PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
BA (Hons) Hebrew and Jewish Studies (with Year Abroad)
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:
Q480
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2015/16 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Arts and Humanities
Parent Department:
Hebrew and Jewish Studies
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hebrew-jewish/
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
A Levels: Grades ABB.
Subjects: Foreign language and History preferred.
AS Levels: A pass in a further subject at AS Level or equivalent is
required.
GCSEs: English Language at grade B, plus Mathematics at grade C.
For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign
language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is
required. UCL provides opportunities to meet this requirement
following enrolment at UCL.
Length of the programme:
(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)
Students offering the International Baccalaureate will be expected to
achieve the Diploma with a minimum of 34 points. A score of 16
points in three higher level subjects preferably including a foreign
language and History, with no score lower than 5.
Four years (full-time) including one year abroad (in the third
year) at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Level 6
Languages and related studies; History
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/default.
asp
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prosp-students/prospectus/arts-andhumanities/hjs/degree/index.shtml
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Board of Examiners in Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
n/a
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
To develop the students’ interest in, knowledge and understanding of, all aspects of Jewish culture, including its
languages, literatures, history. Students are to:
1. master at least Hebrew and (optionally) other Jewish, Semitic, or Near Eastern languages.
2. become familiar with a wide range of Jewish literary, religious, and historical sources in the original.
3. gain an understanding of the complex interaction between a minority culture and the dominant culture of the
majority in a variety of historical periods and contexts.
Award of this degree leads to openings not only in further study and academic employment but also in careers in
law, community work, the diplomatic service, the media, and any executive job in the public and private sectors.
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. Hebrew, Classical and Modern
2. Optionally: other Jewish, Semitic,
or Near Eastern languages
3. The linguistic structures of these
languages
4. The literatures of these
languages, both past and
present, and the socio-cultural
contexts within which they were
produced.
5. key methods and concepts of
literary, historical, and linguistic
analysis.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1 is taught intensely to beginners in year 1; in
subsequent years students progress to higher
intermediate or advanced levels. Acquisition of 1 is
through small-group classes, tutorials and regular
coursework. The year abroad in Israel includes a presessional 8-week intensive modern Hebrew language
‘Ulpan’ course at the Hebrew University.
2 is offered as a range of optional courses, taught in
small classes at a variety of levels.
3-5 are taught through a range of optional courses,
taught in combination of lectures and seminars.
Throughout the learner is encouraged to undertake
independent reading both to supplement and
consolidate what is being taught/learnt and to broaden
their individual knowledge and understanding of the
subject.
Assessment:
Testing of the knowledge base is through a combination
of unseen written examinations (1-5) and assessed
coursework (1-5) in the form of essays (2-5), other set
assignments (1,2), oral examinations (1-2), and
extended essays (2-6).
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. reason critically;
2. apply concepts and methods of
linguistic, literary and historical
analysis to literary and other sources;
3. identify and solve problems;
4. analyse, interpret, and synthesize;
5. demonstrate and exercise
independence of mind and thought.
6. reflect on language use in a selfconscious and sophisticated way
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
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 variety of assessment methods employed all place
great emphasis (as shown in their assessment criteria)
on the learner's ability to demonstrate skills 1-6 through
the production of coherent written and oral responses
either to problems or tasks set. The extended essay
(optional) provides a particularly effective vehicle for the
demonstration of these skills; but students who do not
choose this option can still demonstrate skills 1-6
through their assessment, severally if not collectively.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1. retrieve, sift and select information
from a variety of sources;
2. plan, undertake and report a
bibliographically-based piece of
research;
3. understand, speak, write, read and
translate to and from Hebrew and
(optionally) other Jewish, Semitic or
Near Eastern languages.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1-2. All students receive initial guidance on how to
identify, locate and use material available in libraries and
elsewhere. Bibliographical reviews and critiques are
frequently included in essays and coursework
assessment. Comprehensive bibliographies are
provided for each course at the outset, as are guidelines
for the production of coursework essays and extended
essays. The Departmental Style Sheet provides further
guidance as well as detailed technical instructions on the
use and professional presentation of bibliographies and
footnotes.
3. Hebrew is taught intensively in the first year, Classical
and Modern Hebrew reinforcing each other. In
subsequent years students may progress to higher
intermediate or advanced levels of either or both, and
may take up additional languages (3). Text-based
courses offer further opportunity for practising the
languages. The year abroad at the Hebrew University,
Jerusalem, further reinforces their command of Modern
Hebrew and enriches their optional study of related
languages.
Assessment:
1 is assessed by regular coursework, participation in
class discussion, oral presentations, written exams, and
(for the modern languages) oral exams.
2-3 are assessed by essays, extended essays, and
written exams.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
structure and communicate ideas
effectively both orally and in writing;
manage time and work to deadlines;
participate constructively in groups;
work independently and be selfreliant;
find information and use information
technology;
assess the relevance and importance
of the ideas of others, and assess
them critically
analyse and synthesize data
learn foreign languages with
confidence
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All courses require regular written work, usually in the
form of essays, and regular feedback on this is given to
the learner 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 conflicting deadlines
(all notified at the outset of each course) for submission
of coursework. Skills 3 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 in collaboration. Skills 4 and 8 are
particularly developed during the Year Abroad, for which
learners are prepared in advance. IT skills (5) 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 and 6 are assessed by both the
coursework 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 time
management (2) is indirectly assessed by degree of
compliance with deadlines, as late submission of work is
penalised by graded mark deductions.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.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)
Dr. Tsila Ratner
Name(s):
Date of Production:
February 2015
Date of Review:
October 2015
Date approved by Chair of
October 2015
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
October 2015
Teaching Committee