martin a. mills. increase inter-disciplinarity of aberdeen degree. present distinctive set of new...
TRANSCRIPT
Martin A. Mills
Increase inter-disciplinarity of Aberdeen degree.
Present distinctive set of ‘New Aberdeen Courses’.
Reduce staff and student insularity. Improve student retention.
‘MARKET’ MODEL ‘FLAGSHIP’ MODEL
Courses are proposed by individual staff.
Standard ASC quality control.
No limit to number of courses.
Modular.
CONSIDERATIONS Greater ‘freedom of choice’. Little/no control of student
flow or class sizes. What is distinctive about
this? Where is the guarantee of
intellectual coherence or progression?
Courses are proposed at University/College/School level as ‘representative’.
‘Team’ built with ASC oversight and Uni/College /School control.
Limited number of primary courses.
CONSIDERATIONS Lesser ‘freedom of choice’. Greater control of student
flows/class sizes. Distinctive format. Clearer intellectual ethos. Intellectual coherence and
progression to some extent guaranteed.
How to:1. Introduce interdisciplinary courses, while; 2. Giving students a sense of choice, AND;3. At the same time recognising the choices
they have already made.
‘New Aberdeen Courses’ provided at three levels: Level One: University-wide ‘flagship’ courses;
Level Two: College-wide ‘flagship’ courses;
Level Three: School-wide ‘flagship’ courses;
Level Four: Disciplinary courses.
Level One (University-wide courses): “Approaches to Knowledge” “Learning and Memory” “The Ethics of Engagement”
Level Two (College-wide courses): (CASS) “The Art of Persuasion”; “Symbol, Meaning &
Thought” (CLSM): “The Ethics of Scientific Research & Practice” (CPS): “The Structure of Scientific Theory”
Level Three (School-wide courses): (Div., Hist. & Phil.): “Genealogies of Religion &
Thought” (Social & Pol. Sciences): “Paradigms in Social &
Political Thought”
Level 1
University courses
Level 2
College courses
Level 3
School courses
Level 4
Discipline courses
UniversityArts & Soc.
Sci.Div, Hist. &
Phil.None
UniversityArts & Soc.
Sci.Div, Hist. &
Phil.None
Example: CASS (Div, Hist, Phil) student
First Half-session
SecondHalf-session
Level 1
(University)
Level 2
(College)
Level 3
(School)
Level 4
(Discipline)
A University Arts & Soc. SciDiv, Hist. &
Phil.None
B UniversityPhysical Sciences
Soc. & Pol. Sciences
None
Example: CASS (Div, Hist, Phil) student
First Half-session
SecondHalf-session