University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 7

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: 1.00 pm Mon, 1.00 pm Tue, 1.00 pm Fri

Students will be introduced to influential thinkers, theories and texts across four main themes: the nature of reality; matter and the cosmos and their representations in the Arts; the idea of rights; and the principle of evolution as applied within and beyond the biological sciences. Students will encounter thinkers from Plato to Einstein, via Newton, Kant, Wollstonecraft and Darwin. They will develop an appreciation of the wider importance of figures such as these to a range of human intellectual endeavour across disciplinary boundaries. Use is made of original source material where possible, and lectures are supplemented by facilitated discussion sessions. This module complements Great Ideas 1, but may be studied independently.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 3 lectures and 1 tutorial.

Scheduled learning hours: 42

Guided independent study hours: 158

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 50%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 50%

Re-assessment: 3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr S F Mansell