School of Humanities Brochure

School of HUMANITIES

1 WELCOME

Welcome to the School of Humanities!

We’re strongly committed to creating an environment in which you can nourish your aspirations and realise your full potential.

You can expect to receive extensive academic and personal support with stimulating courses enriched by the research and scholarship of our highly experienced academic staff.

Broad skills and competencies equip our graduates not only for the world of work today but, most crucially, for employment in the years to come. Typically, humanities graduates are lifelong learners whose studies have prepared them to apply their skills, to learn and relearn and to adapt to changing circumstances.

It is widely recognised that the humanities promote the intellectual, personal and social qualities that enhance personal development and are valued by employers.

Broadening intellectual horizons by encouraging us to engage with ideas critically and independently, humanities also foster our understanding of an increasingly complex global world.

We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

John Pymm Dr John Pymm Dean of the Faculty of Arts

Contents 2

Contents English, Linguistics and Creative Writing - 3 Religion and Philosophy - 7 Specialist facilities - 9 A foundation to flourish in

Choices after undergraduate study - 11 Postgraduate courses Our research excellence

Supporting your career - 13 Employability Student successes

Student successes - 15 Honouring the trailblazers - 17 Join us - 18 How to apply

3 English, Linguistics and Creative Writing

English, Linguistics and Creative Writing Creative and Professional Writing We believe that writing is a discipline and craft worth studying and teaching, so we’re one of a handful of UK universities which has a separate and independent Creative and Professional Writing subject area. It is also one of the only courses in the country to combine creative with professional writing, giving it a real emphasis on employability. In all your creative and professional writing modules, you can expect to spend time exploring theory and technique, learning from the work of established writers, experimenting through writing exercises and producing your own original pieces.

Creative and Professional Writing courses: • BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing • BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and English • BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and Film Studies • BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and Media and Communication Studies • BA (Hons) Philosophy and Creative Professional Writing

English, Linguistics and Creative Writing 4

English English literature is a treasure trove of cultural expression and a battleground of social values.

At Wolverhampton, you will experience and explore a range of literary and non-literary texts from the Renaissance to the present day and from the West Midlands to the West Indies. Throughout this course you will explore how new critical perspectives serve to challenge traditional views, giving voice to those marginalised by class, gender, sexuality and race.

English courses: • BA (Hons) English • BA (Hons) English and Deaf Studies • BA (Hons) English and Education Studies • BA (Hons) English and Film Studies • BA (Hons) English and History • BA (Hons) English and Philosophy According to the National Student Survey 2014, more of our full-time BA (Hons) English students go into work or further study than from any of our local competitors – an impressive 95%. And what’s more, they’re happier with our library and learning facilities while they’re here, with 89% satisfaction.

5 English, Linguistics and CreatiVE Writing

English Language Studying English language provides you with a broad understanding of the nature, history and diversity of the English language and the ways in which meaning is shaped through language use in a variety of social contexts. Our tutors will guide you through the way language is used in the real world as a source of meaning, communication, representation and persuasion.

English Language courses:

• BA (Hons) English Language (ie. English Language, Linguistics, Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages: TESOL) • BA (Hons) English Language and Creative and Professional Writing • BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics • BA (Hons) English Language and Media and Communication Studies • BA (Hons) Media and Cultural Studies and English Language

English, Linguistics and CreatiVE Writing 6

Linguistics Linguistics explores the sounds of language (phonology), word forms (morphology) and sentence structure (syntax), as well as important issues in applied linguistics, such as stylistic choice and the impact of social class, age and ethnicity (sociolinguistics). You will have the chance to study language meaning (semantics and pragmatics) and explore specialist modules on topics such as such as psycholinguistics, which considers topics such as language disorders, how children acquire language, and how humans process and produce language.

Linguistics courses:

• BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics • BA (Hons) Linguistics (ie. Linguistics and Foreign Languages/ English as a Foreign Language/ British Sign Language) • BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics • BA (Hons) Linguistics and Deaf Studies • BA (Hons) Linguistics and Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

7 Religion and Philosophy

Religion and Philosophy Philosophy Developing critical and independent thinking as well as sensitivity to others are the ultimate aims of this course.

So, if you have a mind of your own, want to engage effectively with others, aspire to be seductively convincing and hope to become a reliable problem-solver, philosophy is the programme for you! Our tutors will acquaint you with the rigours of philosophical thinking taking resources from various traditions including the Anglo-American and the Continental. You learn to see the not so obvious, to appreciate the things that really matter and to tease out the concepts that lurk beneath our conflicts.

Philosophy courses:

• BA (Hons) English and Philosophy • BA (Hons) Film Studies and Philosophy • BA (Hons) Law and Philosophy • BA (Hons) Philosophy and Creative and Professional Writing • BA (Hons) Philosophy and Sociology • BA (Hons) Politics and Philosophy • BA (Hons) Religious Studies and Philosophy • BA (Hons) War Studies and Philosophy

Religion and Philosophy 8

Religious Studies Our Religious Studies courses offer students the opportunity to study the six main world religions alongside key issues of religious ethics and religion in education.

They are unique in their extensive engagement with the local religious environment in Wolverhampton as many religious communities are within walking distance of the campus and allow for sessions to link the classroom and community.

Religious Studies courses:

• BA (Hons) Religious Studies • BA (Hons) Religious Studies and Education Studies • BA (Hons) Religious Studies and History • BA (Hons) Religious Studies and Philosophy • BA (Hons) Religious Studies and Sociology

9 Specialist facilities

A foundation to flourish in Based in the University’s contemporary Millennium City Building in the centre of Wolverhampton, the School of Humanities is an inspiring place to learn, with specialist facilities to support every aspect of your degree study.

Our large lecture theatre and all of our teaching rooms are equipped with high-tech audio visual equipment giving you a comfortable and stimulating environment in which to learn.

You can also enjoy our dedicated social learning space complete with computers and a Starbucks coffee bar.

Specialist faci

ilities

Specialist facilities 10

Harrison Learning Centre

The Harrison Learning Centre combines traditional library services with hi-tech facilities, offering you a wider range of accessible materials than ever before, focused on the way you want to study. Whether you need a pod to study in undisturbed and alone, or a room to thrash out some group work, you’ll find there’s the ideal environment to get the best out of your study time.

• • • • •

Extended opening hours 24/7 online access to journals Wireless, email, printer/photocopiers Easy 24/7 renewals Friendly, knowledgeable staff

As well as having access to e-books, journals and databases, with our library catalogue you can: • access nearly 57 million records from the British Library’s catalogue • explore collections from Oxford and Cambridge universities, the National Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and over 90 other major UK and Irish libraries through COPAC • locate both print and electronic serials, including journals, periodicals, newspapers, newsletters, magazines, and annual reports from across the UK with SUNCAT • or simply find out what’s available from the world’s largest library catalogue; WorldCat.

IT facilities

The University provides a range of IT facilities to help you with your studies, including extensive computer provision, wireless Internet, information on discounted software, Live@ edu email, equipment for disabled students, and dedicated staff giving you all the support you need.

Our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), WOLF (Wolverhampton Online Learning Framework), allows tutors to deliver enhanced learning material to support classroombased teaching and tutorial contact, and engage students actively in the learning process. In addition to reference material, notes, media and documents related to a subject or module of study, WOLF offers collaborative tools to group discussion, with help topics and forums.

11 Choices after undergraduate study

Choices after undergraduate study Postgraduate study

We have a number of postgraduate programmes, available in full or part-time mode: MA English MRes Human Sciences MA Language and Information Processing MA Popular Culture MA Transmedia Screen Writing Each programme offers opportunities to further enhance, broaden and deepen your experience and practice. Inter and cross-disciplinary practice is encouraged.

To explore your postgraduate options, visit: wlv.ac.uk/postgrad

Choices after undergraduate study 12

Images top to bottom; Fred D’Aguiar, Professor Jack Zipes Fuchsia – ink drawing from Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

Our research excellence Excellent research is essential for cutting-edge teaching. We take our research expertise seriously and bring it to the classroom at all levels of our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Our lecturers have researched, published and shared expert opinion across a range of disciplines, and we have internationally-recognised scholars in eighteenth century to contemporary literature, as well as award-winning authors and poets.

We have a range of PhD opportunities through the Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research.

Our Research Centres and Clusters are coordinated by experienced researchers and provide areas of specialist knowledge.

Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research

A number of disciplines come together to investigate internationalism, cosmopolitanism and other ways of thinking about culture and identity both in history and in the present. The Centre has four principal focus areas.

• European studies • Intercultural media • South Asian studies • Transnational/ transcultural writing

Cluster for Research in Cultures and Humanities

The Cluster aims to build bridges between subject areas and researchers, and increase sharing of information and ideas for the advantage of all parties.

Members of the Cluster are active across a broad range of disciplines.

• Creative and Professional Writing, Public Relations • Broadcasting and Journalism, Film, Media and Communications • Cultural Studies, Philosophy • English, European Studies Each year, both CTTR and RiCH host a series of guest lectures from world-class academics and authors, to enhance students’ experience of University life. Speakers have included figures such as Jonathan Coe, Fred D’Aguiar, Professor Jack Zipes, Sathnam Sanghera and Sebastian Peake.

The School of Humanities also hosts the Royal Institute of Philosophy lectures, bringing in leading contemporary philosophers such as Professor Philip Goodchild, Dr Simon Glendinnig and Dr Havi Carel.

13 Supporting your career

Supporting your career We have many years’ experience in supporting our students in pursuing their career ambitions. We believe our formula for success is working: with increasing student satisfaction; increased graduate employment rates; and more graduates than ever pursuing successful careers.

Here’s how:

Employability skills & evidence portfolio

+ Business start-up opportunities

+ Work experience & placements

+

Your creativity & ambition

=

A highly employable graduate

Supporting your career 14

Our excellent links with local employers and community organisations provide a fertile ground for you to develop the skills, attributes and experience that you need to pursue your career.

When it comes to building your skills and broadening your experience, learning a foreign language or studying abroad are two ways we offer that something special. You can study a variety of languages either as part of your course, or in addition to it. You can also spend a semester or year abroad as part of your degree programme.

Why not be your own boss? Enterprise and entrepreneurship are hugely important in the modern marketplace, and the University’s SPEED programme assists students and graduates to set up a new business and begin trading – with great success.

‘‘

The course has given me a good foundation for creating writing, the confidence to teach and helped me to develop a career working in a digital context.

‘‘

Fiona Cullinan, Creative and Professional Writing

15 Student successes

Student successes Carys Jones

BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and Film Studies Author and freelance writer

I chose Wolverhampton because it offered the perfect course for me – nowhere else combined my dual loves of Film and Creative Writing. Studying at Wolverhampton helped solidify my desire to become a writer. I learnt a lot of useful tools in terms of developing a character and executing a story.

It helped me define my writing style and discover which genres I ultimately work best in.

My lecturers were very supportive, though they also made sure that all the students had realistic expectations from what we were studying. Writing takes an awful lot of patience, nothing happens overnight. You have to be prepared to constantly push yourself as no one else will.

I work as a freelance writer, dividing my time working as a to-hire ghost-writer and writing and promoting my own material. Though I work from home, my day is very structured: working on whichever freelance job I currently have in the mornings. I usually spend two hours writing on each project and at any point can have up to four projects to work on.

You have to knock a lot of doors and anticipate a lot of setbacks. Writing is so subjective that not everyone is going to believe in your work. I try to be proactive on a lot of writing websites like Wattpad. It’s a good platform to test your work on readers and also offers potential agents/publishers an insight in to how your work will be received.

My debut novel, First to Fall, was released in October 2010, and the sequel, Second to Cry has recently been published. They’re very different to the second book I wrote, Sunkissed, which was a young adult vampire book. I’m proud of the books I’ve had published and of the freelance work I do.

Student successes 16

Scott Evans BA (Hons) Religious Studies and Sociology Sociology and Religious Education teacher After graduating from the University of Wolverhampton I applied to do a PGDipEd at the University of Birmingham in Religious Education. The Religious Studies course at Wolverhampton really prepared me for the PGDipEd course, with practical as well as academic skills, eg. with sessions on successful teacher training applications.

It explores many world religions in sufficient depth to allow you to confidently teach many of the agreed syllabuses for RE. I really enjoyed the field visits; they allow you to experience RE at face value, taking learning outside the University. The staff within the

Religious Studies and Sociology departments are really helpful. They went above and beyond in helping me to apply to the PGDipEd as well as with my academic work.

Having been accepted onto the PGDipEd course I went through two school placements to achieve secondary qualified teacher status: QTS. I recently started my first teaching job at Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community School teaching Sociology and RE from years 7 to 12.

As a newly qualified teacher, I currently teach a reduced teachers timetable. In addition to teaching we have weekly duties and supervise extra-curricular clubs.

Zoe Harrison BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics

President, University of Wolverhampton Students’ Union The best part of studying English Language and Linguistics for me was being made to feel that we were young professionals. I felt that our contributions were always valued, and our individual input and research benefitted the subject area. It was also fantastic to learn about a subject area I was passionate about in much more detail.

I had always been involved in the Students’ Union as a course rep, faculty rep and a member of student staff during my studies. I had already been elected as Academic Vice President before I’d graduated in March 2013. I then decided to run for the President’s position, and was successful!

As President of the University of Wolverhampton’s Students’ Union, I’m the head of the organisation and lead the Union strategically. The best part of my job is seeing the direct benefit the Students’ Union has to so many different students.

If I hadn’t studied at Wolverhampton, I wouldn’t have been eligible to run for election. So many opportunities became available during my studies here that helped me grow and develop, and have shaped me into the person I am today. I owe so much to the Union and the University.

17 Honouring the trailblazers

Honouring the trailblazers

Each year the University awards honorary degrees to a select number of people who have demonstrated outstanding achievement or distinction in their field.

Sathnam Sanghera Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters Sathnam Sanghera was born to Punjabi parents in the West Midlands in 1976, attended Wolverhampton Grammar School and graduated from Christ’s College, Cambridge with a first class degree in English Language and Literature in 1998.

His first book, The Boy With The Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton, was shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Biography Award and the 2009 Mind Book of the Year. Between 1998 and 2006 he worked as a news reporter at The Financial Times in the UK and the US, writing about the media industries. Sathnam joined The Times in 2007. He has won numerous prizes for his journalism, including Article of the Year in the 2005 Management Today Writing Awards, Newspaper Feature of the Year in the 2005 Workworld Media Awards, HR Journalist of the Year in the 2006 and 2009 Watson Wyatt Awards for Excellence and the accolade of Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2002.

How to apply 18

Join us

How to apply Undergraduate applications

Applications for full-time undergraduate BA (Hons) programmes are usually made through UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Visit: ucas.com

Undergraduate entry requirements • Check the UCAS points required for your chosen course.

• Be aware some offers are subject to interview.

• Applications from mature candidates (over 21) are welcomed, subject to the same conditions.

Postgraduate and part-time applications You can apply online for all postgraduate and part-time undergraduate courses. Simply find the course you wish to apply for at: wlv.ac.uk to see full entry requirements, then follow the link to ‘apply directly’.

International students International students can apply either through UCAS or the International Centre.

For further information or an application form please tel: +44 (0)1902 322 735, or email: international@wlv.ac.uk

Tariff conversion The UCAS Tariff is a points system used to report grades for entry into higher education in a numerical format. Visit: ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff to find out how to convert your grades into points.

Finance For information regarding financing your studies, contact our Higher Education Advisors, tel: 01902 321 032 or email: gateway@wlv.ac.uk

Fees For the most up-to-date information on our tuition fees please visit: wlv.ac.uk/fees

Scholarships

The University of Wolverhampton offers a range of scholarships to help support you with your studies. To see if you could qualify, please visit: wlv.ac.uk/scholarships

School of Humanities University of Wolverhampton MC Building, City Campus Wulfruna Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1DT Tel: 01902 322 058 Email: humanities@wlv.ac.uk Visit: wlv.ac.uk/humanities Follow us: Twitter: @WLV_Arts Facebook: /WLVArts MAC2113