(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Latin American Studies with Business Management
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Area Studies
BA T7N2
25/04/2014
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A-levels: ABB-BBB
IB: 32-30 points
Entry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on units studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis. The standard required is generally at Distinction level.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. (Different requirements apply for second year entry.)
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
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.
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
Prof Ciaran Bernard Cosgrove
Associate Professor of Spanish
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
P1. to provide students with an interdisciplinary programme of study of Latin American culture, society and politics and a foundation in business management issues and concepts with particular reference to Latin America.
P2. to develop students' analytical, problem-solving and transferable skills.
P3. 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.
P4. to provide opportunities for students to acquire research and critical skills.
P5. To enable students to achieve Proficiency level or Mastery level Spanish or Portuguese.
P6. to provide students with a foundation for further study in Latin American Studies and/or business management.
P7. to provide students with a qualification that will enhance their ability to work in the area of business management by developing the capability to analyse and decide how to deal with complicated organisational situations.
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 the core principles of business management, strategic-thinking and decision-making and a knowledge of the external environment within which organizations operate, including the political, social, economic and technological contexts at both national and international levels.
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 business management courses 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 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 apply a wide range of relevant primary and secondary written, oral or visual sources, where appropriate in their original language.
B3: Students will be able to reason critically, identify, analyse and solve problems, using appropriate methodologies and theories.
B4: Students will be able to demonstrate and exercise independence of mind and thought.
Learning methods
Skills B1. - B4. are obtained and developed through interactive classes and seminars where there is an emphasis on group discussion.
B1. and B3. are also obtained through lectures.
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.
B1-B4 are also obtained in a research methods course (CS241).
Assessment methods
All skills are assessed through the dissertation and in continuous coursework.
B2. - B4. 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 demonstrate effective communication both oral and in writing using skills commonly employed in the presentation of business reports.
Learning methods
Learning/teaching methods/strategies C1. is acquired through preparation for classes, lectures, essays and the dissertation.
C2. is acquired through language teaching 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 is acquired through classes and lectures.
Assessment methods
C1. is assessed in essays and through the dissertation.
C2. is assessed through language module 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. is assessed through online tests and written assignments.
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: Students will be able to demonstrate numeracy and quantitative skills including data analysis.
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 module material and the Year Abroad.
D1, D4. and D7. are 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.
Numeracy skills (D3) are acquired in business management core and option modules.
Students are encouraged to use electronic resources and 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 LM241 Researching Latin America.
D1, D4 and D6 are also assessed through examinations.