CL2CC: Careers for Classicists and Ancient Historians

Module code: CL2CC

Module provider: Classics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor David Carter, email: d.m.carter@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE CL2CCP (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to recognise and enhance the employability of our students. It gives students an opportunity to reflect on their degree programme so far and to make plans and set targets for the rest of their degree and beyond. It develops knowledge of the career opportunities that are available to graduates in Classics and Ancient History, and the skills to make effective job applications. In addition, students will relate their experiences of exploring a career path to selected aspects of work and careers in the ancient world, from farmers to emperors. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. practise careers-information retrieval, research and decision-making skills, using a variety of sources (including the Internet and, where appropriate, interviews with Reading graduates and employers of their degree discipline); 
2. identify and analyse the skills and interests they have gained from their undergraduate studies and set them in the context of career decision-making;
3. develop personal effectiveness and self-awareness through the use of self-reflective tools to identify areas of career interest and evaluate their strengths and career values;
4. creatively reflect on their experience by relating it to their study of work and careers in the ancient world. 

Module content

Semester 1 offers a series of thematic sessions intended to foster a reflection on the degree and its prospects, the place of the discipline in the modern world, learning strategies for Parts 2 and 3 to aid with specific skill acquisition and employability in given sectors, as well as talks from recent graduates and from members of the University’s Careers Centre. In Semester 2 of Part 2 students will explore central aspects of work and careers in the ancient world. This is designed to encourage reflection on professional attitudes and behaviours in different contexts, and to prepare students for a rapidly changing world of work.

Topics studied in class may include the following: 

• Farming and morality in the Greek and Roman worlds.
• The school of Chiron: how to become a hero.
• Work and gender in antiquity.
• The Roman cursus honorum.
• Military careers.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a mix of lectures and seminars.

Lectures and seminars will be based on a combination of information about various areas, and discussions in groups under the direction of the lecturer.  

Study hours

At least 16 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs