LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Programme Specification
PUBLISHING WITH ENGLISH
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 full advantage is taken of the learning
opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be
found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/
The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and
may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Awarding body/institution:
Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different):
Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body:
Name of the final award:
Programme title:
BA (Honours); also Diploma in Professional
Studies if the four-year version is taken
Publishing with English
UCAS code:
P4Q3 (3-year); P4QH (4-year)
Date at which the programme
specification was written or revised:
March 2010
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 Englishspeaking 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;
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2.
Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal
reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
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3.
foster the ability to conduct independent research using appropriate
methodologies and to present the results appropriately.
QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Librarianship and Information
Management (2007)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/librarians
hip07.pdf
QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for English (2007)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/English0
7.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%2
0Teaching%20Strategy%20revised%20Feb02.doc
QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
Programme Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
This is a three or four year programme, depending upon whether students opt to
complete a DPS year in industry. It is taught by the Departments of Information
Science and of English and Drama. The programme covers a range of information
and publishing related topics and a range of literary genres and periods of history.
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
 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
21st century.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:
The programme content is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops,
guided independent reading, practical computer laboratory classes and individual
supervision. Students are required to work individually and also in independent small
groups.
Theoretical knowledge and critical ability are tested and developed in a range of core
and optional modules throughout the degree programme, and assessed by a variety
of coursework assignments (essays and reports); examinations; an individual
research project; oral presentations; and, depending on options chosen, computerbased practical assignments. The final-year project tests each student’s ability to
bring the various skills and knowledge together into a comprehensive investigation of
a specialised topic of the student’s own choosing. An appreciation of professional
roles in the publishing industry is introduced, developed and assessed in core
modules.
Group work and oral presentations are an integral part of assessment; team working
is an important skill for careers in the publishing industry, and a number of modules
require students to work in small groups on well-structured assignments; oral
presentation skills are assessed in both individual and group work across modules
from both departments.
Skills and other attributes
Subject-specific cognitive skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
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critically analyse developments in the publishing industry;
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evaluate different information technology applications and their use;
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discuss the principles of management as applied to publishing in a variety of
environments and institutional contexts;
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analyse data and synthesise information into value-added formats;
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evaluate publishers’ customers’ needs in a variety of contexts and in relation
to a range of printed and electronic information products;
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plan metadata and other retrieval tools to be assigned to publications;
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apply critical skills in the close reading and analysis of texts.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated
Discussion and understanding of principles, developments and concepts is
stimulated through lectures, small group teaching in tutorials and seminars and
guided independent reading which is often further explored in a classroom setting.
Workshops and laboratory-based sessions are used to demonstrate key concepts
and theories.
Cognitive skills such as analytical ability, argument and reasoning are assessed
through coursework and examinations. Examinations enable students to
demonstrate their mastery of subject knowledge and their ability to apply that to a
particular problem or question under time constraints. Coursework assignments
such as essays and reports allow students to explore a topic in depth and apply the
full range of cognitive skills. Students in their final year are also required to
demonstrate their ability by undertaking an extended piece of independent research.
Subject-specific practical skills
On completion of the programme, students should be able to:
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demonstrate IT competence with a range of computer applications;
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use desktop publishing and computer graphics software;
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design publications (print and electronic) that will be marketable;
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undertake copyediting tasks confidently and with accuracy;
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apply legal and ethical procedures within the publishing industry;
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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.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated
Practical skills, including the use of specialised software for publishing, copy-editing
and financial management, are promoted through practical work in laboratory-based
classes, small group teaching and workshops. Students are taught research skills in
a specific module, and particularly by means of the individual supervision for their
final year project.
Assessment of practical skills is primarily through coursework assignments and
classroom tests, with some assessment of practical knowledge in examinations.
Theoretical knowledge and critical ability are developed and tested in a range of core
and optional modules throughout the degree programme and assessed by means of
a variety of coursework assignments including essays, presentations and reports, as
well as by examination. Group work and oral presentations are an integral part of
assessment in all three years.
Generic skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
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plan and undertake independent research for a project in a defined project
area;
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manage a range of information and data and present them effectively in a
suitable format;
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communicate effectively the results of their studies and research in writing
(reports and essays) and by means of oral presentation;
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work effectively in teams;
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utilise time management skills in planning work;
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use the English language both orally and in writing to present a persuasive
argument;
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understand and apply a variety of theoretical and interpretive positions;
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use a variety of IT packages and applications confidently.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:
Many of the key transferable skills are developed through small group teaching and
practical laboratory-based teaching. Individual project supervision also helps build
competence in key areas. Independent small group work develops students’ team
working skills. Assignment feedback from tutors enables students to improve their
written communication and data presentation skills. Modules in the English & Drama
department taught by means of small-group seminars improve students’ skills in oral
and written English.
Assessment of key skills is embedded in module assessment; communication skills
and team work skills are often explicitly listed in the marking criteria of assignments.
4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits
and awards
The programme lasts three years full-time; in addition students may take an optional
professional placement between the second and third years. The programme is
divided into units of study called modules, which may be weighted as 10, 20 or 30.
Students take modules amounting to 120 credits in each of the three years of the
programme, normally with 60 credits in each of the two semesters. Each of the two 15week semesters consists of 11 weeks of teaching, followed by revision time and
examinations.
In Year 1 (Part A) students take 80 credits of compulsory modules from the Department
of Information Science, with 20 credits of compulsory modules and 20 credits of
optional modules from the Department of English and Drama. These provide a
foundation in the Publishing and English on which the second and third years build.
Year 2 (Part B) further develops students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in
specialist and core areas through compulsory modules from both departments, and
provides the opportunity to choose 40 credits of optional modules from the
Departments of Information Science or English and Drama.
Students are encouraged to spend an optional year on professional placement
between the second and final year. Apart from an additional award, students gain real
work experience, are often placed in positions of responsibility and can be offered
sponsorship and/or future employment. The year in industry can also bring a more
professional attitude to the remaining year of study, particularly the final year project.
During the placement year students are supported by an academic supervisor in
addition to their employment supervisor/manager; successful completion of the
placement and the programme leads to the award of the Diploma in Professional
Studies in addition to the degree.
The final year (Part C) includes 40 credits of compulsory modules in more advanced
areas of publishing, and provides a range of optional modules from both departments
from which students can choose to follow their particular interests. The 30-credit final
year project may be undertaken in either Information Science or English and Drama,
and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their research, analysis and
presentation skills in a subject area of their own choice.
Full details can be found in the Programme Regulations at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/lps/progreg/year/1011/docs/Publishing%20wit
h%20English%20BSc.docx
5. Criteria for admission to the programme
See the online prospectus for more information, at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/courses/index.htm
6. Information about the programme assessment strategy
In each year of the programme students must pass modules totalling a minimum of
100 credits; in addition students are required to achieve a minimum of 30% in every
module. Modules are assessed by coursework, examination, or a combination of
both. Any student who fails to meet these requirements has the automatic right of
reassessment on one occasion only in any module or modules which are causing
them to fail. Students may choose to be reassessed either in the University’s Special
Assessment Period or during the following year. Results from all modules
undertaken in Parts B and C count towards the final degree grade, in the ratio
40%:60%.
7. What makes the programme distinctive?
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The programme is designed to prepare students for professional careers in
the book and magazine publishing industries, as well as in the information
industries generally;
it is interdisciplinary, covering elements of management, information
technology and English as well as material specific to the publishing industry;
it is forward-looking, covering many topics that will gain in importance as the
industry moves towards a greater emphasis on online publishing as the
twenty-first century progresses;
it uses many different approaches to teaching, learning and assessment,
offering opportunities for students of many different cognitive styles to shine.
8. Particular support for learning
Information on learning support is held at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/notes/lps/index.htm
9. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of
learning
The University’s formal quality management and reporting procedures are laid out in its
Academic Quality Procedures Handbook, available online at:
www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/policy/aqp/index.htm
March 2010