Form C4
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor
1. Course
Code
C67AF
2. Course
Title
Academic Focus on Science 1
3. SCQF 7
4. Credits
Level
6. Course
Olwyn Alexander tbc
Co-ordinator
5. School
School of Management and Languages
7. Delivery:
Location &
Semester
Edin
SBC
Orkney
Dubai
IDL
Collaborative Partner
Approved Learning Partner
Sem…1
Sem…….
Sem………..
Sem……..
Sem….
Name…………………….....Sem..…...
Name …………………………………Sem………..
8. Pre-requisites
SCQF level 6 qualifications as appropriate for undergraduate degree articulation and IELTS level 5.0 or equivalent
9. Linked Courses
(specify if synoptic)
Synoptic: Academic focus on Science 2
Foundation Pathways – Science and Engineering
F17XA Mathematics for Engineering and Scientists 1
B27MW Mechanics and Waves
B17CA Principles of Chemistry
D27MA Mechanics A
D17DE Introduction to Design
C17EB Management in a Global Context
15
10. Excluded Courses
11. Replacement Courses
Code:
12. Degrees for which
this is a core course
Date Of Replacement:
13. The course may be
delivered to:
UG only
PG only
UG & PG
Foundation Pathways – Science and Engineering
14. Available as an Elective?
Yes
No
15. Aims
This course is designed for non-native speakers of English with IELTS 5.0 or equivalent, is levelled at SCQF Level 7 and aims
a. to serve as an adjunct class for the subject specific courses to support students’ access to the subject specific courses and assessment
b. to support students' transition onto year 2 of undergraduate degree courses levelled at SQF level 8
c. to contextualise students' language learning within their degree subjects, bridging the subject specific and language streams, so that students are required to read,
write, listen and speak about aspects of their field
d. to develop students’ understanding of scholarship and the expectations teaching staff have within the university context about critical thinking and independent
learning
e. to reinforce students understanding, knowledge and skills related to (as appropriate):
1. Algebra, Calculus and Probability which equip students to tackle problems in their own subject area (F17XA)
2. the use of fundamental chemistry principles to solve qualitative, structural and numerical problems (B17CA)
3. applying knowledge and understanding of gravitational and electromagnetic phenomena in a wide variety of theoretical and practical problem-solving
contexts. (B27MW)
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f.
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor
4. the basic key processes and principles used in the design of the built environment (D17DE)
5. basic concepts of Newtonian mechanics through statics of rigid bodies and dynamics of the single degree of freedom systems (D27MA)
To assist the development of study skills (including critical evaluation of academic research, problem solving, team/group working, communication, written,
presentation and IT skills) through both formative classroom based work and summative assessment
16. Syllabus
This course is designed for non-native speakers of English
The syllabus will be designed around problem based activities using the subject specific resources from the technical streams as appropriate. The problem based activities
will support students in small groups to engage with the subject specific material, with an emphasis on reinforcing understanding of key concepts and vocabulary, and giving
students the study skills support in order for them to develop independent learning strategies.
The EAP tutors will come from relevant subject specific disciplines, and will have access to the resources and material from the technical streams, as well as the opportunity
to attend relevant lectures.
17. Learning Outcomes (HWU Core Skills: Employability and Professional Career Readiness)
Subject Mastery
Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive
Skills
Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research-Informed Learning)
Students’ skills will be reinforced in the following
areas:
 The development and application of problemsolving skills related to science and engineering
questions
 The ability to analyse, understand, evaluate, and
report on the key principles and theories of their
subject specific courses in Semester 1.
 The capability to reflect on how they have
developed and achieved the learning outcomes of
their subject specific courses.
Students’ skills will be reinforced in the following areas:




The application of theoretical concepts to case studies, and in the solution of
applied problems, linking theory to practice
The ability to critically engage with and evaluate subject specific literature
through secondary research
The ability to extract key information from complex documents and data
The demonstration of summary and synthesis of key literature research in the
appropriate academic fields
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Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor
Personal Abilities
Industrial, Commercial & Professional
Practice
Autonomy, Accountability & Working with
Others
Students gain further opportunities to develop
their personal ability in the following areas:

Students will be given opportunities to (as
appropriate):



Students gain further opportunities to develop their
personal ability in the following areas:

consolidate understanding of
scientific and engineering practice
through case study and practitioner
talks
identify areas of new research and
development in their subject specific
area.
Gain student membership of the
relevant professional body
Students gain further opportunities to
develop their personal ability in the following
areas:
The ability to transfer theoretical and practical
problem-solving skills to a variety of contexts.
The ability to work independently and as part
of a group. Tasks might include tutorial
discussion, debate, group projects.

The ability to communicate and
present ideas effectively by verbal
and written means within discipline
specific conventions
The ability to know how to use a
range of online sources of
knowledge through both library
databases and WWW.
The ability of extract and apply
information from data based
graphical sources
19. Re-assessment Methods
Duration of Exam
Weighting (%)
Synoptic courses?
Method
(if applicable)
Coursework


18. Assessment Methods
Method
Communication, Numeracy & ICT
Duration of Exam
(if applicable)
100
Coursework
20. Date and Version
Date of Proposal
April 2014
Date of Approval by
School Committee
Date of
Implementation
Version
Number
3/3
Diet(s)