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Module Handbook

B.A./B.Sc. Liberal Arts and Sciences

Academic Year 2012/13


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Module Handbook B.A./B.Sc. Liberal Arts and Sciences

University College Freiburg, 1stJuly 2013

This handbook provides all necessary information on the modules of the four-year bachelor program Liberal

Arts and Sciences. The legal foundation for the Liberal Arts and Science program is provided in the Rules and

Regulations that were passed (in German) by the University Senate in its meeting on 25 April 2012 and

approved by the Rector on 16 May 2012 (see Official Bulletins Volume 43, No. 55, pp. 212-232, 18 May 2012).

Contents

I. General Information ..................................................................................................... 1

1. Study Areas ............................................................................................................ 1

2. Structure of the LAS Program .................................................................................. 2

2.1 Year 1 Foundational Year ...............................................................................................2

II. Module Descriptions .................................................................................................... 4

1. Core Modules ......................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Liberal Arts and Sciences - Backgrounds, Ideas, Challenges ...............................................4

1.2 Exploring Complex Problems ................................................................................................5

1.3 Sharing Knowledge ...............................................................................................................6

1.4 Anthropology and Experience ..............................................................................................7

1.5 Dealing with Numerical Information ....................................................................................8

2. Modules of the Major Culture and History .............................................................. 9

2.1 Introduction to Culture and History .....................................................................................9

2.2 Culture and History Up to the Early Modern Period ......................................................... 10

3. Modules of the Major Governance ......................................................................... 11

3.1 Introduction to Governance .............................................................................................. 11

4. Modules of the Major Life Sciences ........................................................................ 12

4.1 Introduction to Life Sciences ............................................................................................. 12

5. Modules of the Major Earth and Environmental Sciences ....................................... 13

5.1 Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences........................................................... 13

6. Language Modules ................................................................................................. 14

6.1 Language and Culture ........................................................................................................ 14

6.2 Academic English Programme ........................................................................................... 15

6.3 Further Languages ............................................................................................................. 15


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University College Freiburg, 1stJuly 2013 1

I. General Information

This module handbook provides an overview of the curriculum of the English-taught,

four- year Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) and summaries all necessary

information about the individual modules taught.

1. Study Areas

The LAS program consists of four study areas:

1. The Core(66 ECTS points) constitutes the intellectual identity of LAS at the University

of Freiburg: All students are trained intensively in general academic skills

(researching and presenting complex problems, effective writing, numerical literacy

etc.). In order to put these skills into context and to exemplify the necessity and

complexity of interdisciplinary thought and action, the first year of the program

focusses on contemporary societal challenges (such as Global Inequality, Public

Health, Environmental Issues etc.). In the higher semesters of the core program, the

students coursework is continuously complemented by instruction in the theory of

science, knowledge and research. Finally, students follow a curriculum focusing on

responsibility and leadership.

2. The Languages part of the program (36 ECTS) ensures that all LAS students can

communicate on academic topics in excellent English and good German. They are

encouraged to acquire a good grounding in a third language.

3. The Major (90 ECTS) constitutes the students thorough training in an

interdisciplinary academic field of the Sciences and/or the Humanities (Life

Sciences, Culture and History, Earth and Environmental Sciences,Governance). It aims to provide sufficient depth to make admission into

disciplinary M.A. or M.Sc. programs possible.


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4. An Electives area of the curriculum (48 ECTS) enables students to either pursue

further studies of their choice, engage in more practically oriented projects or

undertake specific additional training necessary for admission into their chosen M.A.

or M.Sc. programs.

2. Structure of the LAS Program

The LAS program is mostly organized in a block schedule with a total of six blocks per

academic year (three blocks in the winter term and summer term, respectively). Individual

modules are taught within a single block and are usually divided into course, exam and

reflection periods. The shorter blocks three and six are devoted to one topic only and may

take the form of an intensive spring or summer school.

Schedule for the Academic Year 2012/2013:

2.1 Year 1 Foundational Year

The Foundational Year focusses on the study of fundamental real-world problems that are

characterized both by their current relevance and their inherent complexity. Current topicsinclude: Transformations of Body and Mind, Community, Migration, Identity, Dealing

with Waste: Matter and Problems, Feeding the World without Destroying the Planet.

These topics introduce students to studying questions from different perspectives and

enable instruction in core academic skills, such as research, writing and presentation. In

addition to these broad foundational courses, students choose two to three courses, each of

which will provide an overview of one of the four majors. Finally, as during the following

years, students have the chance to develop language skills according to interests and needs.


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Modules of the Foundational Year:


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II. Module Descriptions

1. Core Modules

1.1 Liberal Arts and Sciences - Backgrounds, Ideas, Challenges

Area Core

Type Compulsory Module

Teaching Forms Lecture

Interval Yearly, block 1 & 2 Year 1

Duration 16 weeks ECTS 6

Workload 180 h (of which 40 h attendance) Language English

Module Coordinator Dr. N. Eschenbruch, [email protected]

Additional LecturersProf. Dr. B. Zimmermann, Dr. V. Balli, Dr. S. Bchner, Dr. K. Moll, Dr. R.

Plumley

Convener Prof. Dr. B. Zimmermann

Requirements None

Content The module introduces the Liberal Arts and Sciences. It elucidates the

historical background and current positioning of LAS in the national and

international educational landscape and discusses the specific expectations

and learning experience of students in an LAS framework. Special emphasis

will be put on a concrete and practical introduction to the epistemological

focus of the LAS study program.

Learning Goals (1) Basic knowledge of the historical genesis of LAS and contemporary

developments in this approach to education.

(2) Basic ability to classify and reflect upon ones own learning experiences

in the LAS framework, and encouragement to do so.

(3) Basic knowledge of epistemology and scholarly/scientific research, as

well as approaches to critical reflection about these topics, particularly

- methodological procedure in scholarship and research (experiment,

systematic observation, modelling, hermeneutics, among others)

- objectivity and subjectivity

- the history and sociology of academic disciplines

Assessed (Pass/Fail)

Coursework

3 ECTS, Block 1: a learning journal with four weekly entries, each of at least

two pages.

Graded Examination 3 ECTS, Block 2: a learning journal with four weekly entries, each of at least

two pages, and a final reflection paper of at least four pages.


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1.2 Exploring Complex Problems

Area Core


Teaching Forms Lecture (3 ECTS), Work Group (3 ECTS)

Interval Yearly, block 1 Year 1



Module Coordinator Dr. S. Bchner, [email protected]

Additional Lecturers Dr. V. Balli, Dr. N. Eschenbruch, Dr. K. Moll, Dr. R. Plumley


Requirements None

Content The module covers two basic skills of scholarly work: literature research

and presentation of a topic in a talk. It will impart theoretical knowledge on

the skills while at the same time practice them on current complex

problems. The students will learn how to independently research literature,

how to summarize its content, how to use it in an essay, and how to

present a topic to a particular audience. Throughout the whole module the

research practices and traditions in different disciplines will be addressed.

Learning Goals (1) Recognize and classify different forms of knowledge and their usage.

(2) Identification and classification of scholarly and non-scholarly texts.

(3) The ability to find literature on a particular topic in libraries, searchengines and literature data bases.

(4) The ability to find literature on a particular topic in libraries, search

engines and literature data bases.

(5) The ability to understand and summarize simple scholarly texts.

(6) The ability to present a topic to peers within a given time frame.


Coursework

3 ECTS, students give an effective and structured presentation about a

topic to their peers (time restricted) AND attendance during seminar

Graded Examination 3 ECTS, 2 Graded Examinations: an essay (750-1000 words) on the

presentation of a topic in different sources (40%) AND an annotated

bibliography based on about 10-20 sources (60%)


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1.3 Sharing Knowledge

Area Core


Teaching Forms Lecture (3 ECTS), Work Group (3 ECTS)



Workload 180 h (of which 40h attendance) Language English

Module Coordinator Dr. R. Plumley, [email protected]

Additional Lecturers Dr. V. Balli, Dr. S. Bchner, Dr. N. Eschenbruch, Dr. K. Moll


Content This module introduces students to the challenges of sharing knowledgethrough written expression. One overarching goal is to explore how writing

is not simply a passive medium of communication but also a social activity

that involves many actors and has multiple effects in the world. To that

end, writing skills are developed in response to one of a set of complex

social, intellectual, and cultural problems that provide the topical material

for the module.

Particular emphasis will be put on the genre of the short, thesis-based

essay that deploys logic, evidence, and rhetoric in order to both inform and

persuade an audience. Over eight weeks, the students will develop an

essay relevant to one of the set of specific topics. This development will

involve preparatory writing, research, outlining, drafting, and revising inprogressive stages.

Learning Goals (1) Learning to think of writing as a process with multiple stages, including

preparation, composition, and revision.

(2) The development of basic writing skills such as outlining, free-writing,

and self-directed revision.

(3) The ability to organize and effectively recapitulate information to

others in writing (e.g., analytical synopsis, description of an

experiment, etc.).

(4) The ability to give appropriate attention to contextincluding

audience, situation, genre, and disciplinein ones writing.(5) The ability to argue for a well-informed opinion in writing with

evidentiary, logical, and rhetorical rigor.

(6) Recognition of the importance of clear and convincing writing to

scholarship and other forms of sharing knowledge.


Coursework

3 ECTS, A provisional 250-500 words research statement (including

justification, overview, and potential resources) AND an essay outline with

plausible argumentative structure AND attendance during seminar

Graded Examination 3 ECTS, Two essays: analytical synopsis (ca. 1500 words) of 1-3 sources of

various kinds (30%) AND a polished thesis-based essay (1500-2000 words)

based on independent research and developed over multiple stages (70%).


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1.4 Anthropology and Experience

Area Core


Teaching FormsSeminar (3 ECTS)

Work Group (3 ECTS)

Interval block 5, 2, 3 Year 1 and 2

Duration 8 weeks (4 weeks) ECTS 6


Module Coordinator Dr. Nicholas Eschenbruch, [email protected]


Requirements None

Content This is the first course of the LAS Curriculum Responsibility and

Leadership. It uses several perspectives to explore questions of human

nature and personal identity that lie at the heart of any thorough

understanding of responsible action.

The Seminardraws on texts from Biology, Philosophy, Anthropology,

Psychology and Sociology to explore how different academic disciplines put

different emphases on what characterises human beings.

The Work Groupuses self-reflexive ideas and tools as a starting point for

an exploration of ones own actual experience as a human being, and

discusses how those relate to the academic perspectives studied in the

seminar.

Learning Goals (1) To realise that different academic disciplines have quite different views

on human nature, and get acquainted with some classic disciplinary

positions and approaches to that question.

(2) To realise that implicit or explicit ideas on human nature can structure

both scientific inquiry about humans and actual human behaviour.

(3) To develop a clearer idea about ones own assumptions and positions

about what it means to be human, to be able to relate them critically to

academic positions on that question, and to be able to sustain or

challenge them in discussion.Graded Coursework Seminar: regular attendance and an essay of 1800-2000 words

Work Group: regular active attendance


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1.5 Dealing with Numerical Information

Area Core


Teaching FormsLecture and Exercise Tutorial (3 ECTS),

Work Group and Software Tutorial (3 ECTS)




Module Coordinator Dr. K. Moll, [email protected]

Additional Lecturers Dr. S. Bchner, PD Dr. M. Junker, T. Schuster


Requirements None

Content The module introduces the usage of numerical data and techniques in

scientific, as well as non-scientific work. Students learn different forms of

data illustration and falsification. They procure basic theoretical and

practical knowledge of probability theory and descriptive and analytical

statistics. Additionally, students acquaint themselves with methods of

formal logic and numerical models of growth.

Topics are presented during lectures and discussed in Work Groups.

Numerical techniques are practiced with exercise sheets and applied during

software tutorials using the statistics package R.

Learning Goals On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

(1) Interpret and analyse numerical and graphical information.

(2) Illustrate numerical data meaningfully.

(3) Recall key concepts of probability theory, statistical methods, formal

logic and growth.

(4) Apply basic descriptive and analytical statistics, methods of formal logic

and concept of growth to different sets of data.


Coursework

3 ECTS, attendance during work group and software tutorials AND 50% of

all possible points awarded for correct answers in the exercises.

Graded Examination 3 ECTS, formal written exam (90 min)


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2. Modules of the Major Culture and History

2.1 Introduction to Culture and History

Area Culture and History

TypeCompulsory for Culture and History Major

Compulsory Elective for other Majors


Work Group (3 ECTS)

Interval Twice a year, block 4 & 5 Year 1





Content In this module, students encounter and work with typical objects of

study and research in the humanities: literary and philosophical texts,

works of art, and customs or rituals. At the same time, they practice the

scholarly methods of critical inquiry and interpretation that can be applied

to these objects and practices.

In the Seminar, students read and discuss important works, many of

them classics in their field, which introduce the problems and promise of

specific scholarly approaches to humanistic research and study.

In the Work Group, students undertake the techniques of humanistic

interpretation with specific cultural objects or practices.

Although the objects and practices are not all necessarily derived from

the same temporal or geographic context, students also learn to think

about how cultural work emerges out of historical and other contexts.

The module is designed to encourage independent reflection about

cultural objects undertaken in dialogue with peers. Hence, both substantial

reading and work outside of class time and substantial discussion in class

are required.

Learning Goals Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

(1) Intelligently interpret a cultural object or practice at a basic level.

(2) Identify and undertake scholarly research appropriate to cultural objects

and practices of various kinds (literary, art historical, anthropological,

etc.).

(3) Critically evaluate a scholarly interpretation of a cultural object or

practice.


Coursework

3 ECTS: satisfactory participation in the module and its associated activities,

completion of all required small assignments (anthropological observation,

reading reports, etc.).

Graded Examination 3 ECTS: a thesis-based interpretive essay of 5-7 pages that addresses one of

the objects of study from the module and engages with one scholarly

response to that object.


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2.2 Culture and History Up to the Early Modern Period

Area Culture and History

TypeCompulsory Elective for Culture and History Major

Elective for other Majors


Work Group (3 ECTS)





Additional Lecturers Prof. Dr. Gehrke


Requirements Successful completion of the module Introduction to Culture and History

Content In this module students encounter the cultural and historical study of a

pre-modern geographical and temporal context. In doing so, they learn

how to work with the typical source materials for the study of pre-modern

societies and cultures.

The Seminarsubstantively develops students' knowledge about a

specific topic chosen by the instructor. Emphasis may be put on cultivating

general historical context, exploration of a theme or problem, or working

with a specific body of source materials.The Work Groupdevelops students theoretical and methodological

knowledge and abilities in ways suited to the study of pre-modern societies

and cultures. Methodological and theoretical points of focus may include

archaeology, hermeneutics, literary theory, reception analysis, the analysis

of visual culture, or historical methods, among others.

The module is offered in varying forms with varying topics. For specific

details about the geo-temporal and material content, about the

methodological emphasis, and about the teaching/learning format consult

the instructor in the relevant block.


(1) demonstrate mastery of a specific body of knowledge about a pre-

modern society or culture.

(2) apply their methodological and theoretical learning from the Work

Group to the specific topical material studied in the Seminar.

(3) relate their learning about pre-modern societies to contemporary

problems and issues.


Coursework

3 ECTS: satisfactory participation in the module and its associated activities,

satisfactory completion of all required assignments.

Graded Examination 3 ECTS: a thesis-based Essay.


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3. Modules of the Major Governance

3.1 Introduction to Governance

Area Governance

TypeCompulsory for Governance Major



Work Group (3 ECTS)

Interval Twice a year, block 4 & 5 Year 1



Module Coordinator Dr. V. Balli, [email protected]


Content The module offers a general introduction to the study of governance.

"Governance" is understood here in a broad, non-technical sense: the ways

we deal with common problems. Our focus will be on transformations of

governance over the last two to four decades. Guiding questions will be:

Which problems are addressed? How are they identified? Which means

and which institutions are resorted to? What are the conflicts and tensions

in these fields? We will study these questions by focusing on phenomena of

governance at three "levels": the local, the European, and the global. Each

level will be dealt with in a set of sessions. First, we will delineate the

general characteristics of the respective level of governance: actors,institutions and rules, and their recent transformations. Then, we will deal

with one case of governance in more depth. In this way, we will become

more familiar with a number of key concepts, analytical perspectives, and

theoretical issues in the study of governance.

In the first session of each week (Seminar), the focus will be on an input

by the lecturer. The second session (Work Group) will consist primarily of

discussions. All sessions will be based on readings.

Learning Goals Upon successful completion of this module, students should:

(1) Become acquainted with fundamental questions in the study of

governance.(2) Understand and be able to use key concepts in the study of governance.

(3) Become familiar with a variety of phenomena of governance.

(4) Get to know the plurality of scholarly discourses/ disciplines/ sub-

disciplines that contribute to the study of governance.


Coursework

3 ECTS: Regular attendance of the classes AND a 10 minute presentation on

a sub-aspect of the topic dealt with in a session.

Graded Examination 3 ECTS: A 2500 word analytic essay.


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4. Modules of the Major Life Sciences

4.1 Introduction to Life Sciences

Area Life Sciences

TypeCompulsory for Life Sciences Major


Teaching Forms Lecture (3 ECTS), Workgroup (3 ECTS)

Interval Once a year, block 5 Year 1



Module Coordinator Dr. S. Bchner, [email protected]

Additional Lecturers -


Requirements None

Content In this module, students will learn about basic concepts in the Life

Sciences. In particular, the course will focus on the biological and

psychological systems that sustain a human being and allow him or her to

deal with a complex environment. This includes interaction with the

environment, sensation and action, physiological systems, and the

functioning of cells. Besides the structures and processes that make up

these systems, students will learn about methods from the Life Sciences

that are employed to investigate these systems.In Work Groups, students will research, present and discuss challenges

from the fields of Cell Biology, Physiology, Neurobiology and Psychology.

Lab visits to different kinds of lab, in which students will experience the

work in scientific laboratories, will round off the course.

Learning Goals Upon successful completion of this module, students should:

(1) Have basic knowledge about the biological and psychological systems

of the human body and the ways they allow the human being to

interact with the environment

(2) Have advanced knowledge in one challenge from the Life Sciences

(3) Be ready to conduct simple scientific experiments(4) Be able to present a topic according to basic scientific standards


Coursework

3 ECTS: satisfactory participation in the Work Group AND participation in a

lab visit AND an oral presentation during the Work Group

Graded Examination 3 ECTS: a formal written exam (45 min, 50%) AND an essay or a report

(50%)


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5. Modules of the Major Earth and Environmental Sciences

5.1 Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences

Area Earth and Environmental Sciences

TypeCompulsory for Earth and Environmental Sciences Major


Teaching Forms Lecture and Work Group (3 ECTS), Practical (3 ECTS)

Interval Once a year, block 5 Year 1



Module Coordinator Dr. K. Moll, [email protected]


Requirements None

Content In this module, students explore past and contemporary environmental

challenges. They acquaint themselves with the basic knowledge of the

interacting components of our Earth system that are necessary to

understand these challenges. These components include our physical

environment (e.g. structure and function of the atmosphere), our living

environment (e.g. structure and function of ecosystems), as well as the

interaction between the two. In addition, students familiarise themselves

with the basic research methods that are used in the field of environmental

studies.

Students learn about components of the Earth system during Lectures

and present and discuss past and contemporary environmental challenges

in their Work Groups. They practice research methods during practical

classes.


(1) Recall basic structures and functions of different components of the

Earth system and their interaction with each other

(2) Explain links between these components and past and contemporary

environmental challenges

(3) Perform basic scientific work/experiments

(4) Present a topic according to basic scientific standards (orally and inwritten form)


Coursework

3 ECTS: satisfactory participation in the work group and practical classes

AND an oral presentation during the workgroup

Graded Examination 3 ECTS: a formal written exam (45 min, 50%) AND a formal scientific report

on one of the practical classes (50%)


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6. Language Modules

Language courses can be selected from those offered by the Language Teaching Centre

(Sprachlehrinstitut, SLI) or other institutions of the University of Freiburg. The University

College Freiburg only offers language modules depending on student need.

6.1 Language and Culture

Area Language

Type Compulsory Elective Module

Teaching Forms Seminar, workgroup

IntervalBlock 1 & 2 (offering interval

dependent on student need)Year 1


Workload 180 h (of 40 h attendance) Language English

Module Coordinator G. Leung , [email protected]

Additional Lecturers J. Landgrebe, J. Vagg


Requirements None

Content This module is two-fold in purpose as it develops the students skills in

academic English through the exploration of topics in language and culture.

In regards to the content, the topics are taken from the disciplines of

speech communication, linguistics, and dialectology. By interrogating

commonly held beliefs on language, students gain a deeper appreciation of

the very complex role language plays in human interaction. In terms of

academic English, this module is an integrated skills course in which

students have the opportunity to advance their reading, writing, listening,

and speaking competences appropriate to an undergraduate level.

Learning Goals Learning goals in relation to academic English development:

(1) To read introductory-level undergraduate academic texts with ease

(2) To write a variety of paragraph types within an academic essay

(3) To deliver short informative and persuasive speeches(4) To take comprehensive notes during an academic talk

(5) To develop general academic vocabulary

Learning goals in relation to topics:

(1) To dispel myths surrounding language usage

(2) To foster an awareness of how language can be investigated

scientifically


Coursework

Students will submit an academic English portfolio consisting of written and

oral artefacts.


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University College Freiburg 1st

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6.2 Academic English Programme

Area Language



IntervalBlock 3 (offering interval

dependent on student need)Year 1

Duration 4 weeks (shorter block possible) ECTS 3

Workload 90 h (of 20 h attendance) Language English

Module Coordinator G. Leung , [email protected]

Additional Lecturers


Requirements Language and Culture

Content These modules explicitly address particular aspects of academic English. On

offer are grammar modules as wells as foundation modules which target

specific skills (3 ETCS each).

(1) Advanced English grammar (various levels)

(2) Foundation in composition

(3) Foundation in public speaking

Learning Goals The learning goals are dependent on the topical focus of the module.


Coursework

Grammar module: Examination

Foundation module: A minimum of two pieces of work

6.3 Further Languages

Area Language



Interval dependent on student need

Duration 2-8 weeks ECTS 3- 6

Module CoordinatorThese modules can be offered in close co-operation with the SLI, or in part

or fully - under the auspices of the SLI.

Additional Lecturers A. Guilhem-Hou (French)

Content Depending on student need and level, tailor-made modules in foreign

languages other than English will be offered.

Learning Goals The learning goals are dependent on the needs analysis.


Coursework

To be announced at the beginning of each course

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