Teaching and Course Structure
Teaching Methods
We use a wide variety of teaching methods in the department. The lecture/tutorial model of teaching is the mainstay of our undergraduate programmes but, depending on the subjects taken, case studies, group or individual projects, computer-based exercises, and presentation of essays and reports to staff and other students are all used.
The department is committed to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and to the creation of an enhanced learning environment. To this end we monitor teaching through both formal and informal feedback. Student feedback is a vital part of this process. The department's staff-student forum meets at least twice a semester to discuss various issues such as course content, library, IT and other facilities, and methods of assessment. We also conduct regular year group surveys and students complete an evaluation questionnaire for each module.
The Semester System
The University of Sheffield operates a semester system in which the academic year is divided into two. In each of the two semesters teaching takes place for 12 weeks. This is followed by a three-week revision and examination period. There is a break in each semester for the Christmas and Easter vacations.
The Modular System
Modules (also known as units) are offered at one or more levels, the levels being numbered one to three. For full time students, a level is the same as a year, so level one work corresponds to first year work, and so on. For students on a three year course, level three is the third year. However, for four year courses involving a foreign language, students spend their third year abroad. This does not count as a level, so when they return to their final year of study, they are returning to level three.
Each module carries a credit rating (20 for a full module and 10 for a half module). At each level a student must take modules totalling 120 credits, usually 60 credits per semester. Most of our undergraduate modules in Economics are worth 20 credits.
Core, Approved and Unrestricted Modules
At each level students have to take core modules, that is modules that are compulsory for a particular degree course. They also choose approved modules from an approved list: these modules are particularly relevant to the subject of the degree. Most courses also include the opportunity to take a number of unrestricted modules among their options; these can be chosen from any field of study in the University provided that the student has met the prerequisites and there is space on the module. Unrestricted modules can be chosen from the approved list - you are not forced to take modules outside your subject.