University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2018/19 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies > Politics and Spanish (BA) > Specification
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Programme code | 1POLI004U |
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Programme type | Joint Honours (UG) |
Programme director(s) |
Jo Crow (Spanish)
Nieves Perez-Solorzano Borragan (Politics) |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
Second School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups |
Politics and international relations (2023) (benchmark statement)
Languages, Cultures and Societies (2023) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
Politics:
The Department of Politics, in combination with the five independent Departments in the School of Modern Languages, seeks to provide excellence in teaching and learning within a top quality research environment. We aim to expose joint honours students to the core theoretical constructs of the main subfields of Politics and expand their knowledge of a range of political systems, institutions, practices, behaviours and ideas. The Department aims to offer joint honours students a wide-ranging curriculum, stimulating student interest in political theory, theoretical constructs and perspectives, political analysis, political regions, systems and institutions and contemporary international relations. Our goal is to produce top quality, highly motivated graduates who have an advanced understanding of theoretical and conceptual tools with which to critically evaluate politics and the social sciences in their degree programme. The joint honours Politics programmes place primary emphasis on students' cognitive and research skills, particularly their written analysis. However, our assessment procedures encourage students to develop a broad range of transferable skills, including oral argument, rigorous time management skills, critical thinking, conceptualisation, independent learning and team-work skills.
Spanish:
The programme provides the opportunity to study the language, literature society, culture, politics and history of Spanish -speaking countries and another subject. For the Spanish programme:
· To develop a good knowledge of the Spanish language and the ability to understand it in its written and spoken forms and to speak and write it well.
· To provide students with a grounding in the languages, literature, society, culture, politics and history of Spanish -speaking countries from the medieval period through to the present day.
· To enable students to acquire an in-depth specialist knowledge of specific aspects and periods of the language, literature, society, culture and history of Spain and Latin America.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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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 or countries where the language is spoken. |
Methods of Assessment | |
A range of essay writing skills (short and extended essays). Project work. Seminar presentations. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and essay writing. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essay writing and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions and to give short introductory talks/presentations to initiate discussion. These oral skill are further developed in the language classes. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All units are assessed through written coursework in the form of essays of varying lengths and requirements. These require a detailed and expansive handling of literature and extensive reading in support of their conclusions. |
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 which will allow students to fulfil the course's aims and objectives. Core units in language are geared to lead the student in the development of their language skills. Foundation units introduce students to the literature, society, culture, politics and history of Spanish-speaking countries from the medieval period through to the present day. The expectation is that their work may require considerable direction from members of staff at this stage. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2 students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge in various areas of the discipline and their capacity to evaluate their work. The themes and language readings will be of greater depth and substance. Students will develop their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They will be encouraged in group work skills through active participation in seminars and oral language classes. They will be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and projects). The grammatical and lexical knowledge of the Spanish language will be tested, as will their specialist knowledge of specific periods/topics within the language, literature, society, culture, politics, history of the Spanish-speaking world. In Year 3, students will develop their command of spoken and written Spanish during the mandatory period of residence abroad when they either follow a formal programme of instruction at an academic institution in a Spanish-speaking country or take up an approved placement in a business or administrative organisation in a Spanish-speaking country. Their linguistic, critical, research and presentational skills will also be enhanced through the writing of a dissertation in Spanish during the year. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Students are expected to have expanded the breadth of their knowledge through the study of optional units, which are more closely linked to staff research interests and which aim to develop conceptual and methodological approaches in more complexity.Students will be expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information, to synthesise these in an appropriate way, to engage in sophisticated evaluation of texts. The students' ability to assimilate and synthesise material, organise their ideas, weigh conflicting interpretations, marshal arguments, form judgements and present their thoughts in written and verbal forms with precision and clarity will be further developed. There will be an emphasis on independent learning, self-directed study and research skills. The grammatical and lexical knowledge of the Spanish language will be tested, as will their specialist knowledge of specific periods/topics within the language, literature, society, culture, politics and history of the Spanish- speaking world. |
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 |
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The School's teaching learning and assessment strategy is based on [SB 4.1-4.9]:The acquisition of knowledge, understanding and analytical skills though lectures, seminars, individual supervision, team-work, debate, simulation, literature reviews, and independent study. The application of learning technologies include the use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Blackboard (all units registered), discussion boards, the internet, visual presentations, power-point, and handouts. The effective use of a wide range of literature and information sources are encouraged via the use of primary texts, academic texts, journal articles, the use of course packs, websites, popular culture materials (film and fiction) and other media. |
Methods of Assessment | |
The Politics Department provides for a range of formative and summative assessment across its degree programmes, including analytic and substantive exercises, presentations and participation, literature reviews, sessional examinations, analytical and research-based essays for formative and summative assessment, , unseen mock examinations, classificatory examinations and a Politics dissertation at Level H (optional for joint honours students) [SB 4.1-4.9]. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Critical academic abilities and intellectual skills are developed through a range of methods and strategies at different levels [SB4.1-4.9]. At Level C, learning methods include lectures and seminars. Learning is also facilitated by assignments and exercises. At Level I (Intermediate), students continue to be taught through a lecture and seminar programme, although with greater emphasis on the importance of independent study. At Level H, the strategy for learning focuses on individual, research-based learning. For most units, students participate in two-hour long research-oriented seminars. They are provided with the opportunity to conduct an independent research project in the form of a Politics dissertation. At all levels, the learning strategy focuses on the application of critical and creative thinking, an understanding of the contested nature of political concepts and the relationship between theory and evidence. Organisational and methodological research skills are specifically developed through the pre-requisite research methods unit at level I that offers training for the dissertation unit at level H. At all levels, each unit, lecture and seminar has clearly stated objectives and learning outcomes on the syllabus. All modes of written assessment (except examinations and the dissertation) receive written feedback sheets covering cognitive skills (including analysis and evidence), research skills, and skills in written communication. Written feedback in oral presentations covers such issues as time keeping, delivery, and content, as well as basis for improvement. The Department of Politics also provides a study skills advisor (for skills in written communication and English-language) and an IT advisor (each advisor holds a 1 hour weekly drop-in session). Learning methods also include the use of the VLE (Blackboard), general library classes (level C) and specialised library classes (Level H) to assist with independent research. Joint honours students who write a Politics dissertation are also provided with individual research tuition. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Methods of assessment such as essays, examinations and exercises are linked to learning methods and strategies [SB 4.1-4.9]. All modes of assessment require critical thinking, the application of concepts to empirical data, an ability to link argument and evidence and the application of formal presentational techniques. At level I, methods of assessment increase the use of independent study. Assessment methods also include critical oral analysis through the extensive use of participation, debate and presentation. At Level H, methods of assessment combine the option for a major independent project (the Politics dissertation) with analytical and research-based essay writing and unseen classificatory examinations. The use of extended seminars (rather than lectures) for teaching and learning develops students' critical analytical oral skills through sustained discussion, debate and research-based presentations. All exercises assess the ability to think critically, creatively and analytically. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Effective communication skills are developed through a number of strategies from Level C onwards, including analytical essay writing, exercises, and the requirement that students coherently and persuasively integrate evidence and argument [SB 4.1-4.9]. The ability to present and communicate a sustained argument in written format is developed through analytical and research-based formative and summative essays and the word dissertation. Oral communication skills are developed from Level C onwards in seminar discussions, debates and presentations. Communication skills (written and oral) are developed via the use of feedback sheets covering skills in written communication and, for oral presentations, issues of time keeping, delivery, content, and improvement. Team-work skills are developed through group exercises in seminars and team-work presentations. Effective use of information technology is developed through the use of the VLE (all units in the Politics Department are registered on Blackboard), the use of the internet for both academic and non-academic sources, and email. The Politics Department organises Library training sessions at Level C and Level I to ensure adequate understanding of learning resources. The Department also offers stuidy skills tuition . An appreciation of professional standards and integrity are developed through guidelines and handouts on plagiarism, referencing, bibliographies, word length, deadlines and guidelines on penalties for violating institutional/departmental rules on each of the above. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Written skills are assessed from Level C onwards through analytical and research-based essays (formative and summative). All essays receive a mark and written feedback via an essay-feedback sheet (in cases of summative assessment at Levels I and H, the Department retains copies of all essay feedback sheets). The coherence and fluency of written communication skills under pressure are assessed through examination papers at Level C, Level I and Level H. Oral presentation skills are assessed through the credit point framework. All oral presentations receive a mark and written feedback from the seminar tutor. An ability to work independently is assessed through coursework and presentations, essays, preparation for examinations and, if taken as an option, the Politics dissertation. Information technology skills are ensured by requiring that all written work is word-processed, all students must be in email communication with the Department, and all students are expected to make use of the internet and the VLE (Blackboard). Professional standards and integrity are ensured by strictly imposed penalties for late submission of work, inappropriate referencing and over length essays (formative and summative). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
At level C [CFUB, SB 2.1 (1)], the student is expected to have gained a foundational knowledge and understanding of the problems associated with the nature and study of politics. At this level, the foundational knowledge will comprise two out of the four major subfields of politics: these are comparative and national politics; political theory; research methods, and world politics. The student is expected to attain a grounding in those two sub-fields taken. The student should show an ability to write clearly and analytically about key concepts of political science and use them to evaluate empirical evidence. The expectation is that students at Level C may require substantial direction from tutors with guidance on the development of study skills. The student should be able to use the library and other learning facilities, such as the VLE (Blackboard), to the appropriate level. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At level I (CFUB) the student is expected to complete a foundational knowledge by taking the remaining units at level C from the four sub-fields, those which were not studied during the first year. The student is also expected to have further developed his/her knowledge and understanding of politics and have acquired a more specialised understanding and broader range of theories, concepts and cases. The student is expected to be able to evaluate material by applying a range of critical perspectives and competing theoretical lenses to the analytic problem and should have acquired a strong conceptual understanding of areas of the discipline for later theoretical and substantive units. Students will extend their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They are expected to be developing a greater capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays) and should be increasingly sophisticated in their ability to discuss and present information and ideas. Students will have the option to study research design should they wish to undertake a dissertation at level H. Students are also expected to have a strong grasp of the requisites of institutional learning and the norms of integrity and professionalism. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
At level H [CFUB], students are expected to broaden and deepen their knowledge of politics through their study of specialised optional subjects, the units being more closely linked to staff research interests [SB 3.1 (5). See SB 5.1-5.4]. They are expected to acquire a greater appreciation of the dominant conceptual and methodological approaches used in many areas of the discipline in more complexity and be able to apply these appropriately [SB 3.1 (2) (b), 3.2 (1) (a )]. Units at Level H offer greater opportunities for the use of primary source material in research. There is greater emphasis on independence in student learning and originality of thought and greater competence in oral and written presentation. Students are expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information from diverse sources, to synthesise in an appropriate way and to engage in sophisticated critical evaluation of political arguments and texts [SB 3.2(1) (a )]. Students are encouraged to develop and test their own critical judgements and arguments, to develop greater independence and self-directed study and to further extend individual and group work skills [SB 3.1 (5)]. Students may choose to develop research skills through the option of a dissertation. |
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.
Workload Statement
In common with the rest of the University, units in the Faculty of Arts
adhere to the credit framework which sets out that 20 credits normally
equates to some 200 hours of student input. Some of this time will be spent
in class, with the remainder divided between preparation for classes and
preparation for, and completion of, the assessment tasks. Some of this
activity may occur within the University’s online learning environment,
Blackboard, which you may use to prepare wikis, to interact with other
students, to download tutorials or to receive feedback.
Assessment Statement
Please select the following link for a statement about assessment. This is University of Bristol access only.
https://www.bris.ac.uk/arts/current/under/assessment.html
Spanish:
The Department also offers single honours programmes in Spanish and Hispanic Studies (Spanish with Portuguese or Catalan) and through the School of Modern Languages, joint programmes in Spanish with one of the following: Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and in Portuguese with one of the following: Czech, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Drama; History of Art, Philosophy and Politics.The Department has SOCRATES links/exchanges with universities in Barcelona, Granada, Vigo, Vic, and Zaragoza. Links with Latin American universities are being established.
Mandatory Unit Spanish Language 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 | ||
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Political Concepts | POLI11101 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
Thinking Politically | POLI10005 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
20 credits from the following: | |||||
Theories of International Relations | POLI10003 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction | POLI11103 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Making of the Hispanic World, from 1492 to the present day | HISP10014 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
Plus (Spanish ab initio students take HISP10116 instead of HISP10010 and HISP10001) | |||||
Spanish Language (Post A level) | HISP10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Spanish Language (Ab-initio) | HISP10116 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Critical Concepts in the Study of the Hispanic World | HISP10010 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Mandatory unit Spanish Language is must pass. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms
Mandatory Year Abroad 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 | ||
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Year Abroad TB-1 | MODL20014 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR | |
Year Abroad TB-2 | MODL20015 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR | |
120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Spanish Language for Hispanic Studies, School of Modern Languages and Joint Degrees | HISP30101 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
Students must choose one but no more than two units from the following list: | |||||
The Theatre of Federico Garcia Lorca | HISP30029 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Dictatorships, prisons, and writing(s) in the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking worlds | HISP30070 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Black and Indigenous Religions in the Early Modern Iberian World | HISP30098 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Hispanic Sociolinguistics | HISP30056 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Spanish for Business | HISP30057 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Images and Text: Hybrid Media and Power in Latin America | HISP30086 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Nation and Empire in Writing and Visual Culture in Spain (1874-Present) | HISP30100 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Oceanic Images in Modern Chilean Culture | HISP30084 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin American Digital and Visual Cultures: Identity and Resistance | HISP30092 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Black and Indigenous Religions in the Early Modern Iberian World | HISP30098 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Students may choose up to two units from the following list (Students may choose MODL30011 if they took MODL23014 in their second year of study and students may choose MODL30012 if they took MODL23015 in their second year of study): | |||||
Communism in Europe | MODL30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Italian City: Medieval and Early Modern Cultures | MODL30020 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Translating in a Professional Context | MODL30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Catalan Language (follow-on) | MODL30011 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Czech Language (follow-on) | MODL30012 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Follow-on Portuguese | MODL30037 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Multi- and Plurilingualism: Language Policies across Europe and Beyond | MODL30038 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Liaison Interpreting | MODL30006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 | |
Pan-Africanism: ideas and archives | MODL30026 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Cultural heritage of Historic Towns and Cities in Europe and Beyond | MODL30027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
MODL30005 is mandatory for Single Honours Students | |||||
Independent Study 1 | MODL30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Gender, Sexuality and Cinema | MODL30018 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Pan-Africanism: ideas and archives | MODL30026 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Theoretical Approaches to Language Teaching | MODL30036 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Students must choose 60 credit points from the following units: | |||||
Contemporary Feminist Thought: Debates and Issues | POLI30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Justice between generations | POLI30005 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Political Economy of China | POLI30009 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
European Foreign Policy | POLI30014 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
US Foreign Policy | POLI30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Secrecy, Power, Politics | POLI30033 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
How to Win a Political Argument | POLI30020 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Politics of Gender | POLI31351 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Post-Modern Political Theories | POLI31367 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Popular Culture and World Politics | POLI31378 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Politics of Post Apartheid South Africa | POLI31381 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Critical Security Studies | POLI31384 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Dissertation | POLI31555 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
Peacebuilding: Theory and Practice | POLI31557 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
States and Markets | POLI31559 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Politics of Contemporary India | POLI31563 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Public Opinion and Democracy | SOCI30072 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Religion and Politics in the West | SOCI30074 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Risk, Danger and Disaster | SOCI30098 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Politics of the Contemporary Labour Party | POLI30024 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Politics of Human Rights | POLI30026 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Power, Politics and Food | POLI30027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Northern Ireland: conflict and resolution | POLI30040 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Gender and Security | POLI30032 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Transition in Latin America | POLI30036 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Apocalypse or Ecotopia? | POLI30037 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Politics of Rebellion | POLI30038 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Populism | POLI30039 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Philosopher Queens | POLI30041 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Politics and Spanish (BA) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
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