Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literatures and Cultures and Spanish

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

Our BA Comparative Literatures and Cultures degree offers an unmatched opportunity to study international cultural production in both depth and breadth. You will study global literatures and cultures in comparative frameworks that draw on methodologies from textual, cultural and visual studies, as well as from translation, philosophy, history, social science and critical theory. Texts will be read in English translation.

Core units in years one and two currently include: What is Comparative Literature and How Do We Practise It?; Introduction to Visual Cultures; Popular Representation and Institutions of Culture; Migrations of Culture. Additionally, you will have a wide choice of optional units based in the culture of a single language or a combination of cultures.

You will spend your third year in a Spanish-speaking country, where you will undertake university study, a British Council assistantship or a work placement. You will follow a programme of study in Spanish, developing linguistic skills enabling you to communicate easily in writing and orally. For more information about the year abroad, visit Global Opportunities.

In year four you will complete an innovative supervised independent project, consisting of an extended essay on a topic of your choice and a public-facing element presented to the entire cohort (e.g. prospectus, interview, museum catalogue entries, newspaper article).

You will be taught by experts in the field and teaching is informed by staff research interests. The course is delivered in varied ways through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and one-to-one supervision. You will participate in small-group teaching and may be asked to give introductory talks to initiate discussion.

This course encourages attributes highly valued by employers, including intercultural understanding, analytical and critical thinking, clarity and self confidence in communication, an aptitude for collaborative work, and creativity. It will instil habits of curiosity, openness, rigour, self reflection and evidence-based thinking, preparing you for a career in various sectors.

Social Science Research Methods (Management) provides comprehensive training in the process of research conceptualisation, design and operationalisation. It has been carefully formulated to reflect the training recommended by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It is particularly suited for those seeking a career as a social science researcher or planning to go on to a PhD in Management.

The program delivers a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in the variety of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods available to the social scientist and in the principal methods of analysing data. The program also covers the philosophies underpinning the research process, ethical considerations and social theory. You will be encouraged to apply your methods training to your substantive research interests.

You’ll be taught by leading academics whose research tackles the global societal issues across management related disciplines.

Our research themes are:

• Inclusive Economy
• Sustainable Consumption and Production
• Innovation and Digitalisation
• Public Services Governance and Management
• Global Political Economy
• Work Futures.

In this four-year degree course you will learn about international business and study internationally, spending a year at one of our partner universities overseas.

This degree is the same as the three-year course during the first two years. In your second year you will learn about research design, data collection and data analysis, including statistical analysis of survey data, interviews and observation in organisations. You will spend your third year abroad studying modules in business and management in English at one of our partner universities.

You will return to Bristol for your final year, when you will complete a dissertation, a piece of individual research in which you can focus on a topic that stimulates your interest the most. You will also take other core and optional units.

This course is ideal for students interested in learning more about how to use numbers and data within social policy. It provides training in practical and analytical skills, which will enhance your career prospects and provide you with a strong platform for postgraduate study. No prior knowledge of statistical techniques is required.

About two thirds of your studies will follow the single honours BSc Social Policy course, where you will acquire core knowledge in your subject. You will focus on key issues such as inequality, risk, need, and the social processes and institutions that enhance or impair wellbeing. You will draw on social, political and economic theory to analyse and explore these in a global context.

The remaining third of your course will provide interdisciplinary training in quantitative methods. In year one of the quantitative pathway we discuss how numbers and data are used to tell convincing stories in the media and social research. We consider what is meant by segregation and how it can be mapped and measured. Year two offers practical classes in social statistics and applied data analysis, which will develop your skills in numeracy and analysis and enable you to undertake your own individual research project in an area of quantitative social science in year three.

Studying a combination of history of art and German offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges and provides a valuable skill set that is ideally tailored to an increasingly globalised workplace.

As the UK renegotiates its relationship with its European partners, the importance of German has never been greater.

You will study a combination of language, art history and culture units, spending your third year abroad in a German-speaking country on a study or work placement. While abroad, you will refine your skills in your chosen language along with your cultural understanding.

Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching resulting in a vibrant learning environment for our students as staff respond in their teaching to new developments. All modern languages students have access to our state-of-the-art multimedia centre.