UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme 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.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
Wirral Metropolitan College
3. University School/Centre
Physical Sciences and Computing
4. External Accreditation
N/A
5. Title of Final Award
Foundation Degree (Sc) Chemistry
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Full time
Part time
7. UCAS Code
F100
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
Chemistry
Foundation Degree Qualification Benchmark
9. Other external influences
Royal Society of Chemistry
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
August 2012
11. Aims of the Programme
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To instil in students a sense of enthusiasm for chemistry, an appreciation of its application in
different contexts and to involve them in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience
of learning and studying.
To provide students with a broad and balanced foundation of chemical knowledge and
practical skills.
To develop in students the ability to apply their chemical knowledge and skills to the solution
of theoretical and practical problems in chemistry.
To develop in students, through an education in chemistry, a range of transferable skills, of
value in chemical and non-chemical employment.
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12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1. Describe the major types of chemical reaction and the main characteristics associated with them
including the stereochemistry and nomenclature of reactants, starting materials and products.
A2. Discuss the principles and procedures used in chemical analysis and the characterisation of
chemical compounds, including spectroscopy.
A3. Apply the key elements of physical chemistry, including thermodynamics and kinetics.
A4. Describe characteristic properties of elements and their compounds, states of matter and the
theories used to describe them.
A5. Deliberate on major issues with respect to sustainable industrial processes.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes, directed reading, problem-solving, case studies, discussions.
The most appropriate methods will be dependent on the module.
Assessment methods
Workbooks, preparation of short notes, essays, reports, practical reports, group and individual
presentations and end of module in-class tests or examinations. Details dependent on the module.
B. Subject-specific skills
B1. Apply knowledge and understanding of the essential concepts, principles and theories relating to
the major types of chemical reaction and the main characteristics associated with them including
the stereochemistry and nomenclature of reactants, starting materials and products.
B2. Ability to handle chemical materials safely, taking into account their physical and chemical
properties, including specific hazards.
B3. Conduct standard laboratory procedures involved in synthetic and analytical work.
B4. Monitor, by observation and measurements chemical properties, events or changes, and
systematically and reliably record and document the findings.
B5. Plan, design and execute an investigation, from problem recognition stage through to the
evaluation and appraisal of results and findings.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, tutorials and seminars, laboratory classes with workbook or practical manuals; safe working
practices described. Preparation of laboratory reports and interpretation of other data. Detail
dependent on the module.
Assessment methods
Practical reports, laboratory notebooks, data interpretation, and report writing and presentations.
Details dependent on the module.
C. Thinking Skills
C1. Evaluate and analyse problems and plan novel strategies for their solution;
C2. Apply knowledge and understanding of chemical systems to the solution of qualitative and
quantitative problems of a familiar and unfamiliar nature.
C3. Evaluate, interpret and synthesise chemical information and data.
C4. Present scientific material and arguments clearly and correctly, using a variety of presentation
media to a range of audiences.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Skills developed through lectures, data interpretation, case studies, practical work, research project,
presentations, problem solving. Details dependent on the module..
Assessment methods
Workbooks, preparation of short notes, essays, reports, practical reports, group and individual
presentations and end of module in class tests or examinations. Details dependent on the module.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
D1. Demonstrate communication skills, covering a range of communication media.
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D2. Exhibit numeracy and computational skills, including ICT skills and information retrieval.
D3. Display time-management and organisational skills, as evidenced by the ability to plan and
implement student initiated research.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Discussions and presentations; numeracy and statistics in association with practical work; IT through
coursework; teamwork through class work in tutorials, case studies and problem solving. Details
dependent on module.
Assessment methods
Written reports, word processed documents, presentations, data analysis and collating information
from various sources. Details dependent on the module.
14. Awards and Credits*
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Level 5
Module
Code
FZ2501
FZ2502
FZ2503
FZ2504
FZ2505
FZ2506
FZ2516
Level 4
FZ1501
FZ1502
FZ1503
FZ1504
FZ1505
FZ1506
FZ1511
FZ1516
Module Title
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry:
Applications in Analytical
Science
Advanced Analytical Chemistry
Laboratory Chemistry
Project Module
Project Module (work-based) #
Basic Skills for Chemists
Introduction to Inorganic
Chemistry
Introduction to Physical
Chemistry
Introduction to Organic
Chemistry
Introduction to Analytical
Chemistry
Sustainability and the Chemical
Industry
Basic Skills for Chemists (workbased) #
Sustainability and the Chemical
Industry (work-based) #
Credit
rating
20
20
20
Foundation Degree in
Chemistry
Requires 240 credits including
a minimum of 120 at Level 5.
20
20
20
20
Foundation Degree with
Distinction APM  70%
Foundation Degree with Merit
APM  60%
20
20
Foundation Certificate in
Chemistry
Requires 120 credits at Level 4
or above
20
20
20
20
20
20
# Please note work based modules are only available to students in suitable employment.
15. Personal Development Planning
PDP is embedded and monitored through the modules that make up the course, particularly the skills
modules, and the personal tutor system. Students are introduced to the idea of PDP and career
planning through sessions in induction week. Reflection and self-assessment on their achievements
and goal setting is developed in many of the core modules and through the feedback provided on
assessment coversheets.
Regular meetings with personal tutors are used to discuss development and reflection.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications,
together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be
expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have
been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for
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the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
100 points at A2 level or equivalent, including chemistry, and GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or
above. Applicants with alternative entry qualifications are welcomed and these will be considered on
an individual basis.
17. Key sources of information about the programme
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University web site (www.uclan.ac.uk)
UCAS web site (www.ucas.ac.uk)
School website (www.uclan.ac.uk/forensic)
Wirral Metropolitan College website
Course Leader
Admissions tutor
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18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Module
Code
Module Title
Core (C),
Compulsory
(COMP) or
Option (O)
Knowledge and
understanding
LEVEL 5
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5
B2
B3
B4
B5
C1
C2
C3
C4
D1
D2
Inorganic Chemistry
COMP
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Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry:
Applications in Analytical
Science
Advanced Analytical
Chemistry
Laboratory Chemistry
COMP
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Project Module
Project Module workbased)
Basic Skills for Chemists
Introduction to Inorganic
Chemistry
Introduction to Physical
Chemistry
Introduction to Organic
Chemistry
Introduction to Analytical
Chemistry
Sustainability and the
Chemical Industry
Basic Skills for Chemists
(work-based)
Sustainability and the
Chemical Industry (workbased)
O
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FZ2504
FZ2506
FZ2516
FZ1501
FZ1502
FZ1503
FZ1504
FZ1505
FZ1506
FZ1511
FZ1516
Note:
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D3
FZ2502
FZ2505
LEVEL4
B1
Other skills relevant
to employability and
personal development
FZ2501
FZ2503
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Programme Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Skills
Thinking Skills
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Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
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