Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 04/07/2023
College College Life and Env Sci
School School of Bioscience
Department School of Biosciences
Partner College and School
Collaborative Organisation and Form of Collaboration
Qualification and Programme Title M.Sci. Human Sciences Full-time
Programme Code 518G
Delivery Location Campus
Language of Study English
Length of Programme 4 Year(s)
Accreditations This programme has no outside accreditations
Aims of the Programme The programme is designed to prepare its graduates to become leaders and innovators at a time of great promise but also great risk for the planet. This is an interdisciplinary programme that combines elements of Human Sciences including genetics, sociology, psychology, evolutionary biology, biochemistry, neurosciences and anthropology coupled with understanding the past and ongoing impact of the human race and the human condition on ecosystems and the planet. The aim is to graduate students with a strong sense and understanding of humans and their global impact with a ‘can do attitude’ to the tackling of large scale global and local challenges.

Students will receive broad training in the core elements of Human Sciences from which they can choose to maintain breadth of study or develop in depth expertise in one or more subject areas most suited to their individual interests and aptitudes. Flexibility and choice are maximised by drawing on key strengths across the Schools of Biosciences, Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Psychology, and Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences. Students will be given a unique opportunity to explore methods of acquiring, processing, displaying, understanding and communicating of data across the multiple disciplines within these four Schools. Also embedded throughout the programme are opportunities to develop and enhance a range of employability skills, transferable across a diverse range of careers and further study opportunities.
Programme Outcomes
Students are expected to have Knowledge and Understanding of: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
1) topics which underpin current understanding of what it means to be human and the relationships between humans and their environment (in depth knowledge gained will be dependent on a student’s choice of pathway(s))
2) practical and theoretical methods of acquiring scientific data
3) discipline appropriate presentation, interpretation, analysis and communication of quantitative data, and familiarity with a range of statistical techniques
4) the principles of research design and the diversity of approaches used in the generation of knowledge and understanding in the field of Human Sciences
5) a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline or field of study (MSci)
1) Lectures, coursework, seminars, tutorials, directed independent study, projects
2) Lectures, practical classes, coursework, seminars, lab visits, Facility visits, directed independent study, projects
3) Lectures, practical classes, coursework, seminars, tutorials, directed independent study, projects
4) Lectures, practical classes, lab visits, Facility visits, coursework, seminars, projects
5) Coursework, seminars, projects
1) Unseen examinations, class tests, essays, projects, presentations
2) Laboratory notebooks, written reports, projects, presentations
3) Class tests, written reports, projects, presentations
4) Class tests, written reports, projects
5) Research proposals, projects, presentations
Students are expected to have attained the following Skills and other Attributes: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
6) to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
7) the ability to access and evaluate scientific information from a variety of sources and communicate the principles both orally and in written form to a range of audiences in a way that is organised, persuasive and topical, and recognises the limits of current hypotheses
8) the ability to employ a variety of methods of study to investigate, record, analyse, synthesise and summarise information critically
9) the ability to apply subject knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems
10) analytical numerical and problem-solving skills which they can apply in a wide range of situations, including using Information Technology to access and analyse data packages
11) demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks
12) deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data
6) Lectures, practical classes, workshops, tutorials, coursework, projects
7) Lectures, practical classes, workshops, tutorials, seminars, coursework, projects, debates
8) Lectures, practical classes, workshops, tutorials, seminars, coursework, projects
9) Practical classes, workshops, tutorials, coursework, projects.
10) Practical classes, workshops, coursework, projects
11) Workshops, coursework, projects
12) Workshops, coursework, projects
6) Independent work: Unseen examinations, class tests, essays, projects, presentations, written reports, project work Group work: Presentations, practical activities, written reports, project work
7) Unseen examinations, class tests, essays, projects, presentations, written reports, project work
8) Unseen examinations, class tests, essays, projects, presentations, written reports, project work
9) Unseen examinations, class tests, essays, projects, presentations, written reports, project work
10) Unseen examinations, class tests, projects, written reports, project work
11) Projects, written reports, project work
12) Projects, written reports, project work