| Unit name | Foundations of Arts and Humanities |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LANG00048 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | QCA-3 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Mr. Thornthwaite |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Centre for Academic Language and Development |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit aims to introduce you to a broad range of topics from, and some of the intellectual questions raised by, a range of disciplines in the Arts and Humanities. It further aims to help you develop a range of skills required for study at undergraduate level and will use the academic content it provides as the vehicle for the development of these skills.
This unit will introduce you to some of the significant events, movements and ideas in the modern era, such as surrealism, totalitarianism, Marxism, feminism and the canon. There will be a particular emphasis on how these are represented in the arts and literature, and the impact they have subsequently had on human history up to the present day.
In more detail, the unit has the following aims:
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit prepares you for a wide range of degrees in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Bristol.
The unit contains content from a range of specific disciplines, such as History, Film Studies, Philosophy, History of Art and Literature. It also explores those ideas, such as feminism, that intersect and bridge disciplines, and which will be of relevance across all of the destination degree programmes, and beyond when you apply your studies after graduating.
An overview of content
In this unit, students will be introduced to a range of different authors, artists, thinkers, critics and historical episodes. This includes key historical events and concepts, such as surrealism, totalitarianism, Marxism, feminism and the canon. This is accompanied by literary, film and art texts that illuminate the changes to human life brought about by these episodes. This also gives students the opportunity to explore topics in the Arts Faculty such as English, History, Theatre, Film, History of Art and Philosophy.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
On completion of the unit, you will have had the opportunity to engage with a range of theories, events and texts. As well as preparing you for further study, the unit increases your ability to communicate using art as a medium, an increasingly vital skill for highly mobile global citizens in the 21st century. You will gain an appreciation of the many contributions that the arts and humanities have made to society and how these continue to affect all of us today.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
Learning is facilitated in weekly classroom sessions involving a combination of teacher-led input, combined with student-led discussion and practical, workshop-style activities. In addition to a range of authentic texts, appropriate e-learning technologies will be used for self-study as well as work in class. There may also be additional optional learning opportunities, such as film screenings or guest lectures.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Short essay with formative feedback ahead of the first summative essay, 1,000 words (0%, Not Required for credit)
Draft reflection of a selected art object, text or performance with formative feedback ahead of the summative reflection, 250 words (0%, Not Required for credit)
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Essay on theory or criticism, 2,000 words (40%) [ILOs 1 and 2]
Written reflection on a selected art object, text or performance, 1,000 words (20%) [ILOs 1,2 and 3]
Essay analysing a text, 2,000 words (40%) [ILO 3]
When assessment does not go to plan
Any student registered on the International Foundation Programme will be offered a conditional place on an undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. Students must meet the entry requirements to be admitted onto an undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. Different degree programmes may have different entry requirements. The IFP Board will review the mark profiles of all students who are close to attaining the entry requirements but are outside the previously agreed near miss criteria and may agree to admit them to a degree programme. If not admitted, students may be offered a further opportunity (i.e. two attempts in total) to meet the entry requirements for their intended degree programme at the University of Bristol by re-taking a relevant assessment. Marks are not capped for this purpose. If a student is absent or their performance in assessment is significantly affected due to exceptional circumstances, they may re-take the relevant assessment at the next appropriate time, without penalty.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LANG00048).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
