PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Slovak (with Czech) and East European Studies
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
BA (Hons)
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
R787
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
Intakes from 2008
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Arts and Humanities
Parent Department:
School of Slavonic and East European Studies
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/degrees/slovak-czech-east-europeanstudies-ba
Length of the programme:
Four years full-time. All students spend the third year abroad in the
country or countries where their language(s) is/are spoken on an
approved course of study or an approved work placement (which
may be in teaching or another approved placement).
Advanced Level (Level 6)
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Language, Culture & Societies
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-LanguagesCultures-and-Societies-15.pdf
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/prospectivestudents/undergraduate/slovak-czech-east-european-studies-ba
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Languages and Culture Board of Examiners
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):



N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
to develop the student's interest in—and knowledge and understanding of—the language, literature, and
culture of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with the option of studying its history, politics, and economics,
in a multidisciplinary framework that allows both range of study and specialisation in one or more of these
discipline areas
to promote an understanding of cultural differences and to offer society the resource of intellectually trained
individuals capable of acting as bridges of understanding and conduits of knowledge between EastEuropean and British cultures
to enable students to enter employment in a wide range of contexts and to undertake more advanced
academic work, and to become life-long learners with an appreciation of the value to society of the
language, critical and other skills provided by an education in the humanities and social sciences
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1 the Slovak and Czech languagea
(spoken and written);
2 the literature, past and present, of
the society using the language;
3 The history, culture, society, politics,
and economics of people(s) using the
language, according to specialization;
4 The structure of the language;
5 The position of 2, 3, and 4 above in a
wider European and world context;
6 Key methods of analysis and
concepts of discipline(s) of
specialization.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 is through classes, tutorials and
regular coursework, with emphasis on group
discussions; additional support is provided through
the self-access facilities for language learning in the
SSEES Language Unit and the UCL Language
Centre. The year spent abroad provides total
immersion in the target language and culture.
Acquisition of 2-5 is through a combination of
lectures, classes and tutorials; the basic knowledge of
6 is initially provided through a series of
lectures/classes in Year 1, and subsequently
developed through small-group teaching and tutorials
in later years. Throughout, students are encouraged
to undertake independent reading both to supplement
and consolidate what is being taught and learnt and
to broaden their individual knowledge and
understanding of the subject.
Assessment:
Skills (1) and (2) are primarily assessed through the
study abroad project and the free-standing
dissertation which many students will opt to write in
year four. Language skills (3) are evaluated
throughout by orals and aurals, coursework and
unseen written examination.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1 reason critically;
2 understand and apply linguistic,
literary and cultural concepts, and
understand and apply concepts relating
to the discipline(s) of specialisation;
3 identify and solve problems;
4 analyse and interpret;
5 demonstrate and exercise
independence of mind and thought.
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching
and learning programme outlined above. Each
course, whatever the format of the teaching, involves
discussion of key issues, practice in applying
concepts both orally and in writing, analysis and
interpretation of material, and individual feedback
sessions for students on work produced.
Assessment:
The assessment methods employed all place great
emphasis (as shown in their assessment criteria) on
students' ability to demonstrate skills 1-5 through the
production of coherent written and oral responses
either to problems or tasks set. Additionally, skill 2 is
assessed in unseen written examinations in these
areas. The Year-Abroad essays allow further scope
for assessment in this domain. Although not a course
requirement, many students will also produce a finalyear extended essay, which provides a perfect
vehicle for the demonstration of these skills, and
those who do not will demonstrate them all severally if
not collectively.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1 mine, glean and evaluate information
from a variety of sources;
2 plan, execute and report
bibliographically-based research;
3 understand, speak, write and read an
Slovak and Czech at high levels of
proficiency;
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All learners receive initial guidance on how to locate,
evaluate and use material available in libraries and
elsewhere, including the internet. Bibliographies are
provided for each course at the outset, as are
guidelines for the production of coursework essays
and extended essays. Classes and tutorials are
given on the theory and practice of translation.
Throughout their studies, students take classes in
Slovak and Czech, and much of the assigned reading
is in the language of their degree. The Year Abroad
further promotes the active learning of the language
to a high level.
Assessment:
Skills (1) and (2) are primarily assessed through the
study abroad project and the free-standing
dissertation which many students will opt to write in
year four. Language skills (3) are evaluated
throughout by orals and aurals, coursework and
unseen written examination.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1 structure and communicate ideas
effectively both orally and in writing;
2 manage time and work to deadlines;
3 participate constructively in groups;
4 work independently;
5 find information and use information
technology;
6 be self-reliant;
7 assess the relevance and importance
of the ideas of others;
8 mediate across cultures.
All courses require regular written work, usually in the
form of essays, and regular feedback on this is given
to students to develop not only their understanding
but also their powers of expression (skill 1). Skill 2 is
learnt (rather than taught) through the management of
time to meet the various and sometimes coinciding
deadlines (all announced at the outset of each
course) for submission of coursework. Skills 3, 7 and
8 are developed in classes, seminars and tutorials,
which rely on discussion and interaction, as well as
presentations given by individuals or groups of
students. Skills 4 and 6 are particularly developed
during the Year Abroad, for which learners are
prepared in advance. IT skills are largely developed
through individual learning.
Assessment:
Effective communication of ideas is an important
criterion in assessing all areas of a learner's work,
and the regular feedback as well as the final mark
reflect this. Skills 4, 6 and 7 are assessed by both the
coursework and year-abroad and extended essays
produced, which, although supervised, are
nevertheless the results of independent thought and
work/research by the learner. Skill 5 is assessed
through the assembly of necessary information for
essays, etc., and their production on PCs. Skills 2
and 3 are not formally assessed, but along with skills
4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 they contribute, directly or indirectly, to
performance in all forms of assessment, including
written examinations.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Name(s):
Dr Tim Beasley-Murray
Date of Production:
June 2008
Date of Review:
Date approved by Head of
Department:
2 September 2015
Jan Kubik, 23 September 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
Anne White, 14 September 2015