Programme specification: Ancient History (BA) in 2023/24

Programme code	1CLAS008U
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:

• your learning within your chosen discipline together with important discipline-crossing links
• your development as a person
• your development as a professional in your discipline

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:

Learning by knowledge (i.e. Making a personal connection to your field of study)

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes	Learning/teaching methods and strategies
Knowledge and understanding of a range of periods of Greco-Roman history, and of key themes in ancient history. Knowledge and understanding of, and experience in, the analysis and interpretation of different types of historical and archaeological evidence. Knowledge and understanding of, and experience of applying and evaluating, different theoretical approaches to the study of historical topics. Knowledge and understanding of other aspects of classical antiquity, including its literature, art and philosophy, and their relation to the historical context. An awareness of debates and controversies among ancient historians, including the ability to identify the underlying issues and to evaluate the relevant evidence. An awareness of the history, traditions and practices of the discipline of ancient history, and its relationship to other disciplines. The opportunity to acquire and develop knowledge of Latin or Greek language. The ability to develop rigorous analysis of problems and issues and to present coherent historical arguments with clear and elegant expression, both written and oral. The ability to apply knowledge and skills acquired in different contexts. The ability to define key issues and questions and to identify evidence which can be used to address them. The ability to read widely and selectively, and to exploit different sources to identify and evaluate relevant material beyond the basic reading lists. The ability to present written work in accordance with the conventions of scholarship, including the proper referencing of sources. The ability to design and carry out a substantial piece of independent research using relevant source materials.	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.

Learning by doing (i.e. applying your knowledge and practicing your skills)

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes	Learning/teaching methods and strategies
The ability to think critically (detection of strengths and weaknesses in an argument) without too much assistance and guidance The ability to construct coherent, rigorous, relevant and persuasive arguments The ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written form. The ability to acquire and assimilate information from lectures and seminars and through independent research The ability to organise and impose order on complex and diverse material. The ability to develop ideas, theories and concepts with reference to a wide range of evidence. The ability to select and evaluate relevant information to prove an analytical point. An awareness of variation in the quality and reliability of evidence and of the distinctive qualities of particular sources. The ability to present arguments that are clear, structured and sustained with appropriate references and attention to academic protocol. The development of intellectual integrity and maturity. The ability to learn through participation in class discussion.	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.

Learning by being (i.e. personal and skills and attributes)

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes	Learning/teaching methods and strategies
The ability to be self-motivated and self-reliant and to develop good interpersonal skills. The ability to communicate information, ideas and conclusions in writing in clear, lucid and structured way using a grammatically correct prose that demonstrates command of a wide vocabulary The ability to communicate information, ideas and views clearly, succinctly and persuasively to others orally The ability to learn from and contribute to the learning process of others through participation in class/group discussion; the ability to listen, express strong disagreements while respecting the views of others; the ability to sustain debate The ability to make an oral presentation to a group from notes rather than a prepared text The ability to access relevant information and to communicate electronically to and with others The ability to work without constant supervision and reach independent judgements The ability to modify views in the light of fresh ideas and information A familiarity with, and an ability to organise, a range of word processing and IT skills The ability to think and write quickly and coherently under pressure The ability to manage time (punctuality, meeting of deadlines, etc.).	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.

Preparation for work beyond University (e.g. employment, further study).

Embedded within the curriculum

The curriculum includes a range of support for students to enhance their employability through embedded learning. Employability skills are embedded across all degree programmes, allowing students to graduate with an impressive range of transferable and analytical skills. For example, independent research projects will develop a student’s ability to research, whilst regular in-class discussions challenge students to think critically and creatively through dialogue with their peers. Further assessment and activities will equip students with further transferable skills, including digital, problem-solving, analysis, organisation, presentation and communication skills.

Co-curricular opportunities

Students have the opportunity to access a wide range of careers guidance and support alongside their studies. The Careers Service deliver career workshops, talks, webinars, and one-to-one appointments are available throughout the academic year. Through our online careers portal, my career, students can find part-time and vacation work, internships and graduate jobs and access hundreds of careers resources, including CV builders and virtual mock interview practise. The Careers Service works with a range of external partners to facilitate a range of employability initiatives, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to provide internships in smaller companies.

Intellectual Development

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.
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).

Admissions Information

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.

University Workload statement

Undergraduate Students

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.

Postgraduate Students

Taught postgraduate students are generally studying for one academic year. This is a longer year than for undergraduates, normally culminating in a research project. In a one-year full-time programme your workload will be distributed as evenly as possible, but this will depend on the precise arrangements for your programme. You will be expected to take responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive.

All students

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, problem-solving classes 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.

UG Professional Programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences

• Dental Surgery (BDS)
• Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSc)
• Gateway to Dentistry/ Medicine/ Veterinary Science
• Medicine and Surgery (MB ChB)
• Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary Science (BSc)
• Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour (BSc)
• Veterinary Science (BVSc) and accelerated graduate entry programme.

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-curricula activities. This is usually not available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through their curriculum 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. There may also be an occasional need to work or travel to clinical placements at the weekend. 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 information. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent, meaning that students will need to engage in revision activities and self-directed learning (including when on clinical placements).

Health Sciences Assessment Statement

Please select the following link for a statement about assessment in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This is University of Bristol access only.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/health-sciences/chse/documents/FHS%20Assessment%20and%20Feedback%20statement%202021.pdf

Additional Information

No additional information

Source For Further Information

Department of Classics & Ancient History, 11 Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1TB.
(0117) 928 7764.

Year 1 (2023/24 entry cohort)

Unit Name	Unit Code	Credit Points	Status
List A
Encountering Ancient Worlds	CLAS10068	20	Mandatory		TB-1
List B - Choose 20 CP from this list. It is recommended students select Historical Survey Ancient Greece
Historical Survey: Ancient Greece	CLAS10035	20	Optional		TB-1
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
List C - Choose 20 CP from this list
Historical Survey: Ancient Greece	CLAS10035	20	Optional		TB-1
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
List D - Choose 20 CP from this list. It is recommended students select Historical Survey: Ancient Rome
Historical Survey: Ancient Rome	CLAS10036	20	Optional		TB-2
Ancient Historical Writers	CLAS10039	20	Optional		TB-2
Thought	CLAS10040	20	Optional		TB-2
Epic	CLAS12361	20	Optional		TB-2
Latin Language Level A2	CLAS12304	20	Optional		TB-2
Latin Language Level B2	CLAS12308	20	Optional		TB-2
Greek Language Level A2	CLAS12312	20	Optional		TB-2
Greek Language Level B2	CLAS12316	20	Optional		TB-2
List E - Choose 20 CP from this list. It is recommended students select Ancient Historical Writers
Ancient Historical Writers	CLAS10039	20	Optional		TB-2
Historical Survey: Ancient Rome	CLAS10036	20	Optional		TB-2
Thought	CLAS10040	20	Optional		TB-2
Epic	CLAS12361	20	Optional		TB-2
Latin Language Level A2	CLAS12304	20	Optional		TB-2
Latin Language Level B2	CLAS12308	20	Optional		TB-2
Greek Language Level A2	CLAS12312	20	Optional		TB-2
Greek Language Level B2	CLAS12316	20	Optional		TB-2
List F
Take 20 CP From Bristol Futures, UWLP or Faculty Wide Units	OPEN	20	Optional
Certificate of Higher Education		120

Year 2 (2023/24 entry cohort)

Unit Name	Unit Code	Credit Points	Status
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
Comedy	CLAS22370	20	Optional		TB-1
List C
Material Remains of the Past	CLAS20059	20	Mandatory	C	TB-1
List D
Approaches to Greek History	CLAS20039	20	Mandatory	E	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	F	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	C,E	TB-2
Pagan Religions of the Roman Empire	CLAS27003	20	Optional		TB-2
Legacy	CLAS20067	20	Optional	D	TB-2
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

Year 3 (2023/24 entry cohort)

Unit Name	Unit Code	Credit Points	Status
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
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
The Age of Augustus: History and Myth	CLAS37017	20	Optional		TB-1
Myth and Creativity	CLAS30053	20	Optional		TB-1
List C - Choose 20 CP from this list
Sappho: Poetry and Society in Ancient Greece	CLAS30052	20	Optional		TB-2
Classics and Extended Reality	CLAS30054	20	Optional		TB-2
The Persian Empire	CLAS30010	20	Optional		TB-2
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
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

Progression/award requirements

Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:

• 40 out of 100 – for level C/4, I/5 & H/6 units
• 50 out of 100 – for level M/7 units

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.

Exit awards

All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.

• To be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education, a student must have successfully completed 240 credit points, of which at least 90 must be at level 5.
• To be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education, a student must have successfully completed 120 credit points at level 4.

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).

Degree classifications:

• First Class Honours 70 and above
• Second Class Honours, First Division 60-69
• Second Class Honours, Second Division 50-59
• Third Class Honours 40-49
• Fail 39 and below

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.