Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme aims to:

• advance students’ understanding of the professional, managerial and technical dimensions of work in the publishing industry;
• equip students with a sufficiently advanced command of the English language to enable them to undertake editorial work professionally in any English-speaking country;
• provide the core skills needed to obtain an entry-level professional position in the publishing industry;
• equip students with an awareness of legal, ethical and professional issues as they relate to the publishing industry;
• promote an understanding of the information needs of individuals and organisations and knowledge of the systems and technologies by which information is handled;
• provide an environment in which students are encouraged to think, read and reason critically, creatively and independently, and to weigh the importance of alternative arguments and perspectives;
• enhance students’ ability to analyse critically different forms of discourse;
• foster the ability to conduct independent research using appropriate methodologies and to present the results appropriately.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Librarianship and Information Management (2007)

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/librarianship07.pdf

• QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for English (2007)  http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/English07.pdf
• Loughborough University, A Strategy for Teaching and Learning in the New Millennium http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/policy/learning_and_teaching/

• Loughborough University Department of Information Science, Learning and Teaching Strategy

https://internal.lboro.ac.uk/sci/ls/dept/L&T%20documents/Learning%20and%20Teaching%20Strategy%20revised%20Feb02.doc

• QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

• design principles and production technologies as applied to printed and electronic publications;
• editorial and marketing roles as applicable to various categories of books and periodical publications;
• financial, human resources and general management principles and methods as applied in the publishing industry;
• the concepts and principles underlying the storage, retrieval and use of information held in both printed and electronic forms;
• the position of the publishing industry within the overall structure of the media industries world-wide;
• the structure and functions of the English language;
• the distinctive characteristics of different literary genres;
• a range and variety of contemporary approaches to literary study;
• the roles of information, information technology and information products in the 21^st century.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

• critically analyse developments in the publishing industry;
• evaluate different information technology applications and their use;
• discuss the principles of management as applied to publishing in a variety of environments and institutional contexts;
• analyse data and synthesise information into value-added formats
• evaluate publishers’ customers’ needs in a variety of contexts and in relation to a range of printed and electronic information products;
• plan metadata and other retrieval tools to be assigned to publications;
• apply critical skills in the close reading and analysis of texts.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

• demonstrate IT competence with a range of computer applications;
• use desktop publishing and computer graphics software;
• design publications (print and electronic) that will be marketable;
• undertake copyediting tasks confidently and with accuracy;
• apply legal and ethical procedures within the publishing industry;
• use financial and other management techniques appropriate to the publishing industry;
• present cogent and persuasive arguments both in oral and written form;
• critically assess the effectiveness and value of a wide range of oral and written communications.

c. Key transferable skills:

• plan and undertake independent research for a project in a defined project area;
• manage a range of information and data and present them effectively in a suitable format;
• communicate effectively the results of their studies and research in writing (reports and essays) and by means of oral presentation;
• work effectively in teams;
• utilise time management skills in planning work;
• use the English language both orally and in writing to present a persuasive argument;
• understand and apply a variety of theoretical and interpretive positions;
• use a variety of IT packages and applications confidently.

4. Programme structure

Candidates must take a total modular weight of 120 in each Part, with a minimum modular weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules.

4.1 Part A 

COMPULSORY MODULE operating across both semesters (weight 20)

Semester 1
COMPULSORY MODULES (weight 40)

OPTIONAL MODULES (weight 10-20)
Modules to total 10 or 20 weight from the following:

Semester 2
COMPULSORY MODULES (weight 40)

OPTIONAL MODULES (weight 10-20)

Modules to give a total for the year of 120 credit weight from the following:

 4.2 Part B

COMPULSORY MODULES

Modules operating across both semesters (weight 40)

Students must also take ONE of the following:

Semester One:

Semester Two:

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1.1 In order to progress from Part A to Part B, candidates must satisfy the minimum requirements as set out in Regulation XX, and also obtain at least 30% in all modules.
5.1.2 In order to progress from Part B to Part C, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX including a minimum of 20 credits from modules coded EA, and also obtain at least 30% in all modules.
5.1.3 To be eligible for the award of the Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX and also obtain a minimum of 30% in all modules.

5.2 Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for eligible candidates in any part of the programme to undergo re-assessment within the University’s special assessment period, except where fewer than 60 credits have been achieved.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates’ final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C, in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX. The average mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B: 40%, Part C: 60% to determine the Programme Mark.