University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > School of Modern Languages > Comparative Literatures and Cultures and German (BA) > Specification
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Programme code | 1MODL028U |
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Programme type | Joint Honours (UG) |
Programme director(s) |
Andreas Schonle
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Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | School of Modern Languages |
Second School/department | Department of German |
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 German 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 Spanish, 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 German speaking 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 Spanish 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 German language and culture to their comparative skills.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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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 |
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|
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 |
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|
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. |
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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 |
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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), providing summative and formative assessment. Project work. Special subjects to allow students to address areas in-depth and the option of a dissertation. Examinations and coursework assessment in all three years spent in Bristol. Language is formally assessed through coursework, translations, essays, oral presentations and aural comprehension. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and essay writing. Units are structured in such a way that the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation of literature are developed. History and linguistics units develop similar skills in that specific field. Language, problem solving and research are honed in the year abroad assignment. The option of Independent Study is also available in the final year. |
Methods of Assessment | |
A variety of assessment methods are used as per individual unit aims and objectives. Essay writing and examinations test the students' ability to analyse information and present reasoned arguments. Research skills are assessed by means of extended written coursework and dissertation. Language is formally assessed by translations, essays of various types, oral presentations and aural comprehension, including interpreting. |
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. The ability to think and work independently is stimulated by dissertation, essay and project tasks. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All units are assessed through written coursework and extended essays. These require a detailed and expansive handling of literature and extensive reading in support of their conclusions. The knowledge base is also tested through traditional unseen written examinations, through project work and Dissertation. |
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 programme has been expressly designed to lay the foundations which will allow students to fulfil the programme aims and objectives. A core unit in language is geared to lead the student in the development of their language skills. The year introduces and includes preliminary work on some of the main themes and key concepts of German literature, history and linguistics to provide a familiarity with these disciplines. It enables students to understand the cultural heritage, historical development and modern contours of the German-speaking world. The expectation is that their work may require considerable direction from members of staff at this stage, and the Year 1 units are designed with this in mind. |
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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 through the wide range of options available beyond the core language unit. 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. They will be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and projects). Spoken and written language skills will be reinforced and enhanced. In Year 3, students will develop their command of spoken and written German during the mandatory period of residence abroad when they either follow a formal programme on instruction at and academic institution in a German-speaking country. Their linguistic critical, research and presentational skills will also be enhanced through the writing of dissertations in German during the year. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Students are expected to have expanded the breadth of their knowledge through the study of optional units; the units are more closely linked to staff research interests developing the conceptual and methodological approaches used with more depth and 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 language texts. These skills will be perfected in the writing of longer and more demanding essays, already introduced during their study abroad. There will be an emphasis on independent learning, self-directed study and research skills. |
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 German Language GERM10009 Post A' level or GERM19003 ab initio 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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List A - In addition to the two mandatory MODL units, you should choose the appropriate level German unit of 20cp or 40cp | |||||
German Language 1 (ab initio) | GERM19003 | 40 | Optional | TB-4 | |
German Language 1 (Post A-level) | GERM10009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
Introduction to Visual Cultures | MODL10018 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
Comparative Literature: What is it and how can we practise it? | MODL10016 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
List B - students who take GERM10009 in list A must also take GERM10035 period. Students must take 20CP optional units in list B, D or E | |||||
Shaping France | FREN10008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Medieval and Renaissance Italy | ITAL10034 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Understanding Russia: Critical Approaches | RUSS10039 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 | |
German Literature and Film: Genres, Texts, Contexts | GERM10035 | 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 | D | TB-2 |
Modern German Thought and Thinkers | GERM10038 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
List E: | |||||
Representations of Francophone Cultures | FREN10013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Introduction to Russian Literature | RUSS10037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Language and Power: Introductions to German History | GERM10039 | 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.
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