Overview
Course Summary
Foundation degrees, (FdA/FdSc), are normally valued at 240 credits and whilst a very valuable qualification in themselves, foundation degree graduates are entitled to build on their credits to honours level if they so wish. This programme enables recent foundation degree graduates to achieve an honours degree by continuing studies related to their professional and vocational area, building on credits already achieved. Typical areas of vocational specialism might include current UCS Fds such as Construction; Landscape Design, Creative Music, Engineering, Post-compulsory Education, Conservation, Animal Management, Environmental Sustainability and Fashion & Textiles. However, most university-validated foundation degree subjects are appropriate. The course may be studied full-time over one academic year or part-time over two years.
BA(Hons) Professional Studies focuses on management and professional issues that directly relate to the student's vocational specialism and employment. Emphasis is placed on self-managed learning and linking the professional work-place to academic theoretical frameworks and concepts. The future of chosen vocational sectors within the local, national and global context, is also considered. Students can expect toincrease their self-confidence, develop professional and managerial practice and become more effective, independent and proactive in their professional roles.
Entry Requirements
Entrants to this programme will normally hold a Foundation degree, Diploma of Higher Education or Higher National Diploma equivalent to 240 credits. A 60 credit "bridging" programme is available for entrants holding an HND validated at 180 credits, but depending on circumstances (for instance, if a candidate has accumulated equivalent professional updating and experience) it is possible to achieve these credits through an Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) process.
All entrants are expected to be vocationally engaged in a professional sector on a full-time or part-time basis.
Learning Outcomes
These course aims are broken down into sets of related skills, which are known as learning outcomes.
A. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course students should be able to:
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Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of group dynamics in a range of settings, and be able to maximise their own effectiveness and that of others in group contexts;
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Reflect on their own learning within groups whilst being aware of, and sensitive to, the learning styles of others within group settings;
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Recall and apply effective methods and strategies for the supervision of others within professional settings;
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Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the modern and post-modern historical context of professional and business ethics
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Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of a range of contemporary issues involving business, management, society, professionalism and ethics
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Demonstrate an understanding of theories of moral philosophy and their application to ethical and sustainability dilemmas;
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Knowledge and understanding of ethical and sustainability issues for the future of at least one specific sector;
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Recognize the inevitability of change in professional contexts and be able to manage its effects in a positive fashion;
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Demonstrate an understanding of the effective use of IT in professional and own development, and an awareness of its misuse/abuse in professional and academic contexts;
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Demonstrate a basic understanding of human resource management;
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Demonstrate an understanding of organisational culture and its impact on organisational dynamics
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Identify a range of management styles and practices and how they are effectively employed
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Recognise the conflicting demands of stakeholders and the need to reconcile these demands within an organisational context.
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Demonstrate an awareness of the rationale and purposes of risk in professional settings;
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Give examples of own role in developing organisational strategies, providing instances where these have been applied;
B. Mental or cognitive skills
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
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Reflect on and apply their academic learning effectively within a professional context;
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Consider and critically evaluate views other than their own;
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Exercise independent, critical judgment in the close reading of texts;
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Demonstrate an ability to present, evaluate and interpret information, to develop lines of argument and make sound critical judgements in accordance with the theoretical frameworks and concepts associated with their professional sector
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Analyse the concept of sustainability, its strengths, limitations and applications to a specific professional sector
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Devise and justify a plan for future improvements to their own practice
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Analyse the financial position of the business organisation/professional activity both in terms of relative strengths and weaknesses and its relationship to competition.
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Critically evaluate the service they provide to clients
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Undertake a detailed analysis of the competitive environment facing the business organisation/professional activity.
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Evaluate organisational strategies;
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Evaluate how academic learning may be linked to learning in the work-place
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Evaluate and reconcile competing/contradictory theories, views and/or explanations;
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Demonstrate the ability to reflect on and be critical of their own research and writing;Demonstrate a significant degree of integrity and intellectual maturity.
C. Subject Specific and Practical Skills
By the end of the course students should be able to:
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Work effectively as part of a team and demonstrate team-working/team-leadership skills in a professional context;
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Employ effective time and resource management skills;
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Show a capability to vision the future, adapt to change and act responsibly.
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Demonstrate effective strategies of developing and sustaining motivation in themselves and in others
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Employ effective project design and management skills;
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Effectively employ an appropriate range of IT resources in the completion of coursework, including storage, retrieval and analysis of data;
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Demonstrate effective leadership skills, and the ability to assume and execute roles and tasks for which they have sole or shared responsibility;
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Influence or initiate change in professional contexts;
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Recall and apply effective management strategies for maximising the effectiveness of groups/teams in professional settings;
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Carry out basic risk assessments in a professional setting;
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Assist in developing and implanting effective organisational strategies;Question and affect organisational practice.
D. Key Skills
Key Skills, also known as graduate key skills, transferable skills or general skills, comprise communication, information technology, problem solving, numeracy, working with others and improving own learning.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
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Work effectively within a team and demonstrate team leadership where appropriate within a professional context;
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Demonstrate the ability to view professional activities in a holistic way and apply systems thinking skills when finding solutions to specific problems;
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Demonstrate the ability to integrate learning with working;
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Demonstrate knowledge of the stylistic and presentational conventions of an undergraduate dissertation
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Work towards the completion of coursework projects in a disciplined fashion according to deadlines
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Make effective use of academic libraries, archives, and range of appropriate electronic media for research purposes
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Identify future personal and professional skills needed to respond to the challenge of sustainability and to reduce mis-match between professional standards and those of companies or individuals.
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Design and execute a substantial piece of research or professionally-related investigative project based around self-formulated questions and using appropriate research methods, data sources and resources;
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Assemble, interpret and analyse evidence as a means of forming a well-articulated argument;
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Play a pro-active role in discussion activities;
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Perform effectively in periods of self-directed study;
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Demonstrate imagination and flexibility in seeking and achieving solutions to problems;
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Deliver presentations using an appropriate range of communication technologies/presentational aids;
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Employ appropriate academic referencing/citation conventions consistently and to an appropriate standard of competency;
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Effectively employ a range of IT resources in the completion of coursework including the storage, retrieval and analysis of data;Identify, collate and interpret statistical information.
Upon Completion
Upon completion of the course, graduates will hold a full sector specific Honours degree, allowing students to advance within their careers. Graduates can also choose to advance to postgraduate study at University Campus Suffolk.