University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > 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) |
Edwin Shaw
|
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) (2022) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
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.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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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 (formative and summative) | |
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/teaching methods and strategies |
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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 (formative and summative) | |
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/teaching methods and strategies |
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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 (formative and summative) | |
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. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
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). |
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.
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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List A | |||||
Historical Survey: Ancient Greece | CLAS10035 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
List B - Choose 20 CP from this list | |||||
Sculpture | CLAS10037 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Literature | CLAS10038 | 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 A1 | CLAS12311 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B1 | CLAS12315 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit 1 | THRS20188 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
List C | |||||
Ancient Historical Writers | CLAS10039 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
List D | |||||
Historical Survey: Ancient Rome | CLAS10036 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
List E | |||||
Historical Topic: The Hellenistic World | CLAS10034 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
List F | |||||
Take 20 CP From Bristol Futures, UWLP or Faculty Wide Units | OPEN | 20 | Optional | ||
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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List A | |||||
Approaches to Roman History | CLAS20040 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
List B - Choose 20 CP from this list | |||||
Greek Language Level A1 | CLAS20006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level A1 | CLAS20008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B1 | CLAS22315 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level B1 | CLAS22307 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level C1 | CLAS22405 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level C1 | CLAS22407 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Exploring the Roman Cityscape | CLAS20070 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Myth | CLAS20065 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Introduction to Sanskrit 1 | THRS20188 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
List C | |||||
Material Remains of the Past | CLAS20059 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 | |
List D | |||||
Approaches to Greek History | CLAS20039 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
List E | |||||
Historical Topic: Roman Imperial Culture | CLAS20062 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 | |
List F | |||||
Take 20 CP From Bristol Futures, UWLP or Faculty Wide Units – OR choose an additional 20 CP from list B OR choose one unit from the list below | OPEN | 20 | Optional | ||
Greek Language Level A2 | CLAS20007 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level A2 | CLAS20009 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level B2 | CLAS22316 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level B2 | CLAS22308 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level C2 | CLAS22406 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level C2 | CLAS22408 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Drama | CLAS20066 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Legacy | CLAS20067 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Comedy | CLAS22370 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
For students who take the optional unit HUMS20002, this replaces all the Year 2 units in TB2. This includes units that are normally mandatory in this programme. | |||||
Study Abroad/ Erasmus | HUMS20002 | 60 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 | |
You may additionally take MODL20018 in TB1 (and 130 credit points in total) in combination with HUMS20002. | |||||
Foreign Language Skills for Semester Abroad Students | MODL20018 | 10 | Optional | F | TB-1 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | ||
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List A - Choose 20 CP from this list | |||||
Greek Language Level A1 | CLAS30006 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level A1 | CLAS30008 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level B1 | CLAS30033 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level B1 | CLAS30036 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level C1 | CLAS32405 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level C1 | CLAS32407 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Greek Language Level D1 | CLAS30041 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Latin Language Level D1 | CLAS30073 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Histories of Violence | CLAS30049 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Myth and Creativity | CLAS30053 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Age of Augustus: History and Myth | CLAS37017 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
The Minoans | CLAS37018 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
Comparative Paganism | CLAS30050 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Trojan War in Ancient Literature | CLAS30026 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 | |
List C - Choose 20 CP from this list | |||||
Greek Language Level A2 | CLAS30007 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level A2 | CLAS30009 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level B2 | CLAS30034 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level B2 | CLAS30037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level C2 | CLAS32406 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level C2 | CLAS32408 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Greek Language Level D2 | CLAS30040 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Latin Language Level D2 | CLAS32343 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
The Persian Empire | CLAS30010 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
Sappho: Poetry and Society in Ancient Greece | CLAS30052 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 | |
List D | |||||
Applied Classics | CLAS30039 | 20 | Mandatory | D | TB-2 |
List E | |||||
Dissertation | CLAS32315 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 | |
List F | |||||
Take 20 CP From Bristol Futures, UWLP or Faculty Wide Units – OR choose an additional 20 CP from list A | OPEN | 20 | Optional | ||
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