Professor Cillian Ryan Dean of Liberal Arts &Sciences · Characteristics of a Liberal Arts &...
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Professor Cillian Ryan Dean of Liberal Arts &Sciences
Transcript of Professor Cillian Ryan Dean of Liberal Arts &Sciences · Characteristics of a Liberal Arts &...
Professor Cillian RyanDean of Liberal Arts &Sciences
Characteristics of a UK UndergraduateDegree
o Subject Knowledgeo Employability & Skillso Character Development
Characteristics of a Liberal Arts &Sciences Degree
What are liberal arts and sciences?
o A general education providing a broad groundingin diverse disciplines, spanning both arts andsciences
o Usually with a “major” in an academic disciplineduring the latter part of the degree
o Focus on gaining academic, communications,and intellectual skills rather than exclusivelyspecialist knowledge
Why study liberal arts and sciences?
o Breadth of education appropriate for a worldwhere most graduates do jobs unrelated to theirdegree course and change careers several times
o Skills gained are those employers most seek:written and oral communications, intellectualability and agility, ability to learn about widerange of topics, teamwork, adaptability
Why liberal arts and sciences atBirmingham?
o One of the largest leading research Universities inthe UK. We are uniquely placed to provide top-ranked students with a fascinating array of options.
o 45 possible majorso a research submission to 49 panels of assessment
in the 2008 RAEo 230 specialist departments and research centres
International Precedents &Developmentso US– Ivy league, Lib Arts Colleges and State
UniversitiesoMelbourne Modelo Singapore/Yaleo Hong Kong Breadth Curriculumo Dutch Colleges (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Maastricht
etc)o Vesalius College/Vrije Universitat Brusselso Honours programmes US & Aus
Key elements
o 4 year degreeoWith Year Abroad (elite scholarship exchanges)o & Internshipo Bespoke degreeo Graduate with a ‘major’ – ensuring Deptho And with exposure to a Breadth of other subjects,
ways of thinking and skillso Leadership mentoring, employability
Year One Example of Psychology Major
40 credits of potential major
60 credits of other interests or otherpotential major
Core liberal Arts and Sciencesinterdisciplinary breadth module
Semester 1: From Big Bang toGeneration Y: The Making of theModern WorldSemester 2: Individual & GroupProject: Addressing the Challenges ofthe Modern World
Year One Example of Psychology Major
40 credits of potential major
Perception and attentionIntroduction to LearningIntroduction to Mental HealthMemory & Language
60 credits of other interests or otherpotential major
Core liberal Arts and Sciencesinterdisciplinary breadth module
Semester 1: From Big Bang toGeneration Y: The Making of theModern WorldSemester 2: Individual & GroupProject: Addressing the Challenges ofthe Modern World
Year One Example of Psychology Major
40 credits of potential major
Perception and attentionIntroduction to LearningIntroduction to Mental HealthMemory & Language
60 credits of other interests or otherpotential major
Politics: Understanding PoliticsPhilosophy: Knowledge & RealitySociology: Sociology of the Self andEveryday Life
Core liberal Arts and Sciencesinterdisciplinary breadth module
Semester 1: From Big Bang toGeneration Y: The Making of theModern WorldSemester 2: Individual & GroupProject: Addressing the Challenges ofthe Modern World
Year One Example of Psychology Major
40 credits of potential major
Perception and attentionIntroduction to LearningIntroduction to Mental HealthMemory & Language
60 credits of other interests or otherpotential major
Politics: Understanding PoliticsPhilosophy: Knowledge & RealitySociology: Sociology of the Self andEveryday Life
Core liberal Arts and Sciencesinterdisciplinary breadth module
Semester 1: From Big Bang toGeneration Y: The Making of theModern WorldSemester 2: Individual & GroupProject: Addressing the Challenges ofthe Modern World
Year One Example
40 credits of potential major (maybe up to 60 credits)
60 credits of other interests orother potential major
Core Liberal Arts and SciencesBreadth Module
Year One Example
40 credits of potential major (maybe up to 60 credits)
Introduction to Evolution andAnimal Biology
Cell Biology and Physiology
60 credits of other interests orother potential majorCore breadth module
Core Liberal Arts and SciencesBreadth Module
Year One Example
40 credits of potential major (maybe up to 60 credits)
Introduction to Evolution andAnimal Biology
Cell Biology and Physiology
60 credits of other interests orother potential majorCore breadth module
Modern History c. 1800-2000
Moral & Political Philosophy: TheIndividual & Society
English: Story Telling for Page &Screen
Core Liberal Arts and SciencesBreadth Module
Year One Example
40 credits of potential major (maybe up to 60 credits)
Introduction to Evolution andAnimal Biology
Cell Biology and Physiology
60 credits of other interests orother potential majorCore breadth module
Modern History c. 1800-2000
Moral & Political Philosophy: TheIndividual & Society
English: Story Telling for Page &Screen
Core Liberal Arts and SciencesBreadth Module
The Making of the Modern Worldand its Challenges
Year Two Example
60 credits of potential Major(usually at least 40)
Year Two Example
60 credits of potential Major(usually at least 40)
Core skills for Data Analysis(Biosciences)
Cell Biology
Human Evolution, Adaptation andBehaviour
Year Two Example
60 credits of potential Major(usually at least 40)
Core skills for Data Analysis(Biosciences)
Cell Biology
Human Evolution, Adaptation andBehaviour
40 credits of other interests orother potential major (here Englishbuilds on year 1 breadth module).
Year Two Example
60 credits of potential Major(usually at least 40)
Core skills for Data Analysis(Biosciences)
Cell Biology
Human Evolution, Adaptation andBehaviour
40 credits of other interests or otherpotential major (here English builds on
year 1 breadth module).
English: Texts in History –Literary Aesthetics before 1800
English: Approaches to Literature –Literary Aesthetics after 1800
Year Two Example
60 credits of potential Major(usually at least 40)
Core skills for Data Analysis(Biosciences)
Cell Biology
Human Evolution, Adaptation andBehaviour
40 credits of other interests or otherpotential major (here English builds on
year 1 breadth module).
English: Texts in History –Literary Aesthetics before 1800
English: Approaches to Literature –Literary Aesthetics after 1800
Core liberal Arts and Sciences breadthModule Themed Projects II
Example of Year Abroad Rationale for this example
Example of Year Abroad Rationale for this example
2 x modules on Biology To maintain skills and build furtherexpertise in this area
Example of Year Abroad Rationale for this example
2 x modules on Biology To maintain skills and build furtherexpertise in this area
3 x modules in EnglishLiterature focusing on partnercountry
To expand range and build expertise for apotential major in English
Example of Year Abroad Rationale for this example
2 x modules on Biology To maintain skills and build furtherexpertise in this area
3 x modules in EnglishLiterature focusing on partnercountry
To expand range and build expertise for apotential major in English
1 x module on contemporarypolitics of host country
Opportunity to learn more about hostculture
Final year40 credit dissertation focusing onmajor disciplines (but typically withinterdisciplinary dimensions)
Final year40 credit dissertation focusing onmajor disciplines (but typically withinterdisciplinary dimensions)
The biology of mating: Altruism andpromiscuity in the novels of Jane
Austin
Final year40 credit dissertation focusing onmajor disciplines (but typically withinterdisciplinary dimensions)
The biology of mating: Altruism andpromiscuity in the novels of Jane
Austin
Between 40 and 80 credits ofMajor: In this example Biology
Final year40 credit dissertation focusing onmajor disciplines (but typically withinterdisciplinary dimensions)
The biology of mating: Altruism andpromiscuity in the novels of Jane
Austin
Between 40 and 80 credits of Major:In this example Biology
Integrated Whole-Organism Biology
Applied and Environmental Micro-Biology
Final year40 credit dissertation focusing onmajor disciplines (but typically withinterdisciplinary dimensions)
The biology of mating: Altruism andpromiscuity in the novels of Jane
Austin
Between 40 and 80 credits of Major:In this example Biology
Integrated Whole-Organism Biology
Applied and Environmental Micro-Biology
Up to 40 credits of second major,minor or other options: In this
example English
Final year40 credit dissertation focusing onmajor disciplines (but typically withinterdisciplinary dimensions)
The biology of mating: Altruism andpromiscuity in the novels of Jane
Austin
Between 40 and 80 credits of Major:In this example Biology
Integrated Whole-Organism Biology
Applied and Environmental Micro-Biology
Up to 40 credits of second major,minor or other options: In thisexample English
Literature, Sexuality and the Body
Currents and Concerns in recentPostcolonial Writing
Possible Science Majors include:
oA level or IB HL Required:oBiochemistryoBiologyoChemistryoGeographyoMathematics*oPhysics*
Other Science Majors :You do not need any specific A-level for the following
and AAA+ students will typically be allowed to majorin these areas but some mathematics or science isdesirable:
oComputer scienceoEarth SciencesoPsychologyoSport and Exercise Science
Arts & Humanities Majors
oAfrican StudiesAmerican & Canadian StudiesAnthropologyArchaeology & Ancient HistoryClassical Literature & CivilisationDramaEnglish Language/English Literature
More Arts & Humanities
oEuropean StudiesFrench*GeographyGerman*Hispanic StudiesHistoryHistory of Art
oItalianMathematicsMusic*PhilosophyPortugueseRussianTheology
Social Sciences majors
oBusinessEconomicsEducationEuropean StudiesFinanceLaw
oInternationalRelationsPolitical SciencePolitical EconomyPublic PolicySocial PolicySociology
BA/BSc Liberal Arts & SciencesProfessor Cillian Ryan, Dean of Liberal Arts &Sciences
Professor Cillian RyanDean of Liberal Arts &Sciences
