Professional Studies BA (Hons)

About the course

This part-time programme is designed to support the individual's personal and professional development as they move into and through their career, developing the graduate knowledge and higher level skills that employers need in their workforce. These skills include creativity, enterprise, interpersonal/communication, problem solving and flexibility.

The programme aims to encourage students to develop and apply these skills in the work place, complementing their prior subject knowledge gained from previous qualifications or experience.

Such skills are central to the teaching and learning on the programme, and assessments are individually negotiated to reflect the individual student's work-based experience, developing deeper professional appreciation of their subject area.

Reflecting the world of work, the programme is both multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary, and uses a blended learning approach to enhance students' learning experiences and to increase the flexibility of how, when and where students learn. This enables students to combine their studies with their professional and workplace commitments in the most effective way.

The programme is supported by a strong personal tutoring system to deliver one-to-one support with skills, planning and reflection.

This is an HE level 3 programme, and provides the opportunity to complete an honours degree within a calendar year for those with pre-requisite qualifications (in any subject) or equivalent work-based experience.

Why choose this course?

• Balance your workplace commitments with academic study to gain an undergraduate degree.
• Gain knowledge and skills to enhance your future career goals.
• Develop essential skills such as enterprise, interpersonal/communication, problem solving and flexibility.

Study routes

• Part Time, 1 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This is a generic programme which supports the ongoing personal and professional development needed in any chosen career path.

Teaching methods

This programme of study uses a blended learning approach to enhance students learning experiences and to increase the flexibility of how, when and where students learn. This enables students to combine their studies with their professional and workplace commitments in the most effective way.

StudyNet, our managed learning environment, is a core part of our blended learning provision at the University of Hertfordshire and is central in developing and enabling virtual communities of learning for students on the programme.

Students will benefit from greater flexibility and extra support in their studies due to a blend of face- to-face lectures and seminars, on-line discussions, and other collaborative activities and tutorials.

Students will be encouraged to develop a strong engagement with their subjects through innovative learning and teaching strategies designed to enhance understanding of their subjects and to harness their passion for their subject.

Regular guidance and advice from tutors on further study will be provided using personalised and on-line assessment and feedback schemes.

Work Placement

This part-time programme does not have a specific work placement. However it is designed to complement working as a developing professional in the student's occupational context, although there may be some students who may not be in appropriate work whilst on the programme.

Students are expected to have previous work experience - for applicants with no or very little work experience to date they would normally need to be in full-time or part-time work from the start of the programme consisting of at least 10 hours per week.

The ethos of professional development is embedded within the programme and wherever possible students will be given the opportunity to use their workplace or their professional discipline as the context for their learning and assessment.

Professional Accreditations

None

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Collaborative Enquiry

  Students are introduced to the requirements of research at final year undergraduate degree level, invited to explore the full range of information sources available to a researcher and given full opportunity to improve their communication and collaboration skills. Major elements of the module content are: - The philosophy and techniques associated with research (at a both general and discipline-specific level). - Use of the library and learning resources. - Developing a critical approach to material. - Manage own learning. - Team and group working. - Developing communication skills. - Becoming a reflective learner. Study skills covered include both those specific to research, (eg citing sources, referencing texts) as well as the more general (eg time management, project planning, oral presentations). The module is split into three themes: - Understanding the philosophy of research, its main methodologies and techniques. - Appreciating and being able to use the range of information resources available to a research student. - Developing communication and collaboration skills through working with others.

• Creativity Development

  There is growing interest in preparing people for an increasingly complex world which involves developing the creative capacities of individuals and organisations to solve problems and be innovative. Being creative involves being imaginative, flexible and practical and being able to apply these attributes in a variety of situations. This module will explore creativity and apply this understanding to real and case study situations. There are 3 key themes. The first relates to the principles underpinning creativity and its relationship to the modern workplace. The second explores the development of the skills and techniques of creative problem solving and ideas generation, and how these can be applied to a variety of situations. The third explores the nature of creative organisations and individuals, and the human and organisational barriers to creative thinking, problem solving and ideas generation. It explore's organisational structures and systems that support creativity, problem solving and innovation.

• Dissertation: Professional Investigation

• Organisation Development

• People Development

  This module is concerned with the management and development of people working in organisations. Students will analyse and evaluate different perspectives on, and approaches to, the development of people and to develop an understanding of how effective people management contributes to organisational success. The module focuses on the needs of individuals in organisations and their relationship with human resource professionals both within and outside the organisation. The role of the HR function and of the line manager will be introduced and explored. The changing world of work will be reviewed, and different approaches to the development and management of people assessed. The module is experiential in that it explores people management issues using students' own experiences. In this way, students develop an appreciation of contextual influences and their impact, as well as issues and complexities involved in the management and development of people. Relevant people management skills will be developed.

• Personal Development

  This module identifies and examines the driving forces promoting personal and professional development. It offers an introduction to self-development and is designed to equip people with the skills to be effective in the world of work. It is taught in three discreet sections. Essentially practical and participative in nature and designed to develop practical and useful skills for students, the module also introduces students to a range of methodologies and approaches to personal development and students are encouraged to examine these in the context of their own work environment. A range of personal skills will be identified, examined and evaluated including time management, effective negotiation skills and networking techniques.

• Project Planning Applications

  This module can be represented by three themes of project management: planning, implementation and evaluation. Within each of these themes there are a range of re-occurring factors which must always be considered. The following is a flavour of these factors: process, tools, resources, reporting, people and politics. Each of the themes will pick up on these factors giving contextual examples. Examples will be used from a range of private/public/voluntary sector/SME/business start-up scenarios, and students will be encouraged to contribute their own experiences of project management or involvement in projects. Illustration through case studies will aim to reflect real life situations, eg changes in staff, budget cuts, recognition, re-alignment of strategic targets, business start-up and other example relevant to the cohort. Assessment will normally draw upon case studies.

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £8,500 for the 2013 academic year

Part time: If you decide to study this course on a part time basis you will be charged on a modular basis. The cost is £1,065 for each 15-credit module

International Students

Full time: £9,500 for the 2013 academic year Full time: £9,500 for the 2013 academic year

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply