(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Latin American studies with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Area Studies
BA T7M8
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
UK and EU applicants:
All applications for degree courses with a foundation year (Year Zero) will be considered individually, whether you
- think you might not have the grades to enter the first year of a degree course;
- have non-traditional qualifications or experience (e.g. you haven’t studied A-levels or a BTEC);
- are returning to university after some time away from education; or
- are looking for more support during the transition into university study.
Standard offer:
Our standard offer is 72 UCAS tariff points from at least two full A-levels, or equivalent.
Examples of the above tariff may include:
- A-levels: DDD
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMP
- T-levels: Pass with E in core
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria, please get in touch for advice.
Mature applicants and non-traditional academic backgrounds:
We welcome applications from mature students (over 21) and students with non-traditional academic backgrounds (might not have gone on from school to take level 3 qualifications). We will consider your educational and employment history, along with your personal statement and reference, to gain a rounded view of your suitability for the course.
International applicants:
Essex Pathways Department is unable to accept applications from international students. Foundation pathways for international students are available at the University of Essex International College and are delivered and awarded by Kaplan, in partnership with the University of Essex. Successful completion will enable you to progress to the relevant degree course at the University of Essex.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 5.5 overall. Specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
Our Year 0 courses are only open to UK and EU applicants. If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to your chosen degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Francisco Carballo
Lecturer in the Politics and Culture of Latin America
Goldsmiths, University of London
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
1. To provide students with an interdisciplinary programme of study of Latin American culture, society and politics and a foundation in human rights issues and concepts with particular reference to Latin America.
2. To develop students' analytical, problem-solving and transferable skills.
3. To develop the intercultural skills necessary for students to live and work confidently in different cultures through a programme of study undertaken in Latin America.
4. To enable students to achieve Proficiency level or Mastery level Spanish or Portuguese.
5. To provide opportunities for students to acquire research and critical skills
6. To provide students with a foundation for further study in Latin American Studies and/or human rights.
7. To provide students with a knowledge relevant to work in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the key historical , cultural and social processes of Latin America.
A2: Students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese language at Proficiency or Mastery level in written and spoken registers relevant to both 'real life' situations and to the formal study of language.
A3: Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of some philosophical, political, sociological, economic and historical perspectives on human rights.
Learning methods
A1. is acquired through core course lectures and classes in Year 1, through Latin American option modules in Years 2 and 4, and through the Year Abroad.
Students are expected to undertake independent research through directed reading to consolidate and develop what they have learned in class.
A2. is acquired through specialist language teaching in Years 1,2, 3 (Year Abroad) as well as in Year 4 (for Mastery level).
A3. is acquired through compulsory human rightsmodules in all years of study.
Students are expected to undertake independent research through directed reading to consolidate and develop what they have learned in class.
Assessment methods
Assessment for A1. - A3. is through unseen examinations and continuous coursework.
In addition A2. is assessed through oral examinations.
Continuous coursework consists of essays and assignments.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Students will be able to identify accurately, and across a range of disciplines, issues related to Latin America of an intellectual and academic interest that require researching
B2: Students will be able to appreciate the distinctive contributions that different academic disciplines make to the study of human rights.
B3: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of key research methods relevant to investigating human rights.
B4: Students will be able to apply a wide range of relevant primary and secondary written, oral or visual sources, where appropriate in their original language.
B5: Students will be able to reason critically, identify, analyse and solve problems, using appropriate methodologies and theories.
B6: Students will be able to demonstrate and exercise independence of mind and thought.
Learning methods
Skills B1 and B4 - B6 are obtained and developed through interactive classes and seminars where there is an emphasis on group discussion.
B1 and B5 are also obtained through lectures.
B2 and B3 are developed in Human Rights core modules in Years 1, 2 and 4.
All skills are developed by independent reading undertaken by students under the direction of lecturers and class teachers.
Intellectual and cognitive skills are further developed through written and oral feedback on coursework.
Students acquire and apply all these skills in researching and writing their dissertations.
B1and B4 -B6 are also obtained in a research methods course (CS241).
Assessment methods
All skills are assessed through the dissertation and in continuous coursework.
B3. - B5. are also assessed by examinations.
C: Practical skills
C1: Students will be able to identify, select and synthesise information from paper and electronic sources.
C2: Students will be able to communicate with high level proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese in a wide range of contexts.
C3: Students will be able to apply the necessary organisational and cultural skills for living and working abroad.
C4: Students will be able to use techniques for systematic research in the field of human rights, including legal research, philosophical inquiry and social science methodology.
C5: Students will be able to Identify, locate and retrieve knowledge relevant to research on human rights.
Learning methods
C1. is acquired through preparation for classes, lectures, essays and the dissertation.
C2. is acquired through language learning and the Year Abroad.
C3. is acquired through the guided but ultimately independent process of organising and successfully completing a period of living and working in Latin America during the Year Abroad.
C4 and C5 are acquired through human rights core modules in Years 1, 2 and 4.
Assessment methods
C1. is assessed in essays and through the dissertation.
C2.is assessed through language course examinations, coursework and assignments and through the assessment of the Year Abroad as a whole.
C3. is assessed through the work of the Year Abroad.
C4 and C5 are assessed by coursework and examination.
D: Key skills
D1: Both orally and in writing students will be able to demonstrate Spanish or Portuguese language proficiency in relation to a range of academic and social contexts. They will be able to present knowledge or conduct an argument in a clear, coherent and relevant manner and work independently in a Latin American context
D2: Student will use relevant information technology to research and present written work.
D3: Where relevant and as the basis for an argument, students will be able to use, present and evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form.
D4: Students will be able to identify a research problem and apply relevant research and methodologies to resolve it.
D6: Students will be able to reflect on their own learning, to seek and make use of feedback, to recognise when further knowledge is required and to undertake the necessary research
Learning methods
D1. is acquired through language course material and the Year Abroad.
D1. is learnt through participatory classwork in core modules.
D2, D4 and D6 are learnt through writing coursework essays and assignments and consequent feedback, both written and oral.
D4 and D6 are learnt in CS241 Doing Research for a BA Dissertation and through the dissertation.
Students are encouraged to use electronic resources, to participate in group work to the benefit of the group as a whole, to listen effectively and provide critical feedback in an appropriate manner.
Assessment methods
All skills except working independently abroad are assessed either through coursework or the dissertation.
Working independently abroad is assessed by the Year Abroad assessment as a whole.
D4 is part of the assessment process in CS241 Doing Research for a BA Dissertation.
D1.2, D4 and D6 are also assessed through examinations.