• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you develop the personal and academic development skills necessary for effective undergraduate study in the Arts and Social Sciences.

The module helps you to develop an active, independent approach to learning and to assess, monitor and evaluate your own development.

Through learning activities in lectures, seminars and workshops, you will be able to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by your chosen degree course.

Topics in this module include:

• critical thinking
• critical reading and note-taking
• the process of academic writing
• making the most of academic tutorials and understanding feedback
• effective literature searching
• presentation, negotiating and debating skills
• intercultural communication skills.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

This module will introduce you to ways of understanding the changing world around us, drawing on the disciplines of Anthropology, Geography, International Development and International Relations that make up the School of Global Studies. It will also enable you to explore the interdisciplinary perspectives that arise from bringing these disciplines into dialogue with each other and with others in the social sciences.

You will start by exploring how each of the disciplines helps us to better understand the impact of borders (in the broadest sense) on the world in which we live. Next we'll explore how each discipline differs and overlaps in their approach to the study of identity. The module will then provide an overview of the different approaches to issues in global politics and society(ies), which reflect the research strengths of the School of Global Studies. 

You will learn about:

• global flows of people, finance and policies particularly with respect to health and the environment
• global transformations of citizenship, social movements, global institutions or patterns of identity and culture
• global inequalities and modes of injustice along colour, race gender and class lines.

The module will present the different ways the four disciplines of the School of Global Studies develop research questions on these three areas and how they generate theoretical and empirical knowledge and understanding. The module will serve also as an introduction to academic reasoning by introducing you to the construct of academic arguments and by supporting you to develop your own.

You will be taught through lectures and seminars, where you'll actively participate in a variety of ways. In seminars you will be contributing to discussions, in group and individual tasks, and through making presentations on particular topics. In lectures, your participation will more often be through active listening and engaging with the idea being presented for yourself.

The module is assessed in the Autumn Term via a Reading Diary in which you document and summarise each week's essential and additional texts (1000 words), and in-depth essay-based analysis of one text of your choosing (1000 words). In the Spring Term you will complete a 2000-word essay and deliver a group case study presentation. Completing these assessments will enable you to develop those skills needed to prepare for university level literature reviews, participate fully in seminars and conduct and present your own research.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you develop the key personal and academic development skills necessary for effective, active and independent study at undergraduate level in the Social Sciences, in particular for study in law, politics or sociology.

The module gives you a broad introduction to the basic institutional frameworks that govern law, politics and society - and you look at these from both a national and international perspective.

In Law, you are introduced to the main legal methods such as reading cases and statutes. And you're given an overview of the legal system within the United Kingdom.

In Politics, you learn about the political institutions of the United Kingdom. And you're introduced to the basic aspects of the study of politics.

In Sociology, you study the building blocks of society. And you're introduced to the methods of the study of sociology.

Through analysing texts, you enhance your reading skills, extend your vocabulary and language awareness, and develop the critical independence that will help you take personal responsibility for your learning.

Through essay writing and the composition of answers to problem questions, you further your writing skills and learn to reference accurately.

Through perceiving law as a social and political practice, you develop a further understanding of the interdisciplinary links between law, politics and sociology.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage 1 module is an introduction to the foreign language for students with little or no prior knowledge of the target language (TL). The module aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the module is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This first-stage module of the 60-credit pathway offers an introduction to British Sign Language (BSL) and Deaf Culture for students with little or no prior knowledge of the target language (TL). We aim to introduce the basic visual/manual form of BSL and to allow you to discover:

• how to use hands and eyes to form and understand basic signs and sentences, in basic situations
• what is a sign, and what is not a sign
• commonly used phrases, questions and imperatives used in conversation, across a range of basic topics (e.g. weather, holidays, shopping)
• the cultural rules for interaction with Deaf people
• an introduction to a selection of perspectives on BSL as a language.

Classes will consist of a variety of activities and include regular practice in pronunciation (production of signs) and listening (understanding signs), simulations, practical exercises and conversation etc. They are based around themes, grammatical structures and language skills, to encourage autonomous use of the TL. Seminar activities are complemented by guided independent study, individually and in groups, and will make use of Study Direct and other technologies.

This module is at A1-A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Equivalent Signature Level 101; 102

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage 1 module is an introduction to the foreign language for students with little or no prior knowledge of the target language (TL).

The module aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the module is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage module is designed for:

• beginners, assuming no previous knowledge
• false beginners with prior experience of the language at an elementary level, including those who have up to grade C at GCSE

The module aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the module is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage 1 module is an introduction to the foreign language for students with little or no prior knowledge of the target language (TL). The module aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the module is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage 1 module is an introduction to the foreign language for students with little or no prior knowledge of the target language (TL). The module aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the module is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage 1 module is an introduction to the foreign language for students with little or no prior knowledge of the target language (TL). The module aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the module is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Teaching

This stage course is designed for:

• beginners, assuming no previous knowledge
• false beginners with prior experience of the language at an elementary level, including those who have up to grade C at GCSE

The course aims to:

• enable students to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL, in everyday situations at an elementary level
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at an elementary level
• introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
• introduce the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, eg text, audio, audio-visual, digital.

Successful completion of the course is equivalent to level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you are introduced to two forms of art and culture - drama and film.
You explore how these mediums have played a key role in shaping how we think.

You develop a working knowledge of the expressive processes of the two media, as well as the key representational practices they have in common.
For example, you study:

• negotiation and construction of gender and sexuality
• race and ethnicity
• social class
• cultural identity.

You investigate various ways of thinking about each medium, as well as possible intersections between them.

In your studies, you encounter diverse forms of dramatic practice and distinct forms of cinema - from, for instance, theatrical realism to contemporary experimental performance, from the Hollywood mainstream to films from around the globe.

In addition, you're also introduced to a range of critical, contextual and theoretical approaches that will help prepare you for degree-level study in the humanities.

In this module, you're taught through:

• lectures
• screenings
• seminars - during which you're expected to actively participate.

In your assessments for this module, you're expected to demonstrate engagement with a range of appropriate critical practices and frameworks, from medium-specific analysis to cultural and/or ideological critique.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you're introduced to the role of business in society. You explore the many different ways in which the needs and interests of the broader society intersect with, but also sometimes conflict with, the needs of business to profitably survive.

You are also introduced to the basic ways in which business organisations work, including an overview of some of the basic functions that are performed, such as:

• accounting and finance
• operations
• marketing
• general management.

Examining cases of different organisations, you will to begin to appreciate the different ways in which organisations operate but also the many different problems that they need to constantly overcome, given the changing societal context in which they operate.

In this module, you're expected to participate actively during sessions, either during discussions or by making presentations on particular topics, and therefore you develop transferable skills.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you are introduced to education, social policy and welfare provision in the UK and internationally - with a focus on how politically led objectives and agendas shape the everyday experiences and opportunities of children, young people, adults and families.

Your academic studies in this module are initially brought to life, through making life-history narrative based links between your own lived experiences and the social policies which gave rise to those experiences.

You explore ways in which the development and safety of children, young people, individuals and families is shaped by historical, political, economic, and cultural forces.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you're introduced to the psychological approach to understanding human behaviour - with a focus on topics within health and clinical psychology.

You evaluate theories and ideas with respect to empirical data, and apply the findings of Psychology to everyday experience.

You use a problem-based approach, and your topics may include, for example:

• depression
• personality in health
• adherence to medications
• schizophrenia.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you are introduced to the psychological approach to understanding human behaviour - with a focus on topics within organisational, social, and applied psychology.

You evaluate theories and ideas with respect to empirical data, and apply the findings of Psychology to everyday experience.

You use a problem-based approach, and your topics may include, for example:

• prejudice
• intergroup relations
• acculturation
• personnel selection
• leadership
• organisational structure
• culture.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

This module introduces the different ways we can approach and understand the past in order to illuminate and enrich our understanding of the present.

It adopts a thematic approach, drawing together perspectives from historians, philosophers, art historians and American Studies scholars to reflect on the different ways we can engage with similar types of historical subject matter including war, empire, slavery and gender.

You study a wide variety of texts and objects – from photographs to paintings and manuscripts to manifestos. You'll become familiar with the central issues faced by scholars when they attempt to uncover and interpret the past – particularly the complexity of the historical record and the problematic nature of evidence. You will also learn how to analyse sources critically and to develop your own critical understanding of the past.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you are introduced to the mathematical methods and techniques commonly used in business, finance, economics and other social sciences.

You learn how to read and use simple mathematical terms, formulae and expressions – developing your confidence in presenting and interpreting data through the use of charts and graphs and simple summary statistics.

There will be a strong emphasis on practical applications to ‘real-world’ issues, for example through looking at economic, business and finance data and applying ideas such as discount rates to investment decisions.

The skills you develop in this module will also be transferable for use in a range of disciplines, as well as in everyday life.

Please note: The QMBE module requires you to have a good level of numeracy. Therefore, you'll only be able to take this optional module if you already have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics, with at least grade C.

• 30 credits
• Autumn & Spring Teaching

In this module, you explore the three major literary genres:

• prose fiction
• poetry
• drama.

You do this through studying significant texts over five centuries of English and American writing in detail.

You improve and increase your understanding of the transformative nature of language, and how aesthetics operate to persuade us of the power of the imaginative to affect experience.

Based on close reading, you consider how literature portrays both the interior qualities of the human self and the external world – the social, cultural, scientific and historical fabric from which literary texts emerge.

Through exploring different methods about how we can interpret literature, this module helps you develop as a critical thinker and an expressive writer.

You study texts including:

• plays by William Shakespeare and Harold Pinter
• lyrics by John Donne, John Keats, Elizabeth Bishop and Seamus Heaney
• novels by Jane Austen, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginia Woolf, Kazuo Ishiguro and Toni Morrison.

In this module, you're taught through lecture and seminars. You take part in seminars and discussions and do presentations to help you develop transferable skills.

You are assessed for this module through portfolios of short written pieces and essays.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

This stage 2 module is a post-beginner module for students with basic prior knowledge of the target language (TL). Building on existing levels of proficiency at level A1 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference [CEFR] the course aims to:
- enable you to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in the TL in everyday situations, at a simple level
- provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in the TL using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at a basic level
- introduce fundamental elements of the TL language structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation, and continue to provide a solid foundation for progression in the TL
- present the background culture of the TL through a variety of contextualised activities and materials, in a range of media, e.g. text; audio; audio-visual; digital.

Successful completion of the module is at least equivalent to level A2 (Basic User) of the CEFR for languages.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

This second-stage module of the 60-credit pathway in British Sign Language (BSL) and Deaf Culture will develop your range and conversational technique in BSL in everyday contexts. It will also expand your knowledge and awareness of Deaf culture. The module aims to enable you to:

• hold a conversation
• gain a clear understanding on how to sign grammatically correct sentences
• create his/her own everyday sentences about everyday topics (e.g. food/cooking, hobbies, travel) in a range of everyday settings
• study the world of Deaf people in the UK and abroad
• develop study skills to access academic resources relating to Deaf people and deaf issues
• begin to explore Deaf culture topics which relate to the your discipline.

Classes will consist of a variety of activities, include regular practice in pronunciation (production of signs) and listening (understanding signs), simulations, practical exercises and conversations etc. They are based around themes, grammatical structures and language skills to encourage autonomous use of the TL.

Seminar activities are complemented by guided independent study, individually and in groups, making use of Study Direct and other technologies.

This module is at A2-A2+ on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

This module builds on the basic grammatical structures taught in Foundation Chinese 1A to improve grammatical accuracy, oral and written fluency, lexis, and listening and reading comprehension in a variety of everyday situations. You will gain an insight into the culture and society of China appropriate to the framework of your language studies and, wherever possible, through authentic materials.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

This module builds on the basic grammatical structures taught in Foundation French 1A  to improve grammatical accuracy, oral and written fluency, lexis, and listening and reading comprehension in a variety of everyday situations. You will gain an insight into the culture and society of France within the framework of your language studies and, wherever possible, through authentic materials.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

You build on the basic grammatical structures taught in part one to improve grammatical accuracy, oral and written fluency, lexis and listening and reading comprehension in a variety of everyday situations. You will gain an insight into the culture and society of Germany within the framework of your language studies and, wherever possible, through authentic materials.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

This course builds on the basic grammatical structures taught in part one to improve your grammatical accuracy, oral and written fluency, lexis, and listening and reading comprehension in a variety of everyday situations. You will gain an insight into the culture and society of Italy appropriate to the framework of your language studies and, wherever possible, through authentic materials.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

The module builds on the basic grammatical structures taught in part one to improve grammatical accuracy, oral and written fluency, lexis, and listening and reading comprehension in a variety of everyday situations. You will work in Hiragana and Katakana and begin studying Kanji characters. You will gain an insight into the culture and society of Japan within the framework of your language studies, and, wherever possible, through authentic materials. An essential part of the module is independent work carried out in the Language Learning Centre.

• 15 credits
• Spring Teaching

This module is designed for for post-beginners who have completed the ab-initio A module.

The course aims to:

• enable you to understand basic information and to communicate effectively in Spanish in everyday situations, at a simple level 
• provide opportunities across a variety of general topics for practice of understanding and communication in Spanish using the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, at a basic level 
• introduce fundamental elements of the structures, vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation of Spanish, and continue to provide a solid foundation for progression
• present the background culture of Spanish and the Spanish-speaking world through a variety of contextualised activities and materials in a range of media, eg text, audio, audiovisual, and digital.

Successful completion of the course is at least equivalent to level A2 (Basic User) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.