Department of Philosophy, Birkbeck, University of London
MA Seminar System, September 2014
1. OUR SEMINAR SYSTEM
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Weekly one-hour seminars stand alongside lectures for each module;
usually taking place immediately afterwards;
Based on set reading and questions from relevant module Course
Description;
Each seminar is lead normally led by the member of academic staff giving
the preceding lecture;
For some highly specialized modules, the seminars may include a mix of
MA and Level 6 BA students.
2. THE AIMS & FORMAT OF THE SEMINAR SYSTEM
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The overall aim of the seminars is to enable students to discuss some
topic from the module syllabus, thus complementing the material
presented in the lectures. Hence, the seminar is not a continuation of the
lecture by other means.
Seminars aim to: i) foster a co-operative environment for discussion; ii)
encourage the focused and critical exploration of relevant ideas; iii)
encourage participation by all members of the group; iv) ensure that the
material assigned is adequately covered.
Students are expected to attend each seminar, and to prepare for the
seminar by attending the relevant lecture and reading the relevant
materials.
The precise format of the seminar may vary from module to module, and
from week to week. Some seminars may include student presentations.
Other seminars may include in-class group work. The Department does
not prescribe a precise format for the seminars; although it is important
to remember that the seminar is an interactive forum, and not just a
continuation of the lecture by other means.
HL September 2014