Free Modules SOMLAL.pdf

EXPLORING THE ARTS & HUMANITIES 

AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 

How to make good use of your Unrestricted Credits at Level 1 

Do you have Unrestricted Credits in your level 1 programme? Most degree programmes in Arts and 

Humanities do, because we think that the opportunity to add some breadth to your programme of 

study at this level is good for your learning. However, it can be confusing when you try to decide 

what modules you can or should choose to fill those unrestricted credits, especially during the busy 

Module Enrolment event. So here is some guidance about what is on offer from the various 

departments in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities to help you to decide. 

You may also wish to take your exploration further afield into related areas in the Social Sciences. 

Social sciences are about people and communities and the way we live. But the disciplines extend 

beyond the social realm to explore the natural and physical environments in which people live and 

the symbiotic relationships that arise between people and places. In addition, an increasing 

emphasis is placed on understanding the virtual world and exploring how new technologies impact 

on society. Such perspectives are enabled not only by the breadth of the social science disciplines 

within the Faculty, but also by a shared realisation of the necessary interrelationship between the 

physical, social and virtual worlds. Three Departments are offering a range of modules that may be 

of interest to you and give a flavour of the breadth of the social sciences: the Information School 

and the Departments of Sociological Studies and Town and Regional Planning. Check with 

Department staff at the registration event for more information. 

For full details of all Unrestricted Credits available across all departments in the University are 

available in the Guide to Unit Choice directory which is available in the Octagon Centre for the 

Module Enrolment event. 

First principles 

Here are the basics you need to bear in mind when deciding which modules you want to sign up for: 

1. Some departments offer Unrestricted Credits for their own students in the department; your 

department may well recommend you take one/some of these modules. Obviously you 

should follow their advice and this will make choosing much easier. 

2. If you are interested in taking Unrestricted Credits from another subject/department, 

remember that there may be some specific requirements or restrictions: 

a. You may need previous experience of the subject and/or a qualification at GCSE or 

A-‐level; 

b. There may only be a limited number of places for students from outside the 

department if the department recommends that its own students take their 

modules; 

c. You need to make sure that the hours timetabled for the module don’t clash with 

other courses you are taking. If a module has lectures and seminars, then normally 

the lecture times are for everyone, but seminars are in small groups, run at various 

different times to enable you to choose a time that suits your timetable. 

3. Some modules are worth 10 credits, some are worth 20 credits. Most often, modules are 

taught in one semester (either Autumn or Spring), although occasionally a 20-‐credit module 

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may be taught over the academic year. You should try to achieve a roughly equal balance in 

credits (ie 60:60 or 70:50/50:70) between the two semesters. 

4. It’s probably not a good idea to take on too many completely new subjects, or spread your 

Unrestricted Credits across too many different areas as this will make your work more 

difficult to manage. 

5. Remember, if you find you have chosen a module that you don’t get on with, you can 

change your modules during the first THREE WEEKS of the teaching semester, ie before 15 th 

October. To do this, fill in the ADD/DROP form which you can access from Student Services 

Information Desk: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssid/forms/addrop.html 

What’s on offer 

Below you will find details by department of modules, with brief course descriptions, timetable 

information (if available) and details of any prerequisite experience/qualifications or restrictions on 

places. These are listed alphabetically by department. You will always be able to get more 

information about the modules from staff on the individual subject desks at the Module Enrolment 

event. 

Department See Page 

Archaeology 3 

Biblical Studies 5 

English Language and Linguistics 7 

English Literature 9 

History 10 

School of Information 12 

Modern Languages 14 

Language Courses 14 

Arabic 15 

Czech 15 

Dutch 16 

French 16 

German 17 

Italian 18 

Latin 19 

Russian 19 

Polish 20 

Spanish 21 

Cultural and Other Courses 22 

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European Film 22 

German 22 

Intercultural Communication 23 

Russian 23 

Philosophy 24 

Sociological Studies 28 

Town and Regional Planning 30 

Archaeology 

Taking a module in Archaeology can give you some very useful insights into past civilisations, their 

influence on our own or other European cultures, and an understanding of how we learn about and 

interpret the past, as well as introducing you to the principles of archaeological study itself. This 

breadth means that a module in Archaeology is a good choice for students of virtually any other 

subject in Arts and Humanities. The Department of Archaeology has six modules you can choose 

from; all of these are 20-‐credit modules, and require no previous knowledge of archaeology. 

AAP106 Archaeology in the Field 

20 Credits AUTUMN 

Prerequisite qualification: None 

Teaching hours: Lectures (weekly Tues 10-‐11, Wed 10-‐11), Field Classes (Wed 2-‐5, weeks 2-‐6&8), 

Tutorials (weeks 6&10), multiple groups, times tba) 

Description: How do archaeologists go about excavating ancient remains? What really happens on 

an archaeological site? How do we know where to look in the first place? This module takes students 

through the state-‐of-‐the-‐art methods of archaeology in the field. It covers how to survey for buried 

sites using geophysics, fieldwalking and aerial photography. Surveying in unusual circumstances, 

such as graveyards or ancient woodlands, is considered. The practical techniques involved in 

excavating remains of all periods are examined, ranging from how to understand soil types to the 

uncovering of fragile artefacts. We look at the problems of excavating special sites such as 

cemeteries and caves, and find out how the results are published. 

AAP110 European Classical Civilisations 



Teaching hours: Lectures (weekly Tues 4-‐5, Wed 12-‐1), Tutorials (weeks 3,5,8,10, multiple groups, 

times tba) 

Description: Greco-‐Roman classical civilisation (particularly the 'high' culture of art, architecture, 

literature and political institutions) has long been seen as the inspiration for, and yardstick against 

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which to judge, modern European culture. The rich and varied evidence of modern archaeology is 

used to explore how this high culture was supported and experienced by ordinary people. A broad 

temporal and geographical focus considers the origins and long-‐term development of this 

civilisation, its interaction with neighbouring cultures of the E Mediterranean, N Africa and 

temperate Europe, and its role in shaping the development and self-‐image of modern Europe. 

AAP111 Discoverers and Discoveries 



Teaching hours: Lectures (weekly Tues 12-‐1, Thurs 1-‐2), Tutorials (weeks 4,7,9,11, multiple groups, 

times tba) 

Description: This module introduces some of the leading figures, ground-‐breaking discoveries, and 

key intellectual developments in Old World archaeology over the last two hundred years. The 

lectures will explore the stories of iconic sites, from Troy to Stonehenge, and reveal the influence of 

key ideas, such as Darwin’s theory of natural selection, on our understanding of the deep and more 

recent past. The aim is to give students an understanding of the social contexts in which archaeology 

has developed both technically and intellectually since the nineteenth century. 

AAP107 Origins of Humanity 

20 Credits SPRING 


Teaching hours: Lectures (weekly Wed 11-‐12, Thurs 4-‐5), Tutorials (weeks 4,7,9,11, multiple groups, 

times tba) 

Description: How do we know about our remote, pre-‐human past; how did we evolve, and how do 

we study those fully-‐human hunters and gatherers of the last 30,000 years who lived during and 

immediately after the last ice age? And how and when did some of them become farmers? This 

module provides an introduction to how archaeologists study these questions. It also examines how 

we can use fossil, archaeological, and environmental evidence to investigate the evolution of 

ourselves and also our now-‐extinct close relatives, the climatic and environmental conditions under 

which they lived, and the ways in which people lived up to the development of farming. 

AAP108 World Civilisations 



Teaching hours: Lectures (weekly Mon 3-‐4, Wed 12-‐1), Tutorials (weeks 3,5,8,10, multiple groups, 

times tba) 

Description: The popular image of archaeology is captured by the fictional Indiana Jones in his search 

for the lost secrets of ancient civilisations. This module explores some of the most famous early 

civilisations, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and classical Greece and Rome in the Old World, and the 

Inca, Maya and Aztecs in the New World. Similarities and differences in the development of these 

civilisations are evaluated, as are the contentious roles of colonisation, diffusion, trade and world 

systems. The classic civilisations are placed in a wider context by looking at human cultures as 

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diverse as Zimbabwe, the Plains Indians and Australian Aborigines. In conclusion, the module 

discusses the relationship between the decline of European colonialism and changing 

understandings of what it may have meant to be 'civilised'. 

AAP109 Archaeology in the Laboratory 



Teaching hours: Lectures (weekly Tues 9-‐10, Thurs 9-‐10), Lab Practicals (weeks 4-‐9, multiple groups, 

times tba), Tutorials (weeks 6,9, multiple groups, times tba) 

Description: How do archaeologists find out about the human past? This module explores the 

'forensic' potential of scientific analyses of the remains of humans, other animals, plants and 

artefacts. Lectures present a variety of case studies of the applications of scientific studies in 

archaeology. Laboratory classes introduce students to materials (bones, seeds, pollen, ceramics, 

metal, glass) commonly analysed by archaeological scientists. Tutorials provide an opportunity to 

discuss the potential and limitations of archaeological science. 

Biblical Studies 

Courses in Biblical Studies don’t just enable you to understand the Bible and the languages in which 

it was written, but they also explore the role of the Bible in modern society and in our cultural 

heritage. Modules on offer here could appeal to students studying Archaeology, Modern Languages, 

English, History or Philosophy 

BIB101 Decoding the Bible: The Old Testament 


An introductory module for students of any subject and not just Biblical Studies, this module is a 

literary journey from Genesis to Revelation, a grand narrative that begins with creation and ends 

with the tangled issue of apocalypse. Using English translations, you will gain a sense of the 'big 

picture' foundational both for further study of the Bible and for study of English literature, which is 

full of biblical imagery and allusions. This module is a good choice if you are interested in history, 

literature or religion. 

Teaching hours: Lectures: Thursday 2-‐4, plus a seminar group from a range of times on offer. 

BIB120 New Testament Greek 


This module introduces you to the Greek alphabet, grammar, syntax and vocabulary and will equip 

you with the understanding of Greek necessary for reading the New Testament in the original 

language. This course is a good choice if you are doing philosophy, English or archaeology. 

Teaching hours: Mon 10-‐11, Wed 11-‐12, Fri 11-‐12 

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BIB110 Biblical Hebrew 


You will learn the alphabet, be introduced to the grammar and syntax and begin to read Biblical texts 

in Hebrew, becoming conversant with the language resources available. By the end of the module 

you will be able to approach the Hebrew Bible with some confidence. This is a good choice if you are 

interested in Judaism or in expanding your range of languages. 

Teaching hours: Wed 9-‐11, Thurs 10-‐11, Fri 10-‐11 

BIB114 The Bible: Fact or Fiction? 


This is an introductory module for students in any subject and not just Biblical Studies. Is the Bible 

fact or fiction? The Bible is often subject to sensationalist and controversial TV programmes or 

newspaper articles claiming that it is secret code, myth, history, creation science or fiction. This 

module will explore these issues through an examination of the presentation of the Bible in the 

media, including TV, film and newspapers. This module is a good choice if you are interested in the 

media, advertising or journalism. 

Teaching hours: Thursday 10-‐12, weeks 1-‐5 and Tuesday 2-‐4, weeks 6,7,10,11,12 

BIB102 Decoding the Bible: The New Testament 


Here you will be introduced to the alphabets and basic grammar of Hebrew and Greek and to vital 

issues in the field of biblical studies. You will meet the Bible as it is used in the modern world as a 

document of faith and a subject of academic study. Popular and scholarly commentaries and the 

Internet will be studied and you will be introduced to translations, word study and methodologies in 

biblical studies. This module is a good choice if you are taking English, modern languages, 

philosophy or history. 

Teaching hours: Thursday 2-‐4 

BIB111 Hebrew B 


Prerequisite qualification BIB 110 

This module will build on the work done in BIB110. 

Teaching hours: Thurs 9-‐10, Fri 9-‐11, + 1 hour tba 

BIB121 Greek B 


Prerequisite qualification BIB 120 

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This module will build on the work done in BIB120 

Teaching hours: Mon 10-‐11, Wed 12-‐1, Fri 11-‐12 

BIB119 The Biblical World 


This module aims to introduce you to some of the diverse cultural worlds of the Bible: the 

interlocking cultures of ancient Israel and Judah, and the complex cultural mix of the cities of the 

Greco-‐Roman world. You will be encouraged to explore selected aspects of the Biblical texts in 

relation to their social world in areas such as: economic and social structures; ritual and belief; 

sexuality; slavery; gender; art and architecture; death and burial. This is a good choice if you are 

interested in history, archaeology or religion. 

Teaching hours: Wednesday 10-‐11, Thursday 4-‐5 

BIB1013 Religion in Britain Today 


(to be confirmed) 

This module addresses the fact that, from faith schools to family values, from religious dress to 

religious wars, in contemporary Britain religion is rarely out of the news. You will look at various 

aspects of religion in contemporary Britain, including politics and war, sexuality and marriage, ritual 

and symbolism as well as gaining an introduction to the contemporary religious map of Britain and 

the diverse religions that contributes to it. 

Teaching hours: Thursday 10-‐12 

English Language and Linguistics 

Linguistics is the study of how languages are structured and used. If you are interested in knowing 

more about how Modern English came into being, its sounds, structures and varieties, then the 

modules offered in English Language and Linguistics may be of interest to you. You don’t need any 

prior qualification, although if you studied English Language at A-‐level, you will find these modules 

build upon topics you may have studied as part of that subject. 

Places on Linguistics Modules will be limited 

ELL 110 Varieties of English 


Prerequisite qualifications: None 

Teaching hours: Lectures Tuesdays 2.10-‐3pm, Thursday 4.10-‐5pm, plus 1 seminar group, 

starting in week 2 (different times are offered to fit in with individual 

students’ timetables) 

Description: This course explores the extraordinary diversity of the English language today, and is 

concerned with describing the features, use and status of contemporary varieties of English in 

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Britain and around the world. Extraterritorial varieties are located within histories of expansion, 

colonialism, and globalisation, and considered in relation to the role of English as an international 

language. We investigate developments which led to the social and geographic distribution of 

certain present day varieties in Britain. Students will apply tools of description for all linguistic levels, 

and develop awareness of sociolinguistic aspects of language such as social indexing, attitudes and 

standardisation, as well as the relationship between variation and change. 

Places may be very limited 

ELL 112 Sounds of English 



Teaching hours: Lecture hour Tuesday 3.10-‐4pm, plus 1 workshop session, starting in week 2 

(different times are offered to fit in with individual students’ timetables) 

Description: This module is an introduction to the sub-‐disciplines of Linguistics known as Phonetics 

and Phonology, focusing specifically on the sounds of the English language. It is designed to provide 

a solid understanding of how speech sounds are made and how they function in use. The lectures 

will present descriptions of English speech sounds and theories to explain their behaviour in a range 

of different accents and contexts, and the workshop classes will provide hands-‐on experience in 

using and thinking about the sounds of English. The module serves as an essential basis for more 

advanced linguistic study. 

Places may be limited 

ELL 113 Structure of English 



Teaching hours: Lecture hour Thursday 10-‐10.50am, plus 1 seminar group, starting in week 2 

(different times are offered to fit in with individual students’ timetables) 

Description: This module is an introduction to the syntax of natural languages, focussing on the 

syntactic structure of contemporary English. This module is intended as a sister module to the 10-‐ 

credit 'Sounds of English' module, which runs in parallel. It is designed to provide a firm grounding in 

the descriptions of English sentence structure(s), and to introduce students to the main theories and 

methods of syntactic argumentation. The lectures will cover major topics in the formal description of 

English sentences, while the workshop classes will provide hands-‐on experience in analysing and 

thinking about sentence structure. The module serves as an essential basis for more advanced 

linguistic study. 

Places may be limited 

ELL 113 History of English 



Teaching hours:Lecture hours Monday 1.10-‐2pm and Tuesday 2.10-‐3pm, plus 1 seminar group, 

starting in week 2 (different times are offered to fit in with individual students’ timetables) 

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Description: This module traces the history of the English language of the Fifth century AD through 

to the present day. Students will learn about the development of English over this period, looking at 

the factors which have shaped the language, and learning a variety of techniques for studying the 

language. The module will also introduce students to the range and variety of the English language 

at all periods, and to the ways in which English influences, and is influenced by, other languages. 

Places may be very limited 

English Literature 

If you studied English Literature at A-‐level and want to deepen and develop your skills in 

understanding and writing about different literary forms, then the two introductory courses in 

English Literature could be of interest to you. You do need to have an A level, grade A, in English 

Literature, to take these modules. 

Places on these courses may be limited 

LIT107 Introduction to Advanced Literary Study 1 Prose Fiction 

20 credits AUTUMN 

Prerequisite qualification: A-‐level English Literature, Grade A 

Teaching hours: Lectures Weds 12-‐1 and Thurs 11-‐12 + 1 seminar chosen from a 

range of available options 

Description: This module provides an introduction to university-‐level thinking, studying, and writing 

about prose fiction. The main focus of the course is on introducing the main elements of form and 

technique in literary fiction, and on helping students to develop the analytical skills necessary to 

produce their own sophisticated and original readings of texts. By introducing the general studyof a 

major literary genre, IALS 1 offers preparation for the more specialised courses that follow in levels 

two and three. Texts studied include a diverse range of prose fiction from the 19th and 20th 

centuries. 

LIT108 Introduction to Advanced Literary Study 2: Poetry and Drama 

20 credits SPRING 

Prerequisite qualification: A-‐level English Literature, Grade A 

Teaching hours: Lectures Weds 12-‐1 and Thurs 11-‐12 + 1 seminar chosen from a 

range of available options 

Description: This module introduces university-‐level thinking, studying, and writing about poetry 

and drama. The focus of the course is on introducing the main elements of form and technique, and 

on helping students to develop the analytical skills necessary to produce their own sophisticated and 

original readings of literary texts. Extending the critical, analytical and research skills learned in IALS 

1 into the general study of the two other major genres, IALS 2 offers preparation for the specialised 

courses that follow. Texts will be studied from a diverse range of poetry and drama in English from 

the 16th Century to the present. 

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History 

If you studied History at A-‐level you can take advantage of the opportunity to develop your skills in 

understanding and writing about historical topics or periods with a module in History. There are 

modules covering a wide geographical and chronological range, so you may choose to deepen your 

knowledge of a period you are already familiar with, or explore an area which is new to you. You do 

need to have at least a grade B at A-‐level in History to take these courses. 

Places are limited on some History modules 

HST112 Paths from Antiquity to Modernity 


Places will be limited 

Prerequisite qualification: Normally a grade B in A level History or an equivalent qualification 

in History. 

Description: The course provides a thematic outline history of Europe and the west from the fall of 

Rome to modern times, offering students insights into the fundamental characteristics of the middle 

ages, the early modern, and the modern period of history. Additionally, the course offers training in 

the historical skills and methods needed for University level historical study. 

Staff Contact: Dr Julie Gottlieb, History 

Teaching Hours: Lectures 

Monday 13.00 St Georges Church Lecture Theatre 

Tuesday 15.00 Students' Union Auditorium 

Thursday 13.00 Students' Union Auditorium 

Seminar groups: Students sign up for a group (chosen from a range of available options) and attend 

one seminar per week. 

HST115 The Disenchantment of the European World 




in History. 

Description: The decline of magic, and some sorts of religion, lies at the heart of this course which 

traces the emergence of human societies that sought to operate according to rules supposed to be 

scientific. European cultural experience in the critical juncture between the Reformation and the 

Enlightenment was by no means the simple rejection of one world-‐view and its replacement with 

another. Through the rich, surviving evidence of court records and printing-‐presses we examine 

people's changing assumptions about how they should be governed and how they fitted into the 

world around them. 

Staff Contact: Dr Tom Leng, History 

Teaching Hours: Lectures, 

Monday 14.00 Hicks Lecture Theatre 1 

Tuesday 12.00 Arts Tower Lecture Theatre 4 

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HST118 History of the United States of America 1776-‐2004 




in History. 

Description: This module probes the formation, development and influence of the United States 

from the Revolution to the present day. Organised into four main blocks -‐ Making a Nation, An 

Equal Nation?, The Industrial Nation and A Divided Nation -‐ it blends chronological and thematic 

approaches in order to give first-‐year students a solid grounding in key problems in American 

history. Topics included draw from a range of methodologies in the discipline and will include state 

formation, national identity, race, class and gender conflicts, and the global reach of American 

military power and culture 

Staff Contact: Dr Dan Scroop, History 

Teaching Hours: Lectures 

Tuesday 13.00 Richard Roberts Auditorium 

Wednesday 11.00 Richard Roberts Auditorium 



HST114 Pagans, Christians and Heretics in Medieval Europe 



in History. 

Description: One of the recurring themes of European history in the period 300-‐1000 is the 

conversion of societies from paganism, a term which covers a whole range of beliefs from the 

elaborate cults of the Roman Empire to the sacred trees of the German forests, to Christianity, with 

its exclusive belief in one God and no other. The aim of this course is to examine comparatively how 

and why this fundamental transformation came about, looking at the men (and women) whose 

missionary activity brought conversion and at their various approaches, from persuasion to direct 

action. We will also explore the impact which conversion to Christianity had upon societies, and at 

those who stubbornly persisted in paganism or heresy. 

Staff Contact: Dr Charles West, History 

Teaching Hours: Lectures: 

Monday 14.00 Richard Roberts Auditorium 




HST117 The Making of the Twentieth Century 


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in History. 

Description: This module addresses important processes of change in the twentieth century through 

a series of selected case-‐studies, each introduced by a subject specialist. Each case-‐study will be 

thematically based and will allow for examples to be drawn from both Europe and the wider world. 

The subjects included will draw from a range of methodologies within the History subject area and 

may encompass themes such as national identity, population movement, revolutions and 

decolonisation. These will provide a grounding for further study of both European and extra-‐ 

European subjects at levels 2 and 3. 

Staff Contact: Dr Julie Gottlieb, History 


Monday 13.00 St Georges Church Lecture Theatre 

Thursday 13.00 Richard Roberts Auditorium 



HST119 The Transformation of Britain, 1800 to the present 



in History. 

Description: This module explores the central political, social, economic, cultural and diplomatic 

developments that have transformed Britain since 1800. Unlike most of its European neighbours, 

Britain did not experience dramatic moments of revolution, constitution-‐building, invasion or 

military defeat; indeed the idea of the nation’s progress through gradual evolution was central to 

many versions of British identity. This course examines how, when and why change occurred in 

Britain. Key themes include the transition to mass democracy; the impact of industrialisation; shifts 

in social relationships based on class, gender and ethnicity; and the rise and fall of Britain as an 

imperial power. 

Staff Contact: Dr Clare Griffiths, History 



Wednesday 10.00 Richard Roberts Auditorium 



Information School 

To achieve success in today's world everyone, from individuals to organisations, needs to make best 

use of their knowledge. Information management is concerned with how information and 

knowledge are used as a resource, and how information systems and strategies can be developed to 

meet specific requirements. It involves understanding how organisations work and how effective 

management of information can provide economic and social benefits. 

INF102 Introduction to Information Management 


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Tuesdays 10.00 to 11.50 

Thursdays 09.00 to 10.50 

Aims/Description: The module aims to introduce students to the subject of information 

management and to provide them with a foundation for further study on subsequent modules on 

their degree programme. The learning activities on the module aim to (i) familiarise students with 

basic principles of information management and (ii) enable them to develop practical information-‐ 

handling skills that are essential for practical information management. 

Staff Contact: Peter Stordy (peter.stordy@sheffield.ac.uk) 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, One-‐to-‐one tutorials, Independent Study, Drop-‐in surgeries, Practical 

laboratories 

Assessments: Practical exam and individual coursework 

INF103 Information & Communication Networks in Organisations 


Wednesdays 9.00-‐10.50 

Fridays 11.10-‐13.00 

Aims/Description: This module builds on the introduction to organizational information 

environments and systems in INF102, by further examining the use of ICTs within organizations. The 

focus is on information and communication in the networked organization, with the aim of 

introducing: 

• fundamental concepts and principles associated with information and communication in 

organisations; 

• the impact of technology-‐mediated communication on individuals, teams, and organizations as 

a whole. 

• new organizational forms and work practices emerging through the use of ICTs, and key 

technologies associated with computer-‐supported collaborative work; 

Staff Contact: Andrew Cox (a.m.cox@sheffield.ac.uk) 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Seminars, Independent Study, Practical laboratories 

Assessments: Formal Exam, individual & group coursework 

INF104 Information Literacy 


Mondays 10.00-‐10.50 

Mondays 11.10-‐13.00 

Aims/Description: The module aims to progress students' information literacy in key areas, and 

develop their understanding of information literacy theories and practice. By the end of the module 

students will have learnt: 

• to analyse their own information behaviour and start to 

• identify ways in which they can become more information literate 

• to understand some key information literacy models and theories 

• to plan a strategy for seeking information and search for information in specific information 

sources 

• to apply an evaluation framework to information resources 

• to interact with others to explore their information behaviour and needs 

• to communicate more effectively orally and in writing 

Staff Contact: Sheila Webber (S.Webber@sheffield.ac.uk) 


Assessments: Course work 

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INF106 Inquiry in Information Management 


Mondays 10:00 to 11:50 

Monday 14:10 to 16:00 

Aims/Description: This course will develop students’ understanding of information management 

(IM), and through a small piece of real collaborative research they will explore the nature of research 

and scholarly communication in the field. 

In the module groups students will conduct some authentic IM research, from formulating a 

research question to preparing a poster explaining their findings. The posters will be displayed 

during a Departmental ‘Research Conference’ open to visitors (including the Head of Department). 

Carrying out the research will inform students about the whole nature of inquiry and about IM as a 

specialism. Students will also build on their existing knowledge of IM, with new concepts through 

reading and presentations. 



Assessments: Individual & group coursework 

INF107 Introduction to Information Research 


Wednesday 10.00 to 11.50 

SPRING 

Tuesday 10.00 to 10.50 

Thursday 11.00 to 11.50 

Aims/Description: This module will enable students to develop their understandings of information 

management, academic research and information literacy. Students conduct a small scale 

collaborative inquiry into an area of Information Management of their choosing supported by a 

series of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. The culmination of the inquiry is the 

production of a group poster for display at the annual Undergraduate Research Poster Conference. 

These activities form the context for students to analyse their information behaviour and work 

toward becoming more information literate. 



Assessments: Individual & group coursework 

Modern Languages 

Knowledge of a modern foreign language is one of the most valuable skills you can have and one 

which will enhance your employability in the future. There are many options on offer in the School 

of Modern Languages to enable you to take up a new language or develop your existing skill; you 

can do this either via the Institution-‐Wide Language Programme offered by the Modern Languages 

Teaching Centre, or in the separate language departments in the School. If you are already an 

experienced linguist, why not take up the challenge of learning a new, exotic language like Russian, 

Czech, Polish, or Dutch? Or, if you are a complete beginner, you have the opportunity to start a 

language like Spanish or Italian from scratch. 

Courses offered are listed below by language: 

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Arabic (offered in the Modern Languages Teaching Centre) 

Arabic is one of the most important world languages and is a fascinating and challenging language to 

learn, whether you are an experienced linguist, or relatively new to language learning. The courses 

on offer run from beginners’ to post GCSE levels and they are aligned to national language levels and 

follow the syllabuses of public examination boards. They are however designed and delivered in a 

manner appropriate for undergraduates. MLTC staff will advise individual students on the most 

appropriate level for them. 

Semester Autumn Spring 

Beginners 1 MLT109 MLT110 

Post-‐Beginners MLT209 MLT210 

Stage 2(post GCSE) MLT227 MLT228 

Timetable hours: to be advised. MLTC modules are normally taught in the early evening and on 

Wednesday/Friday afternoons. 

Czech (offered in Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies) 

The Czech Republic is one of the most important and influential of the Eastern European nations, 

playing an increasingly important role in modern European political life. The Czech language is the 

key to a fascinating society which has been at the forefront of European culture for many centuries. 

RUS121 Czech Language and Culture for Beginners 1 


Restrictions: Cannot be taken with RUS307H, RUS307I, RUS125 

Description: This module provides an introduction to contemporary standard Czech, as well as to the 

history and culture of the Czech lands. Students learn the Czech sound system and alphabet, and 

acquire basic reading, writing, listening and conversation skills. The course focuses on the most basic 

grammar and vocabulary of the language, and gives a firm grounding for the study of Czech at more 

advanced levels. There is also a course of student-‐led seminars on the early history and culture of 

the Czech lands, delivered in English.. 

Staff Contact: Ms L Hanna, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Tutorials 

Time commitment: 4 hours/week 

RUS122 Czech Language and Culture for Beginners 2 


Restrictions: Cannot be taken with RUS308H, RUS308I,RUS126 

Pre-‐Requisites: RUS121. 

Description: This module continues an introduction to contemporary standard Czech. Carrying on 

from RUS121, students learn reading, writing, listening and conversation skills, master the basic 

grammar and vocabulary of the language, and gain a firm grounding for the study of Czech at more 

15

advanced levels. Special attention is paid to reading and writing skills. There is also a course of 

student-‐led seminars on the modern history and culture of the Czech lands, delivered in English. 

Staff Contact: Ms L Hanna, Russian and Slavonic Studies 



Dutch (offered in the Department of Germanic Studies) 

Although the Netherlands is one of the most important nations in modern Europe, not many people 

learn to speak Dutch as a foreign language. Those who do gain an extra advantage in the European 

labour market, as well as discovering the riches of Dutch life and culture. 

GER107 Dutch for Beginners 1 


Prerequisite qualification: A-‐Level in a Modern Language 

Description: Students who already speak German or another Modern Language will discover that 

Dutch is a language that you can pick up quickly. If you approach it with enthusiasm and a bit of a 

work ethic, you will find that you can reach a high level of competence in a relatively short time. You 

do not need previous knowledge of Dutch to take this course. All classes are informal and fun. 

The core material for the course is Taal Vitaal, which will be provided during the first class. The total 

cost will be about £30-‐35. Most people find having a bilingual dictionary helpful. 

Teaching Hours: The module is taught in 4 sessions per week: one lecture and 3 language classes per 

week. The Dutch Studies Lecture takes place Mondays 10-‐11. There will be will various language 

hours for you to choose from to fit in with your timetable. 

GER108 Dutch for Beginners 2 


Prerequisite qualification: GER107 

A-‐Level in a Modern Language 

Description: This module continues to develop the language skills developed in semester 1 

Teaching Hours: The module is taught in 4 sessions per week: one lecture and 3 language classes per 

week. The Dutch Studies Lecture takes place Mondays 10-‐11. There will be will various language 

hours for you to choose from to fit in with your timetable. 

French (offered in the Modern Languages Teaching Centre) 

Whether you are a complete beginner, took French at GCSE, or have an AS/A-‐level, you can build up 

your skill in French, which is still one of the most important of European languages for speakers of 

English to learn. The table below shows the modules on offer: MLTC staff will advise students on 

the most appropriate level for them. Basic and Intermediate language courses (stages 1, 2 and 

Consolidation) are aligned to national language levels and follow the syllabuses of public 

16

examination boards. They are however designed and delivered in a manner appropriate for 

undergraduates. The content of post A2 courses (Stages 3 -‐5) is based on contemporary issues in 

Target Language cultures, and language and grammar are developed to a more advanced level. 


Stage 1( Beginners) MLT101 MLT102 

Stage 2 (Post GCSE) MLT201 MLT202 

Consolidation (Post AS Level) MLT 225 MLT 226 

Stage 3 (Post A2 Level) MLT260 MLT261 



German (offered in the Germanic Studies Department and the Modern 

Languages Teaching Centre) 

As the numbers of English speakers learning German continue to decline, the advantages for those 

who do develop competence in this language, even if it is only to a relatively simple level, are 

significant: the German economy remains one of the strongest in Europe and there are good job 

opportunities in German companies. 

If you have studied German at A-‐level, and have achieved at least a grade B, you can take a German 

course in the Department of Germanic Studies 

GER103 Grundsprachkurs 


Prerequisite qualification: A-‐Level German (Grade B) or equivalent 

Description: This module (linked with GER104) will extend your written and spoken command of the 

German language in two ways. First, you will revise and improve the knowledge of German grammar 

which you gained at A-‐level and practise this in essay-‐writing; second, you will deal with topical 

issues in Germany and Austria, using newspapers, audio and video material, which will be discussed 

in German. We will be using the coursebook Em Hauptkurs, which you are expected to buy. 

Teaching Hours: The module is taught in 2 sessions per week. There will be various language groups 

for you to choose from to fit in with your timetable 

GER104 Aufbausprachkurs 



A-‐Level German (Grade B) or equivalent 

Description: This module (linked with GER104) will extend your written and spoken command of the 

German language in two ways. First, you will revise and improve the knowledge of German grammar 

which you gained at A-‐level and practise this in essay-‐writing; second, you will deal with topical 

17

issues in Germany and Austria, using newspapers, audio and video material, which will be discussed 

in German. We will be using the coursebook Em Hauptkurs, which you are expected to buy. 

Teaching Hours: The module is taught in 2 sessions per week. There will be various language groups 

for you to choose from to fit in with your timetable 

GER114 Deutschland Erlesen: Texte lesen und verstehen 

20 Credits ACADEMIC YEAR 


Description: Would you like to improve your German language skills and find out more about the 

German culture of today? In this module, we will look at contemporary texts from a variety of genres 

and topics, including short stories, poems and magazine articles. The aims are to find out about 

German identity and culture, but we will also examine selected grammatical features of the 

language. The module will be portfolio assessed, which gives you the chance to focus on your 

personal interests in greater detail. 

NB This module is taught in German. 

Teaching hours: The module is taught in 1 session per week (Thursday 13.00) in both semesters. 

If you have GCSE in German, or if you are a beginner, you can take German courses with the Modern 

Languages Teaching Centre. The table below shows the modules on offer: MLTC staff will advise 

students on the most appropriate level for them. Basic and Intermediate language courses (stages 1 

and 2) are aligned to national language levels and follow the syllabuses of public examination 

boards. They are however designed and delivered in a manner appropriate for undergraduates. The 

content of post A2 courses (Stages 3 -‐5) is based on contemporary issues in Target Language 

cultures, and language and grammar are developed to a more advanced level. 







Italian (offered by the Modern Languages Teaching Centre) 

If you have already studied a Romance language, such as French or Spanish, you will find you can 

quickly develop your skills in Italian; Italian is also a good choice of language for the complete 

beginner. The table below shows the modules on offer: MLTC staff will advise students on the most 

appropriate level for them. Basic and Intermediate language courses (stages 1 and 2) are aligned to 

national language levels and follow the syllabuses of public examination boards. They are however 

designed and delivered in a manner appropriate for undergraduates. The content of post A2 courses 

18

(Stages 3 -‐5) is based on contemporary issues in Target Language cultures, and language and 

grammar are developed to a more advanced level. 







Latin (offered by the Modern Languages Teaching Centre) 

As the foundation for many Western European languages, including Modern English, Latin is a 

fascinating and useful language to study. It is a also good introduction to linguistic features such as 

case which occur in other, more tricky modern foreign languages. The table below shows the 

modules on offer; these are aligned to national language levels and follow the syllabuses of public 


undergraduates. MLTC staff will advise individual students on the most appropriate level for them. 


Beginners 1 

MLT116A MLT116B 

Post-‐Beginners 

MLT2116 MLT2117 



Russian (offered by the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies) 

With the growing influence of Russia in world politics, business and sport, a knowledge of Russian is 

an increasingly desirable attribute for university graduates. Not only this, but meeting the challenge 

of learning a new alphabet and complex new language demonstrates key qualities of initiative, 

determination and problem-‐solving, which are also highly marketable. You can take Russian as 

beginner, or post A-‐level. 

RUS103 Russian for Beginners (I) 


Prerequisite qualifications: Some experience of foreign language learning advisable. 

Restrictions: Cannot be taken with RUS105. 

Description: The aim of the module is to provide students with a basic knowledge of Russian 

pronunciation, writing, grammar and vocabulary as used in everyday situations likely to be 

encountered on a visit to Russia. Students learn the Cyrillic alphabet within the first few weeks of the 

19

semester. Classes consist of grammar lessons, drills and oral practice in small groups. Receptive and 

productive skills in written and spoken language are cultivated. 

Staff Contact: Mrs Linda Hanna, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Problem Solving, Lectures 

Time commitment: 5 hours/week (choice of sections available) 

RUS104 Russian for Beginners (II) 


Prerequisite qualifications: RUS103 

Restrictions: Cannot be taken with RUS106 

Description: The module builds on the skills acquired in Russian for Beginners (1) (RUS103) 

increasing the range of vocabulary and grammar understood and the range of situations handled. By 

the end of this module, students should be able to read simple, unedited texts in Russian, converse 

about basic topics encountered in daily life, write a short essay or letter and translate texts. 

Staff Contact: Mrs Linda Hanna, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Problem Solving , Lectures 

Time commitment: 5 hours/week (choice of sections available) 

RUS105 Russian Language I 


Prerequisite qualifications: A-‐level Russian or equivalent. 


Description: To build on the language skills acquired at A-‐level by means of an integrated 

programme of language classes in Russian grammar, translation, comprehension, and oral practice. 

To improve productive and receptive language skills. 

Staff Contact: Ms L Nedialkova, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Seminars, Problem Solving/Example Classes 


RUS106 Russian Language II 


Prerequisite qualifications: RUS105 


Description: To build on the language skills acquired at A-‐level by means of an integrated 

programme of language classes in Russian grammar, translation, comprehension, and oral practice. 

To improve productive and receptive language skills through exposure to texts in Russian. 

Staff Contact: Ms L Nedialkova, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Seminars, Problem Solving/Example Classes 


Polish (offered by the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies) 

A language which offers some of the same linguistic challenges as Russian, although without the 

need to learn a new writing system, Polish is an increasingly valuable language asset with growing 

20

mobility of workers from the newer EU member states. The first-‐year course in Polish assumes no 

previous knowledge of the language. 

RUS123 Polish Language and Culture for Beginners 1 


Restrictions: Cannot be taken with: RUS309H, RUS309I.RUS125 

Description: This module provides an introduction to contemporary standard Polish, as well as to the 

history and culture of Poland. Students learn the Polish sound system and alphabet, and acquire 

basic reading, writing, listening and conversation skills. The module focuses on the most basic 

grammar and vocabulary of the language, and gives a firm grounding for the study of Polish at more 

advanced levels. . There is also a course of student-‐led seminars on early Polish history and culture, 

delivered in English. 

Staff Contact: Ms Anna Socha, Russian and Slavonic Studies 



RUS124 Polish Language and Culture for Beginners 2 


Prerequisite qualification: RUS123 

Restriction: Cannot be taken with RUS310H, RUS310I, RUS126 

Description: This module continues an introduction to contemporary standard Polish. Carrying on 

from the first semester of Polish, students learn reading, writing, listening and conversation skills, 

master the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language, and gain a firm grounding for the study 

of Polish at more advanced levels. Special attention is paid to reading and writing skills. . There is 

also a course of student-‐led seminars on modern Polish history and culture, delivered in English. 

Staff Contact: Ms Anna Socha, Russian and Slavonic Studies 



Spanish (offered by the Modern Languages Teaching Centre) 

Whether you are a complete beginner, took Spanish at GCSE, or have an AS/A-‐level, you can build up 

your skill in Spanish, which is still one of the most important of European languages for speakers of 

English to learn. The table below shows the modules on offer: MLTC staff will advise students on 

the most appropriate level for them. Basic and Intermediate language courses (stages 1, 2 and 

Consolidation) are aligned to national language levels and follow the syllabuses of public 


undergraduates. The content of post A2 courses (Stages 3 -‐5) is based on contemporary issues in 

Target Language cultures, and language and grammar are developed to a more advanced level. 




Consolidation (Post AS Level) MLT215 MLT 216 

21




Cultural, social and other studies 

The School of Modern Languages also offers courses across a range of cultural and social topics 

linked to the different countries and cultures of Europe. These would be of interest to those who 

have a general interest in European society, or who are studying the culture, film or literature of 

other European countries. Although these courses are usually taught in English, there are instances 

where the teaching is in the target language. 

GER105 German Studies 1 Deutschland 1789 bis heute: 



Description: The history lectures and the tutorials associated with them introduce you to the 

development of modern Germany over the last two centuries. and will cover: Deutschland nach 

1789; das Kaiserreich; der Erste Weltkrieg; die Weimarer Republik; der Nationalsozialismus; 

Deutschland von 1945 bis heute. 

Teaching hours: The history lecture will take place every Thursday: 12-‐1pm. This is supplemented 

by one small-‐group tutorial. There will be several small tutorial hours on offer for you to choose 

from to fit your timetable. 

NB LECTURES ARE GIVEN IN GERMAN 

GER106 German Studies 2 Texts and Contexts: 



The Texts and Contexts lectures and the tutorials offer an introduction to a selection of major 

literary texts and the critical issues raised by them. 

Teaching hours: The lectures take place every Monday: 12-‐1 pm. They are supplemented by one 

small-‐group tutorial. There will be several small tutorial hours on offer for you to choose from to fit 

your timetable. 

MDL103 Introduction to European Cinema 

20 Credits ACADEMIC YEAR 


Description: An overview of the theory and practice of Cinema in European languages other than 

English from its origins to the present day. The module will provide an introduction to film analysis 

and a general introduction to cinematic technique and history from early silent cinema to 

contemporary film. Attention will be given to technical developments, questions of genre and 

22

artistic movements, and the relationship between cinema and socio-‐political developments. Topics 

will include the Russian avant-‐garde, German expressionism, the French New Wave and Latin 

American Cinema. 

Staff Contact: Sandra Henry 

Teaching Methods: Seminars, Independent Study, 

MLT 120 Intercultural Awareness with a Language 



Description: This module offers the chance to acquire an understanding of how to work with and 

alongside other cultures, a skill increasingly sought by employers. Learners can choose either 

Beginners’ Italian, Beginners’ Spanish or Post GCSE French for the language content. The majority of 

this module will be delivered online. Students will be required to complete a weekly set of language 

tasks and attend 4 evening classes. There will also be delivery online of a series of seminars and tasks 

raising intercultural awareness, including the development of the attitudes and skills underpinning 

the intercultural competence necessary to operate successfully in a different culture. 

RUS110 Russian Society in the Twentieth Century 



Description: To provide an introduction to the history and institutions of what was the Soviet Union 

and to show how factors inherent in that history contributed to the collapse of Soviet power and to 

the emergence of contemporary, post-‐Soviet Russia. The course is aimed at non-‐specialists, and no 

previous knowledge of Russian history or politics is required. There is no Russian language content. 

Topics studied will include the revolution of 1917; cultural reponses to revolution; ideology; the 

nature of Soviet government and the role of the Communist Party; the economy; foreign policy; 

Stalinism and de-‐Stalinisation; the Khrushchev reforms; Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet 

Union; Post-‐Soviet Russia. 

Staff Contact: Professor C Brandist, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Seminars 


RUS120 Introduction to Russian Culture 



Description: This module provides an introduction to major trends in Russian culture of the 

nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As well as a number of literary texts by major authors, the 

module covers film, the visual arts and the media; the relationship between popular culture and elite 

culture is also considered. No knowledge of Russian is required. 

Staff Contact: Professor Craig Brandist, Russian and Slavonic Studies 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Seminars, Tutorials, Problem Solving/Example Classes 


23

RUS125 History of East-‐Central Europe I 


Restrictions: Cannot be taken with RUS121, RUS123. 

Co-‐Requisites: RUS126 must also be taken 

Aims/Description: This module examines the history and culture of Central Europe up to the early 

modern period, especially with relation to the Czech lands and Poland, through a series of lectures, 

student-‐directed seminars and presentations. 

Staff Contact: Mr Ludek Knittl, Russian and Slavonic Studies 


Time commitment: 1-‐2 hours/week (choice of sections) 

RUS126 History of East-‐Central Europe II 


Prerequisite qualification: RUS125 

Restriction: Cannot be taken with RUS122, RUS124 

Aims/Description: This module examines the history and culture of Central Europe, especially with 

relation to the Czech lands and Poland in the modern period, through a series of lectures, student-‐ 

directed seminars and presentations. 

Staff Contact: Mr Ludek Knittl, Russian and Slavonic Studies 


Philosophy 

Philosophy addresses many of the fundamental questions that confront us as human beings. It is 

also concerned with how we think, reason and present arguments. The study of philosophy develops 

the ability to think critically and present a sound argument, and it is therefore of relevance to those 

studying any other subject in the Arts and Humanities. There are nine modules on offer, none of 

which have any prerequisite qualifications. 

PHI107 Philosophy of Religion 



Description: There are two large questions typically considered by philosophers of religion. First, is 

there any good reason to believe that God exists? Second, are there reasons to think that the 

concept of God makes no sense? In this course we consider both questions. For the first question 

we look at two standard arguments for the existence of God: the Argument from Design and the 

First Cause Argument. As regards the second question, we consider the Problem of Evil: whether the 

existence of God, as generally conceived, is consistent with the existence of evil. 

24

Staff Contact: Dr Andrew Howat 

Lectures: Friday 11.10-‐12.00 

Tutorials: By arrangement 

PHI115 Reason and Argument 



Description: This module aims to develop the student's ability to analyse, criticise and construct 

arguments -‐ chains of reasoning in which reasons are offered for conclusions. These are skills which 

are essential to philosphy, and to all other academic subjects and everyday life. The student will 

learn how to identify arguments and how to spot various good and bad ways of reasoning. These 

abilities will be instilled using the examination of a wide range of particular examples, and students 

will be given the chance to consider and discuss such instances of argumentation both in the 

lectures themselves and in supplementary tutorials. 

Staff Contact: Professor Jennifer Saul 

Lectures: Tuesday 3.10-‐4.00 


PHI124 Space and Time 



Description: This module will cover some introductory philosophical problems concerning space and 

time. We will start by looking at the ancient paradoxes about motion due to Zeno of Elea. We will 

then consider questions about the structure of space and time (are they continuous or atomistic? 

must time have a beginning?); the relations between space, time and change (does time require 

change?); and our access to different regions of time (can we have knowledge of the future? could 

we travel into the past?). 

Staff contact: Dr Stephen Makin 

Lectures: Tuesday 10-‐10.50 


PHI125 Matters of Life and Death 



Description: What is so bad about death? Is life always as good? Is it always wrong for someone to 

take their own life? Would it be wrong to help someone to die painlessly who was already dying of a 

painful illness? Is abortion ever, or always, morally permissible? Do animals have rights which we 

25

infringe by killing them or making them suffer? What, if anything, do we owe to the starving of the 

world? This course is designed to encourage students to think carefully and constructively about 

range of life-‐and-‐death moral dilemmas, developing skills of analysis and critical reasoning. Topics 

discussed will include: death; suicide; euthanasia; abortion; animals; and famine relief. Arguments 

for and against various positions on these questions will be looked at; and some use will be made of 

moral theory to illuminate the issues. 

Staff Contact: Dr Chris Bennett 

Lectures: Thursday 10-‐10.50, Friday 12.10-‐1.00 


PHI126 Mind, Brain and Personal Identity 



Description: What makes me the person that I am? Am I a non-‐physical soul attached, somehow, to 

a physical body? Or am I identical with that body, or with one of its parts, such as the brain? Is it 

possible for me to survive death—either disembodied, resurrected, or reincarnated into a new 

body? What makes me, now, the same person as I was when I was a young child? Or am I perhaps 

not really the same person at all? What is it to be a person? Are there traits, qualities, or capacities 

that are distinctively human—perhaps, for example, our use of language, or culture and cultural 

artifacts, or our rationality, or our capacity for self-‐consciousness? This course will examine these 

issues and some historical and contemporary attempts to understand them. 

Staff contact: Professor Stephen Laurence 


Assessments: Formal Examination, Coursework 

PHI128 Philosophy of Art and Literature 



Description: What is art? Can it be defined at all? What do we find so valuable about it? Are 

judgments of beauty entirely subjective, or might there be an objective standard to which we can 

appeal? What are we doing when we ascribe emotional states (like sadness) to music? Why do we 

have emotional reactions to characters and events that we know are fictional? In particular, why 

would we go out of our way to have a negative emotional reaction, like pity or fear? This course is 

an introduction to aesthetics. Drawing on both historical and contemporary sources, we examine, 

from a philosophical point of view, a variety of puzzles posed by art and literature. Further topics 

include the nature of pictorial representation, forgery, tragedy, comedy, and horror. Though 

focused on art, many topics of general philosophical relevance will be raised, and the course will 

develop students' capacities for careful analysis and reasoned argument. 

Staff Contact: Professor Robert Hopkins 

Lectures: Thursday 5.10-‐6, Friday 11.10-‐12 


26

PHI103 Self and Society 



Description: This course introduces students to central questions in political philosophy: Do we need 

a state, and if so, must we obey its laws? What is freedom, and when are we free? Is equality a 

moral value, and if so, what are its implications for how governments ought to act? Should states be 

organized democratically? The course encourages students to think carefully and clearly about the 

relationship they have, qua citizen, to each other and the state, and to develop their analytical and 

critical skills in the process. Readings will include influential historical and contemporary discussions 

of the state, freedom, justice and democracy. 

Staff Contact: Dr Daniel Viehoff 

Lectures: Tuesday 4.10-‐5, Wednesday 12.10-‐1 


PHI116 Elementary Logic 



Description: The course will provide students with a theoretical knowledge of the fundamental parts 

of formal logic. It will also teach them a range of associated formal techniques with which they can 

then analyse and assess arguments. In particular, they will learn the languages of propositional and 

first-‐order logic, and they will learn how to use those languages in providing formal representations 

of everyday claims. They will also learn how to use truth-‐tables. Finally, students will learn how to 

prove things using that language. 

Staff Contact: Dr Nils Kurbis 

Lectures: Monday 5.10-‐6 


PHI121 Knowledge, Justification and Doubt 



Description: This course is an introduction to epistemology. We will consider: 1) what knowledge is; 

2) what it is for beliefs to be justified or warranted; 3) what knowledge or justified belief we can 

have; and 4) whether we can know anything at all . 

Staff Contact: Dr Paul Faulkner 

Lectures: Thursday 3-‐4 


27

Sociological Studies 

Some of the most important issues of the 21st Century, such as crime, migration, poverty, ageing, 

nationalism, religion and world hunger, are the subject matter of Sociology and Social Policy. 

Sociologists try and understand these issues from a theoretical perspective, while Social Policy 

explores how governments deliver welfare to citizens, and examines how modern societies 

understand poverty, human need and equality. 

SCS1001 The Sociological Imagination 


Lectures Monday 15.10 – 16.00 

Aims/Description: This module aims to introduce students to basic sociological concepts, such as 

'the sociological imagination', 'social interaction', 'social identity', 'deviance' and 'globalisation' and 

illustrate how these can be applied to everyday life. Drawing on the work of key thinkers in 

sociology, a range of everyday life situations, such as mobile phone use, shopping and travel will be 

used as exemplary cases 

Staff Contact: Kevin Farnsworth 

SCS1003 Social Divisions in Contemporary Society 


Lectures Monday 10.00 – 10.50 

Aims/Description: The aim of this unit is to explore a key concern of sociology to explain how and 

why material and symbolic rewards are distributed unequally. It will consider the unequal 

distribution of wealth, privilege and power and, in doing so, will question common-‐sense 

understandings of various inequalities in society. It will focus on various social divisions including the 

`big three' of social class, gender and race, as well as sexuality, age, religion and disability. Major 

themes will be explored with a predominantly British-‐ and policy-‐related focus, although global 

divisions and inequalities will also be included for consideration. 


Teaching Methods: Lectures, Independent Study, Drop-‐in surgeries 

Assessments: Formal Exam 

SCS1005 Gender, Sexuality and Society 


Lectures Tuesday 14.10-‐15.00 

Aims/Description: This unit intends to address the following questions regarding gender and 

sexuality and their interaction with society: What do we mean by gender and sexuality? How do we 

do gender and sexuality? How do we see gender and sexuality? How do we control gender and 

sexuality? 




SCS1007 Understanding Crime 


Lectures Monday 15.10 -‐ 16.00 

28

Aims/Description: Crime is a major social problem in virtually all societies. In this module, 

sociological understandings of crime are discussed, often with reference to their implications for 

policy. The module will introduce you to major research about crime in contemporary Britain and 

help you to understand the contribution of sociology to its analysis. This module will be of value to 

anyone thinking about a career in the criminal justice services, journalism, public service, the 

voluntary sector and anyone interested in understanding the significance of crime in contemporary 

British society 




SCS1009 Social Policy and Social Problems 


Lectures Tuesdays 10.00-‐10.50 

Aims/Description: This module introduces students to some of the material and theoretical 

concerns of social policy by addressing the question -‐ "What are social problems and how do 

societies deal with them?". It considers collective responses to social problems in historical and 

contemporary context, and the effects of social change on the design and delivery of welfare policies 

in economically advanced countries. It also explores changes in the ways that policy is made and 

presented, and the problems of funding and delivering welfare services in the twenty-‐first century. 




SCS1011 Classical Sociological Theory 


Lectures Thursdays 3.10-‐4.00 

Aims/Description: The aim of this module is to introduce foundational theories in sociology. The 

lectures will describe the ideas of leading theorists Durkheim, Marx, and Weber with reference to 

the social context in which they lived and wrote. Lectures will analyze the primary texts of 

sociological thought with reference to the social contexts in which they emerged. This will include a 

look at the concerns of the first generation of sociological thinkers, their understanding of changes in 

European societies at the time, and the way in which their ideas inform an understanding of issues 

and problems in the contemporary world. 




SCS1013 The Globalisation of Culture: Persistence and Change 


Lectures Tuesdays 12.10-‐13.00 

Aims/Description: This unit will take a social anthropological approach towards understanding the 

concept of culture and the ways in which it informs the organisation and practices of societies 

around the world -‐ specifically in terms of their values and belief systems and traditional practices. 

From this basis, it will go on to not only examine the impact of social change and globalisation on 

29

different cultures, but also highlight the ways in which cultural ways of living continue to persist 

despite globalisation or have become more fundamental to societies as a result of globalisation. 




Town and Regional Planning 

At the heart of planning studies is a concern with the regulation and development of land and its 

implications for the ways in which life is lived. Planning education brings together skills from 

architecture and design, economics, geography, politics, environmental studies, sociology, as well as 

other disciplines. Planning is necessarily engaged with difficult questions about values and the 

principles that should inform approaches to society and space. It encompasses urban design, 

regeneration, property development, transport and mobility, the history of places, and much more. 

It is increasingly framed within the context of sustainable development and an international outlook. 

TRP105 The Environmental Challenge 


Lectures Thursday 1 – 3pm 

Aims/Description: Environmental and ecological challenges are becoming increasingly important in 

socio-‐spatial regulation. This module introduces students to the main concepts and theories that 

underpin environmental policy-‐making with particular reference to the issues and examples at local, 

national and global scales. This module has four main aims: (1) to examine the key environmental 

challenges facing human societies; (2) to explore past, present and possible future responses to 

those challenges; (3) to provide students with a range of conceptual and analytical tools for 

analysing political and regulatory responses to environmental conflict and (4) to provide students 

with knowledge and understanding to assist in confronting environmental challenges. 

Staff Contact: Dr Aidan While 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Seminars, Problem solving, Independent Study 


TRP107 Economics for Spatial Planning 


Lectures Monday 12 – 2pm. 

Aims/Description: This module provides an overview of both theoretical economics and the 

structure of the UK economy. The first part of the module will consider a number of perspectives on 

the way an economy operates. Particular attention will be given to market exchange, as modelled 

by orthodox economic analysis as well as looking at a number of alternative views of economic 

behaviour; for example, institutional economics and socioeconomics. The second part of the 

module will examine key characteristics of the UK economy, including issues such as economic 

cycles, unemployment, land markets and the role of the public and voluntary sectors. Where 

appropriate geographical and social differences in economic opportunities and outcomes will be 

highlighted. 

Staff Contact: Dr Craig Watkins 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Independent Study 


TRP108 Information and Communication Skills for Planners 

30


Teaching hours: Lectures Thursday 12 – 2pm. 

Aims/Description: The skills needed to be able to find, evaluate, summarise and critically evaluate 

information are all vital to success in an undergraduate degree programme, and are also key 

transferable skills. This module will provide training in a wide range of methods for information 

handling and communication. The teaching is largely in workshops, with students expected to take 

more responsibility for their own learning as the module progresses. Lectures provide basic tuition in 

skills, whilst workshops and a range of exercises are used to develop these skills. 

Staff Contact: Dr Paula Meth 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Problem solving, Independent Study 

Assessments: Course work, Library exercise (10%), Plagiarism Skills Quiz (10%) 

TRP109 Data Analysis and Presentation 


Teaching hours: Lectures Monday 9 – 11am (for 4 

specific weeks: 22, 24, 26 and 32), Lecture: Wednesday 

10 – 11am. 

Aims/Description: This module will serve as an introduction to quantitative research methods, with 

a specific focus on data sources, analysis methods and presentation techniques for policy analysis in 

social science. It will expose students to a wide variety of substantive issues surrounding the use of 

data in practice and enhance their understanding of methods used in the real world policy settings. 

Students will access and use a range of different datasets, covering demographics, property, and 

land use. They will be required to demonstrate competence in accessing, analysing and presenting 

such data in order to gain a deeper understanding of key issues. 

Staff Contact: Dr Ed Ferrari 

Teaching Methods: Lectures, Laboratory work, Independent Study, Help Sessions 

Assessment: Formal Exam 

TRP131 The Making of Urban Places 


Teaching hours: Lectures Tuesday 10 – 11 and Weds 9 – 

10am. Seminars chosen from a range of available options: 

Tues 11, 12 and 2pm; Wed 11am, Thurs 2 and 4pm. 

Aims/Description: The module provides an introduction to the history of urbanisation and the 

development of systems of town planning. The first part of the module covers the history of 

urbanisation from the very first settlements to the present day. Though much of this part focuses on 

urban development in Europe, it also covers American urbanisation and the problems of 

urbanisation in the developing world. The second part of the module deals with the emergence of 

measures to regulate urban development from the middle ages to the 20th century. It ends with the 

passing of the 1947 Town & Country Planning Act. 

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