Senate
Subject: Report
of Curriculum Sub-Committee – New Programme Proposals/ Strategic
Changes/Other Matters requiring Senate approval
Origin Unconfirmed
Minutes of the Meeting of Curriculum Sub-Committee on
10 May 2007
At its meeting on 7 June 2007 Learning and Teaching Committee recommended to Senate that approval be given to the following proposals. Details are available from the Secretary.
1. MA English: New Programme Proposals
.1 The Sub-Committee
considered proposals from English and Drama for a new full-time/part-time
programme with effect from October 2007. The proposals for a general MA in
English were considered to be well motivated. It was noted, however, that with
the 2 compulsory modules and all optional modules shared with other programmes
in the department, the difference between this and other English MA programmes
in the department was minimal. Whilst there were no specific rules on minimum
levels of difference in programme content that justified the award of different
titles, the crucial principle being that the title of the degree awarded should
accurately reflect the content of the programme of studies undertaken, the
Sub-Committee felt it to be anomalous if students could take exactly the same
modules but receive different degree titles. At present in the proposed
Programme Regulations the onus had been placed on the student to select a set
of options which did not match those of one of the specialist programmes. The
Department would need to ensure that should a student select modules
appropriate to one of the specialist titles, then it would be that specialist
title they should receive. It was suggested that the Department consider
bringing together the similar programmes within a suite having one set of
Programme Regulations and Programme Specification (an example to be provided).
.2 It was noted that the
new Curriculum Map submitted with the paperwork was the first that the
Sub-Committee had received and as such served as a trial for the map. The
programme was unusual, having a high weighting of optional modules, but
nevertheless showed a higher than expected indication of where programme
outcomes were developed and assessed and suggested possible over-assessment of
ILOs. The Sub-Committee was not convinced that the Department had looked
sufficiently closely at how ILOs would be met.
.3 In regard to the
Curriculum Map generally, the Sub-Committee agreed that the list of modules
should be subdivided between core and optional modules, to help identify that
all outcomes not met by core modules were met by optional modules. Module
weight should also in future be identified on the form. In cases where outcomes
were not met by core modules, there should be a statement in the Content
section of Programme Regulations that the selection of module options must
ensure that each programme ILO was delivered by at least 2 modules, which would
help in the achievement of all ILOs in the event of module failure. However, it
was acknowledged as implicit in the system that all ILOs should be studied but
not necessarily successfully. The proposed statement would gradually be
inserted into Programme Regulations as Curriculum Maps for other programmes
were developed. Reference could be made to the Curriculum Map in Programme
Regulations and a copy of the map provided to students.
.4 It was AGREED to
recommend the programme proposals to Learning and Teaching Committee subject to
the following matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T) prior to
the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee:
Programme
Regulations
(a) Para 2.1(i): Compulsory modules should
total 80.
(b) Para 2.1(ii): To be
revised so that the onus was on the Programme Director rather than the student
to ensure a combination of optional modules not equivalent to those on a
specialist programme.
(c) Para 3.2:To be deleted.
Programme
Specification
(d)
(e)
(f) Para 4(ii); To be revised in line with
para .1 above.
(g) Differences in Aims and
ILOs between the new programme and the other English MAs to be identified.
Module
Specifications
(h)
All new module
specifications (those listed without numbers in the Programme Regulations) to
be submitted in LUSI format.
(i)
‘Exploring the
Early-Modern Body’: Word count to be provided for written assignments.
(j)
‘Derrida..’:
Seminar attendance cannot be compulsory.
(k)
Assessment should be of
‘contribution’ rather than ‘participation’ in seminars.
(l)
All assessment contributing
to module mark should be summative.
Curriculum Map
(m)
To be reviewed to identify
those modules which made a significant contribution to meeting ILOs.
(n)
Table to be subdivided into
core modules and optional modules, grouping the latter in regard to common
outcomes.
(o)
Para 2.1(ii) of Programme
Regulations to include a statement that option choice should ensure that each
programme ILO was delivered by at least 2 modules.
Assessment Matrix
(p)
Revise ‘Assessment of
Participation’ to read ‘Assessment of Contribution’.
Consultation forms
(q)
Completed and signed
consultation forms to be submitted.
2. MA/MSc Information and Library
Management: Major Programme Changes
.1 The
Sub-Committee considered proposals for significant programme changes with
effect from October 2007 entry. The intention was that existing part-time
students would be offered the opportunity to complete their taught modules from
those on the revised programme. Concern was expressed that such students should
have the option of continuing on the programme in its current form, and that
any migration by such students to the new structure should only be permitted
where all programme ILOs could be met, with each case being formally approved
by the AD(T). Unless the new structure would allow this, the existing structure
would need to exist in parallel until current students had completed.
.2 Concern
was also expressed about the imbalance of modules between semesters, with the
best case scenario being module weightings of 80 undertaken in semester 1 and
55 in semester 2 (with the 45-credit dissertation being undertaken over the
summer). This imbalance would not be of such significance if the programme was
wholly part-time, but the load in semester 1 for full-time students,
particularly international students and students new to the University, was
considered to be unacceptable. The proposer’s response to this matter
when raised by the AD(T) had not provided justification for the imbalance. The
Sub-Committee made suggestions as to how the imbalance might be overcome, such
as the transfer of block-taught module ISP435 to the end of semester 2, which
would be pedagogically justifiable. In view of the comments from the Director
of Media Services concerning pressures on rooms for block-taught modules at
certain times, it was suggested that the proposer approach Media Services to
explore those periods when facilities were most likely to be available.
.3 The
question was raised as to when students actually made the decision to aim for
an MA or MSc award, and whether there was a need to identify individual modules
as leading to the MA or MSc route. It was considered that as the existing
programme had managed to deal with this issue without any apparent problem, it
was not an urgent matter to address. However, it might need to be revisited if
developments in the LUSI system were to allow for the automatic navigation of
students through a programme pathway to their degree award.
.4 It was AGREED to recommend the programme proposals to Learning and
Teaching Committee subject to the following matters being resolved to the
satisfaction of the AD(T) and the Chair
of Curriculum Sub-Committee prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching
Committee:
(a)
Evidence that programme ILOs
for existing students could be satisfactorily mapped onto the new structure.
Alternatively, an assurance that the existing structure would run in parallel
with the new structure until existing students had completed.
(b)
An external academic
perspective on the proposal should be sought.
Programme
Regulations
(c)
The programme structure
should be revised to provide a balanced workload between semesters. A 15-credit
imbalance would be acceptable in this case where a student’s choice of
options required it.
Programme Specification
(d)
This should be revised to
conform with the new template structure.
(e)
Module Specifications/Assessment Matrix
(f)
Revisions should be
undertaken to Module Specifications in accordance with the AD(T)’s
annotations.
(g)
ISP431, Assessment para 2:
The origin of the research findings to be clarified.
(h)
ISP436: To include an
element of individual/peer assessment in accordance with the University’s
Policy on Groupworking.
3. Changes to Programme Titles
It
was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee the following
changes to programme titles (effective date shown in brackets):
BSc Sport and Leisure Management to BSc Sport Management (October 2008 entry)
BSc Geography and Sport and Leisure Management to BSc Geography and Sport Management
(October 2008 entry)
MSc Sport and Leisure Management to MSc Sport Management (October 2007 entry)
MSc Chemistry and Information Technology to MSc
Analytical Chemistry and Information Technology (October 2007 entry)
MSc Evidence Based Practice in Occupational Health to Occupational Health (October 2007
entry)
PGCert Mathematics Support for Students with Dyslexia
and Dyscalculia in HE/FE to Mathematics
Support and Dyslexia/Dyscalculia in HE/FE (with immediate effect) (by Chair’s action)
4. Discontinuation of Programmes
It was AGREED to recommend to Learning and Teaching
Committee the discontinuation of the following programmes (proposed date of last intake shown in brackets):
BSc Information Science (October 2007)
MEng Chemical Engineering with Professional
Development (October 2006)
MSc Batch Process Engineering
(October 2006)
MSc Chemical Product Design (October
2006)
MSc Electronic Publishing (October
2006)
MSc Mathematical Processes in the
Environment (October 2007)
MSc Urban Environmental Engineering
(2004/05)
Author
– Jennie Elliott
Date
– June 2007
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