

Acquisition of 1 is through lectures, seminars (which include formal presentations, directed and student-led discussions), assessed coursework and individual essay tutorials. Additional support is provided by the resources of the University Library and the National Library of Wales. Acquisition of 2-11 is through a combination of Option and Survey modules with a range of skills and historiographical modules in Year 2 and Special Subject, Dissertation and general Historical Problems modules in Year 3. Throughout, learners are required to consolidate and broaden their knowledge by means of independent reading.

Assessment:

Assessment is by coursework (1, 3, 4-9), for which learners are offered regular feed-back, and by a combination of closed unseen examinations (1, 4-10), take-away examination (8) and where appropriate, projects (6) and dissertation (1-9). Trials are currently being conducted for oral assessment by means of formal presentations (9).

Knowledge and understanding

A1. Of fundamental concepts and techniques of calculus, algebra, analysis and selected topics in geometry, mathematical modelling, probability and statistics.
A2. Of more advanced concepts in abstract algebra, real and complex analysis and selected topics in numerical mathematics, fluid dynamics, probability and statistics.
A3. Of a selection of specialist topics in Mathematics and Statistics.
A4. Of software for the analysis of numerical data.
A5. Of software supporting presentations and producing reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Formal lectures (A1-A5), tutorials (A1-A4), examples classes (A1-A4), practical classes (A4 - A5), help-desk encounters (A1), student-initiated informal meetings with lecturers (A1-A4), coursework (A1-A4). Project consultations (A1-A4) for students who have chosen the appropriate module.

Assessment – unseen written examinations (A1-A3), open-book practical examinations (A1 - A4), coursework (A1-A4). Project reports/presentations (A1 - A5), if appropriate.

• B1 engage with the complexity and diversity of the subject

• B2 reason critically

• B3 apply historical methods and concepts

• B4 demonstrate independence of mind

• B5 communicate knowledge and ideas to others, in written and spoken forms

• C1 search out, sift, assimilate and deploy bodies of historical evidence from a variety of sources

• C2 demonstrate self-discipline in time-management and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• C3 read secondary sources critically

• C4 analyse primary sources in complex ways, including an ability to establish their provenance, analyse their content and language, and cross-reference them with other primary and secondary sources

10.2.1.      Intellectual skills

The ability to

B1. Calculate and manipulate data obtained from, or related to, the bodies of knowledge studied.
B2. Apply a range of concepts and principles in well-defined mathematical or statistical contexts, showing judgement in the selection and application of tools and techniques.
B3. Develop and evaluate logical arguments.
B4. Abstract the essential elements of problems, formulate them in a mathematical context and obtain solutions by appropriate methods.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Formal lectures, tutorials, examples classes, practical classes, revision workshops, help-desk encounters, student-initiated informal meetings with lecturers. Project consultations for students who have chosen the appropriate modules. Skills B1-B4 are developed in all these learning situations.

Assessment – unseen written examinations, open-book practical examinations, coursework, presentations. Project reports, if appropriate. Skills B1-B4 are assessed by all these assessment methods.

10.2.2.      Professional practical skills

The ability to

C1. Present arguments and conclusions effectively and accurately.
C2. Use computer software to analyse and interpret the data.
C3. Use computer software to support presentations and produce reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Formal lectures, tutorials, examples classes, practical classes, revision workshops, help-desk encounters, student-initiated informal meetings with lecturers. Project consultations for students who have chosen the appropriate modules. Skill C1 is developed in all these learning situations, skills C2-C3 in practical classes. Some, but not all, of the skills C2-C3 are acquired by all students on this programme, since the modules in which they are developed are optional.

Assessment – unseen written examinations (C1), open-book practical examinations (C2), coursework (C1 - C2), project report/presentations (C1-C3), if appropriate.

• D1 demonstrate initiative, self-direction and self-motivation

• D2 demonstrate flexibility and independence of mind

• D3 demonstrate effective presentation and communication skills, orally and in writing

• D4 manage time and work to deadlines

• D5 search for and locate information in a wide variety of sources

• D6 contextualise, evaluate and cross-reference diverse forms of (often incomplete) information

• D7 work constructively in groups, and to assess the value and relevance of the ideas and arguments of others.

The ability to

D1. Apply general mathematical skills to the interpretation of numerical data.
D2. Work as a member of a team.
D3. Use information technology effectively to manage information.
D4. Manage time and resources effectively.
D5. Develop effective learning skills.
D6. Be aware of the need to plan for employment and of need to develop various skills for such employment.
D7. Work independently.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Skill D1 is developed in all learning environments in the Department of Mathematics and assessed by all assessment methods. Skill D2 is developed during practical classes. Skill D3 is developed primarily in practical classes and assessed by open-book examinations and coursework. Project consultations for students who have chosen the appropriate modules. Skill D3 is also developed through the use of e-mail, which is a normal means of communication between staff and students. Skills D4 and D5 are developed in an induction course on study skills, in preparing set coursework and submitting it by given deadlines.  Skills D4 and D5 are not explicitly assessed. Skill D6 is developed at meetings with Personal Tutors, at occasional recruitment meetings arranged for final-year students in the Department of Mathematics and in interactions with the Careers Advisory Service. Skills D4, D5 and D7 are developed by independent study for an optional project.