New curriculum terminology
SENATE APPROVED THE FOLLOWING POLICY CHANGES AT THEIR MEETING ON 11 DECEMBER 2011.
Policy changes for 2012/13 associated with the Structure of the Academic Year
In the wider context of the future requirements on the provision of information about Higher Education, Senate APPROVED that the University moves away from the following terminology and definitions, with effect from 2012/13:
From:
| Course: | a course of study which may or may not lead to the award of credit |
| Programme: | an approved ‘programme of study’ comprising a number of courses and credits which lead to an award of the University |
To:
| Module: | a self-contained, formally structured and credit-bearing unit of study, with a coherent and explicit set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Modules should be appropriate to the level of study with each level showing clear progression |
| Course: | an approved ‘course of study’ comprising a number of modules and credits and which provides a coherent learning experience, with an explicit set of learning outcomes, and leads to an award of the University |
Not only would this terminology be consistent with Key Information Sets (KIS) expectations, it would also be consistent with NSS expectations, and is a change that has been recommended by staff in Publications and Branding, and Student Recruitment Services, as potentially beneficial to potential applicants, on a number of occasions.
The majority of Teaching and Learning Committee agreed at the meeting in September that there should be an alignment of University terminology with that used across the sector. However, separate consultation with Schools was undertaken following the meeting.
The majority of Schools were in agreement that the terminology required revision with most in favour of the proposed change from ‘course’ to ‘module’ but there was less consensus on the proposed change from ‘programme’ to ‘course’, although it is accepted that both KIS and NSS use ‘course’ rather than ‘programme’.
This change will help potential students to make more sense of our curriculum and hence assists us with recruitment.
The University will move to implement these changes with effect from 1st September 2012.