The University is enhancing the opportunities it provides for you to broaden and enrich your studies through a new system of electives in single-honours subjects. Most subjects across the arts, sciences and social sciences are offering electives, the exceptions being where professional-body requirements do not provide sufficient space within the curriculum (eg law, accountancy, engineering). Under the electives system, you will be able to choose to spend 25 per cent of your time in your first and second year on a range of subjects.
Electives will either be offered as stand-alone modules you choose to broaden or enrich your studies, or as a specific named pathway over Years 1 and 2 (refer to Language as an elective below). Students successfully completing a named pathway will have this recorded on their degree certificate.
We are also developing new ‘pathways’ of electives, which will allow you to choose a series of electives that together make up a coherent strand of learning. We already have these in place for languages and teaching English as a foreign language, as explained on the right. We will be looking to create other pathways from the range of electives we offer for 2014. If you choose a pathway from the start of your course and complete the electives, you will be able to have this recorded as part of your final degree and transcript – giving added value to your studies and showing the skills and knowledge you have developed at Sussex. For the latest information on these elective pathways, visit Undergraduate courses 2014.
- Language as an elective
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As part of the electives system, we have developed a flexible language programme, allowing students on a wide range of single-honours courses to opt for the award of ‘... with proficiency in (a specific language)’ at intermediate or advanced level. This is recorded on your degree certificate, as a named part of your degree.
You take language electives as part of your course for two years. Depending on your prior level of study of your chosen language, you start at beginner’s level and progress to intermediate level, or start at intermediate level and progress to advanced level. To qualify for the ‘... with proficiency in (a specific language)’ award, you need to successfully complete the two-year programme in one language at intermediate or advanced level. As we offer languages from beginner’s level, there are no language entry requirements for this scheme.
For 2014 entry, the range of languages will include French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.
- English Language Teaching as an elective
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As well as modern foreign languages, we are also offering English Language Teaching as an elective, taken over Years 1 and 2. Students successfully completing this elective may obtain a professional qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). This qualification will significantly enhance your employability and future opportunities as a graduate.
Jacob's student perspective
‘My decision to study Economics at Sussex was largely influenced by the option of a Mandarin Chinese language elective. I've not been disappointed with my choice.
'My tutor is always really helpful and approachable and I enjoy the friendly and hard-working seminar groups with people who have a real passion for the subject. I've made friends with native speakers and there are "language-buddy" evenings where you can meet one another and practise your language skills socially.
'I can't recommend taking a Chinese elective highly enough. You cover the language but also Chinese culture, tradition and how the language has evolved. This gives a new perspective on a country that few know much about.
'Overall, taking an elective offers a refreshing change in atmosphere and learning approaches from my Economics degree, while also being a very impressive companion to it for potential employers.’
Jacob Greaves
BA in Economics, studying an elective in Mandarin Chinese