Martin A. Mills

Increase inter-disciplinarity of Aberdeen degree.

Present distinctive set of ‘New Aberdeen Courses’.

Reduce staff and student insularity. Improve student retention.

‘MARKET’ MODEL ‘FLAGSHIP’ MODEL

Courses are proposed by individual staff.

Standard ASC quality control.

No limit to number of courses.

Modular.

CONSIDERATIONS Greater ‘freedom of choice’. Little/no control of student

flow or class sizes. What is distinctive about

this? Where is the guarantee of

intellectual coherence or progression?

Courses are proposed at University/College/School level as ‘representative’.

‘Team’ built with ASC oversight and Uni/College /School control.

Limited number of primary courses.

CONSIDERATIONS Lesser ‘freedom of choice’. Greater control of student

flows/class sizes. Distinctive format. Clearer intellectual ethos. Intellectual coherence and

progression to some extent guaranteed.

How to:1. Introduce interdisciplinary courses, while; 2. Giving students a sense of choice, AND;3. At the same time recognising the choices

they have already made.

‘New Aberdeen Courses’ provided at three levels: Level One: University-wide ‘flagship’ courses;

Level Two: College-wide ‘flagship’ courses;

Level Three: School-wide ‘flagship’ courses;

Level Four: Disciplinary courses.

Level One (University-wide courses): “Approaches to Knowledge” “Learning and Memory” “The Ethics of Engagement”

Level Two (College-wide courses): (CASS) “The Art of Persuasion”; “Symbol, Meaning &

Thought” (CLSM): “The Ethics of Scientific Research & Practice” (CPS): “The Structure of Scientific Theory”

Level Three (School-wide courses): (Div., Hist. & Phil.): “Genealogies of Religion &

Thought” (Social & Pol. Sciences): “Paradigms in Social &

Political Thought”

Level 1

University courses

Level 2

College courses

Level 3

School courses

Level 4

Discipline courses

UniversityArts & Soc.

Sci.Div, Hist. &

Phil.None

UniversityArts & Soc.

Sci.Div, Hist. &

Phil.None

Example: CASS (Div, Hist, Phil) student

First Half-session

SecondHalf-session

Level 1

(University)

Level 2

(College)

Level 3

(School)

Level 4

(Discipline)

A University Arts & Soc. SciDiv, Hist. &

Phil.None

B UniversityPhysical Sciences

Soc. & Pol. Sciences

None

Example: CASS (Div, Hist, Phil) student

First Half-session

SecondHalf-session