University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2016/17 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > Department of Classics & Ancient History > Ancient History (BA) > Specification
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Programme code | 1CLAS008U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Kurt Lampe
|
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Classics and ancient history (including Byzantine Studies and Modern Greek) (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge and understanding of…
... the history of the Greco-Roman world and of the skills required for its study. In their first two years, students study a range of periods from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity, and a range of themes and topics; they also develop their skills in the analysis and interpretation of different kinds of historical and archaeological evidence, and their knowledge of theoretical approaches to ancient history. This provides the basis for more detailed and intensive study of historical topics in the final year, and for the independently-researched dissertation. The Department aims to promote as widely as possible knowledge, understanding and 'ownership' of the ancient world and its reception; the programme is therefore designed to be accessible to those with no previous knowledge of the period. Study of ancient history develops a range of key transferable skills, and provides a sound basis for many types of career.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Core Historical Topics cover major periods and key themes in ancient history. Core skills units cover the analysis and interpretation of evidence, research and presentation skills, and theoretical and historiographical approaches. Optional units allow students to develop knowledge and understanding of other aspects of the ancient world, including language. All units include elements of discussion and student participation; all third year units are small, seminar-based, and involve informal student presentations. All teaching and learning strategies and methods foster the subject-specific benchmarks A1-5 (with language assessments also relating to A6) |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessed essays, testing understanding of a single topic within a unit in detail. Unseen examinations, testing understanding of the unit as a whole. Shorter exercises, in core skills units, designed to assess research and presentation skills, analysis and interpretation of evidence etc. The assessed work for the Approaches core unit requires students to develop their own project, considering the application of theoretical approaches to historical problems. All final year students write a dissertation. All assessments relate to the subject-specific benchmarks A1-5 (with language assessments also relating to A6) and involve the practical abilities and transferable skills mapped in benchmarks B1-10, 12, 14, 15. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, class discussions, oral presentations and essay writing. Units are structured in such a way as to promote the development of skills of analysis, synthesis and critical evaluation. Specific units focus on other intellectual skills - problem solving and research (e.g. CLAS12321, Introduction to Ancient History, and CLAS32315, Dissertation). All teaching and learning strategies and methods foster the practical abilities and transferable skills mapped in benchmarks B1-15. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Essay writing and examinations test the students' ability to analyse, evaluate and organise information and to present reasoned arguments based on appropriate selection of evidence. Research skills are assessed through written coursework, the Approaches Project and the final year dissertation. All assessments examine the practical abilities and transferable skills mapped in benchmarks B1-10, 12, 14, 15. |
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 presentations to initiate discussion. Other units often include elements of discussion and debate. Oral skills are further developed in class discussion and in defending their ideas in debate with other students and staff. C&IT skills are developed when researching work and submitting essay assignments. Many units now make use of e-mail lists and discussion boards. Independent learning is required in all units. All teaching and learning strategies and methods foster the practical abilities and transferable skills mapped in benchmarks B1-15. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All units are assessed through written coursework and extended essays. Marking criteria include presentation skills. Most units also include assessment via written examination. Shorter exercises in core skills units, final year seminars, and the dissertation are designed to assess independent research and presentation skills. All assessments examine the practical abilities and transferable skills mapped in benchmarks B1-10, 12, 14, 15. |
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 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 enable the student to fulfil the programme's objectives. The core 'Introduction to Ancient History' unit covers basic research, critical and presentation skills; the core Sources unit and the two Historical Topics develop subject-specific knowledge and skills. It is expected that students' work may require considerable direction and guidance from staff at this stage. At level C/4, students are beginning to develop all of the skills set out in subject-specific benchmarks A1-5 (with those studying languages also achieving A6) and B1-15. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
Year 2 of the course is intended to complete the foundations of subject-specific skills and knowledge, though the two Historical Topics and the second Sources unit. The Approaches to Ancient History unit introduces students to theoretical and historiographical issues, and requires them to develop an independent project, identifying key issues and questions for themselves. Students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge of the ancient world, their ability to interpret and make use of evidence, and their ability to construct arguments and present their work effectively. At level I/5, students display further development of skills set out in benchmarks A1-5 and B1-15. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Students are expected to make use of the knowledge and skills acquired in the first two years in researching and discussing topics in much greater depth. They will work at a higher level of methodological and conceptual complexity. They will be expected to work more independently in gathering and assimilating information, synthesising it in an appropriate way and engaging in the sophisticated analysis of relevant evidence. There is an emphasis on self-directed study and the development of research skills, especially through the compulsory dissertation. At level H/6, students display further development and refinement of skills set out in benchmarks A1-5 and B1-15, with an emphasis on independent learning and research skills (B7). |
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
Department of Classics & Ancient History, 11 Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1TB.
(0117) 928 7764.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Introduction to Ancient History | CLAS12321 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
Literary Sources for Greek and Roman History | CLAS12320 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
Students must also take the following two units: | |||||
Late Antiquity | CLAS12381 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Rome: Republic to Principate | CLAS12383 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Hellenistic World | CLAS12382 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Students must take 40 credit points from the following list: | |||||
Art in the Ancient World | CLAS12365 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Film and the Ancient World | CLAS12350 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Economy and Society in the Ancient World | CLAS12331 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Epic | CLAS12361 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek and Roman Drama | CLAS12363 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level A1 | CLAS12311 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B1 | CLAS12315 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level A1 | CLAS12303 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level B1 | CLAS12307 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level A2 | CLAS12312 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level B2 | CLAS12316 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level A2 | CLAS12304 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level B2 | CLAS12308 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit I: Grammar | THRS10017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit II: Texts | THRS10018 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Viewing the City of Rome | CLAS12357 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Ancient City and Modern Politics | CLAS10007 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Choose open units | OPEN | 20 | Optional | ||
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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Non-Literary Sources for Ancient History | CLAS22319 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
Approaches to Ancient History | CLAS22404 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
Late Antiquity | CLAS22381 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
Archaic Greece | CLAS22352 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
Students must take 40 credit points from the following units | |||||
Art in the Ancient World | CLAS22365 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
History of Thought | CLAS22366 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Archaeology of Myth: From the Trojan War to the end of Atlantis | CLAS22384 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Pagan Religions of the Roman Empire | CLAS27003 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level A1 | CLAS20006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B1 | CLAS22315 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level C1 | CLAS22405 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level A1 | CLAS20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level B1 | CLAS22307 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level C1 | CLAS22407 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level A2 | CLAS20007 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level B2 | CLAS22316 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level C2 | CLAS22406 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level A2 | CLAS20009 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level B2 | CLAS22308 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level C2 | CLAS22408 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit 1 | THRS20188 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit 2 | THRS20189 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
World Processors: Scientific and Medical Poetry from Parmenides to Padel | CLAS20037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Communication and the Classics: Messengers, Witnesses, Parasites | CLAS20038 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Digital Humanities | HUMS20006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Study Abroad/ Erasmus | HUMS20002 | 60 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 | |
The Age of the Anthropocene | HUMS20005 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to the Medical Humanities | HUMS20004 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
20 Credit Points of Open Units Only Available to Single Honours. | OPEN | 20 | Optional | ||
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dissertation | CLAS32315 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
Students should choose 80 credit points from the following: | |||||
The Persian Empire | CLAS30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Roman Emperors - A Survival Guide | CLAS30023 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Pompeii | CLAS32345 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Myth and History in Fifth-Century Athens | CLAS37014 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Pagan and Christian in Late Antiquity: Debate and Interaction | CLAS37016 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Age of Augustus: History and Myth | CLAS37017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Minoans | CLAS37018 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Time, Temporality and Texts | CLAS37019 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Cinematic Antiquity | CLAS30017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Receptions of Greek Tragedy | CLAS30018 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Thucydides and the Idea of History | CLAS30025 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Trojan War in Ancient Literature | CLAS30026 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Athens and its Acropolis | CLAS30028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Classics and Comparative Literature | CLAS30032 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Configurations of Gender and Sexuality | CLAS32335 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Passions | CLAS30035 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level A1 | CLAS30006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B1 | CLAS30036 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level A2 | CLAS30007 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level C1 | CLAS32405 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level C2 | CLAS32406 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level D1 | CLAS30041 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level D2 | CLAS30040 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level A1 | CLAS30008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level B1 | CLAS30033 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level C1 | CLAS32407 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level D1 | CLAS30073 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B2 | CLAS30037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level A2 | CLAS30009 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level B2 | CLAS30034 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level C2 | CLAS32408 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level D2 | CLAS32343 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit 1 | THRS30171 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit 2 | THRS30172 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Public Role of the Humanities | HUMS30001 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Ancient History (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