University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > School of Modern Languages > Comparative Literatures and Cultures and French (BA) > Specification
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
Programme code | 1MODL027U |
---|---|
Programme type | Joint Honours (UG) |
Programme director(s) |
Andreas Schonle
|
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | School of Modern Languages |
Second School/department | Department of French |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
The joint-honours programme in Comparative Literatures and Cultures (CLC) and French provides students with the opportunity to study two complementary disciplines, which will prepare them to become global citizens. They will gain a broad understanding of the culture(s) in Francophone countries, while developing interest in and knowledge and understanding of the ways in which cultures, broadly conceived, relate to one another and migrate between and across societies.
In the third year of the degree they will spend a mandatory year abroad in a Francophone country to improve their language skills and deepen their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and political environment of that country. During this year, they may opt for study, an assistantship or a work placement. Upon return to Bristol for their final year, while continuing to expand their discipline-specific knowledge and to sharpen their transferable skills, they will be able to reflect on how their historical and theoretical understanding acquired in class and their experiential knowledge acquired abroad relate and hopefully enrich one another. The study of French language and culture is enhanced and extended by the CLC component of the degree, at the heart of which is the activity of comparison, allowing practitioners of ‘CompLit’ to respond with agility to an increasingly interconnected world. The programme will develop the student’s understanding of how to analyse cultures in their various media, how cultures develop out of political, social and institutional contexts, and how cultures migrate across an increasingly globalised world. In developing novel comparative frameworks, the programme will draw on methodologies from translation, textual, cultural, and visual studies, as well as from philosophy and critical theory. Students’ studies in CLC will culminate in a research project that will harness their knowledge of experience of French language and culture to their comparative skills.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
A combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and flipped learning, including student-centred methods and collaborative projects. |
Methods of Assessment | |
In keeping with the Arts 2020 framework, methods of assessments will include, essays, commentaries, oral presentations, examinations, reflective narratives, posters, collaborative projects, reports, and a dissertation including forms of authentic assessment (such as an exhibition prospect, interview, set of teaching materials, etc.). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
A combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and flipped learning, including student-centred methods and collaborative projects. |
Methods of Assessment | |
In keeping with the Arts 2020 framework, methods of assessments will include, essays, commentaries, oral presentations, examinations, reflective narratives, posters, collaborative projects, reports, and a dissertation including forms of authentic assessment (such as an exhibition prospect, interview, set of teaching materials, etc.). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
A combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and flipped learning, including student-centred methods and collaborative projects. |
Methods of Assessment | |
In keeping with the Arts 2020 framework, methods of assessments will include, essays, commentaries, oral presentations, examinations, reflective narratives, posters, collaborative projects, reports, and a dissertation including forms of authentic assessment (such as an exhibition prospect, interview, set of teaching materials, etc.). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
By the end of their first student, students will have developed thorough familiarity with a select sample of world literatures and cultures and developed a basic understanding of critical methods and theories. They will have developed methods and skills to approach both literary and visual source materials. They will have developed basic skills of selection and synthesis of relevant source materials and acquired the ability to conduct independent research under guidance from their tutors. They will have developed written and oral presentational skills enabling them to convey with clarity the analyses of source materials at the level of understanding and complexity commensurate with level C/4. |
---|---|
Level I/5 - Intermediate |
By the end of the second year, students will have developed an understanding of how literary and visual media are rooted in concrete political, social, and institutional frameworks. They will have a robust appreciation of the transnational entanglements of cultures and of the theoretical debates around the transnational study of cultures. They will have acquired sophisticated visual and textual analytical skills and will be able to incorporate a consideration of theoretical arguments into their analysis. They will have developed written and oral presentational skills allowing them to tackle issues of a higher complexity than at level C/4. They will also have developed appropriate skills of collaborative work. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
By the end of their third year, students will have developed a deep understanding of a specific aesthetic, social or political issue approached from a comparative or transnational perspective. They will be thoroughly familiar with the fundamental debates underpinning the discipline of CLC. They will have substantially broadened their understanding of samples of world literatures and cultures and will have an advanced understanding of the transnational entanglements of cultures. They will have developed skills of independent research and will have acquired the ability to design and conduct an extensive independent research project. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Knowledge and understanding are acquired through: lectures, seminars, tutorials, intensive language classes, directed reading, regular written coursework and practical language work (supported by the facilities of the Multimedia Centre), and a compulsory period of residence in the country to countries where the language is spoken. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essay writing, formal presentations and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments. Problem solving is assessed on the basis of the ability shown in addressing and responding to direct questions. Research skills are assessed through coursework and dissertations. Language development skills are tested through formative and summative modes of assessment (translations, language essays, oral presentations and aural comprehension exercises). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Intellectual skills are developed through group work in seminars, tutorials, oral presentations, essay writing and practical language work. Units are structured in such a way that the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of data are developed. Specific units focus on other intellectual skills: problem solving and research techniques. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essay writing, formal presentations and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments. Problem solving is assessed on the basis of the ability shown in addressing and responding to direct questions. Research skills are assessed through coursework and dissertations. Language development skills are tested through formative and summative modes of assessment (translations, language essays, oral presentations and aural comprehension exercises). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions and to give short presentations to initiate discussion, including defending their interpretations in debate with other students and staff. (1, 4, 5, 6) Oral skills are further developed in the language classes. (8, 11) Research and written communication skills are developed through the writing of essays and tutors' feedback on these. (3, 7, 9, 13) Independent learning is required in all language and non-language units. (1, 13, 14) IT skills are developed when researching and producing course work. (5, 12, 15) Students are given guidance on how to manage their time and work independently. (1, 17) Students are given guidance on the use of electronic resources, and are informed of opportunities for C&IT training. (15) |
Methods of Assessment | |
Non-language units are assessed through, written examination, written coursework and oral presentations requiring detailed and informed handling of the primary literature and extensive background reading in support of the argumentation advanced. In language, oral presentations are assessed according to criteria testing the effectiveness and accuracy of delivery and the command of information. Some units require oral class presentations of a satisfactory standard in order to gain CPs. The knowledge base is also tested through traditional unseen written examinations and through dissertations. Research and IT skills are assessed through coursework and dissertations |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Year 1 of the course has been expressly designed to lay the foundations, both in terms of subject-specific knowledge and skills and in terms of more general skills and abilities, which will allow students to fulfil the programme's aims and objectives. Core units in language are geared to help students progress in the consolidation and development of their A-level (or equivalent) language skills. Mandatory non-language units cover some of the main themes and concepts of French culture, familiarising students with the literature and political/social backcloth of France and thereby introducing them to the key areas of study offered in the programme. This will enable students to make informed choices between the optional units available in future years and provide a sound basis for study in Level I. The expectation is that their work will require considerable direction from members of staff at this stage. |
---|---|
Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2, students are expected to be able to demonstrate that, in both mandatory and optional units, they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge and also their capacity to evaluate their work. The topics explored and source materials consulted will be of greater depth and substance. Students will develop their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and to expound it effectively with the increased requirement for seminar presentation. Language work will be of a higher level of complexity and students will develop their capacity to work accurately and creatively with French. They will be encouraged in group-work skills through active participation in seminars. They will be acquiring a heightened capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of coursework assignments). |
Level H/6 - Honours |
In Year 4, students are expected to expand the breadth of their knowledge through the study of optional units that allow them to pursue more closely their particular areas of interest. These units are more directly linked to staff research specialisms. Students are thereby able to benefit from a wide range of expertise at the cutting-edge of research that not only enhances their intellectual development but also serves actively to foster in them a research culture. Students will be expected to develop their ability to gather and assimilate information, synthesise it in an appropriately informed way, and engage in sophisticated evaluation of primary texts. These skills will have been enhanced through the heightened command of the French language acquired during the mandatory period of residence in a French-speaking country. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
The School also offers single honours programmes in French, German Spanish and Hispanic Studies (Spanish with Portuguese or Catalan) Italian and Russian along side our joint programmes with one of the following: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Czech; English, Film, History, History of Art, International Business Management, Philosophy Politics and Theatre.
Mandatory Unit French Language FREN10029 is must pass. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
List A: | |||||
French Language | FREN10029 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
Comparative Literature: What is it and how can we practise it? | MODL10016 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Visual Cultures | MODL10018 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
List B: Select 20CP optional units from lists B, D, or E | |||||
The Making of the Hispanic World, from 1492 to the present day | HISP10014 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Medieval and Renaissance Italy | ITAL10034 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Understanding Russia: Critical Approaches | RUSS10039 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Shaping France | FREN10008 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
List D: | |||||
The Medieval World | HIST10042 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Representations: (Re)-Making the World | HUMS10011 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Living Religions East | THRS10065 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Modern German Thought and Thinkers | GERM10038 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
List E: | |||||
Language and Power: Introductions to German History | GERM10039 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Introduction to Russian Literature | RUSS10037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Representations of Francophone Cultures | FREN10013 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
University of Bristol,
Senate House,
Tyndall Avenue,
Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000