The finer points of a Degree.

[greg-o]

Can anyone shed some light on the finer points of a degree for me? I plan to speak to an advisor about this soon, having been cancelled on twice, and if all you good good people can answer my queries for me I can cancel on my advisor (which is petty, I know.) Firstly, are certain honours modules compulsory, therefore if one is doing a joint degree there is no choice about which modules are taken? Secondly, is there a chance one might not get on to certain modules due to too much demand? Finally what are the advantages of joint honours, would it be worth one’s while dropping back to single? There is more I want to discuss but any help or advice that can be offered just now would help me in my meeting.

[maenad]

*Firstly, are certain honours modules compulsory, therefore if one is doing a joint degree there is no choice about which modules are taken?*

I think it depends on the course. I am still planning on a degree in Classics and from what I can tell at least in third year my language classes are arranged for me. But I have been told (need to confirm this) that I will need to do three Latin modules and two Greek, leaving me with three 'extra' choices over the two Honours years (Ancient History, Classical Studies). So it's not completely inflexible. If I do Ancient History as part of my degree, there is a compulsory introductory module, but more choice in the rest.

*Secondly, is there a chance one might not get on to certain modules due to too much demand?*

Yes. But if the subject is part of your degree you have a better chance. I also have a friend who told me proudly that he persuaded advisors to let him take modules which were 'full' even though he lost his PtP in more than one module in sub-honours.

*Finally what are the advantages of joint honours, would it be worth one’s while dropping back to single?*

Joint honours allows you to keep up two subjects you love or which will be important in the future. However, single honours means a deeper and broader focus on one subject. Depends on what you want really.

I would say definitely keep the meeting - you need to speak to someone from your own department to find out what your options are and what demand is like. I only know about my department and even then I'm not in honours left so I'll be asking some of your questions in the future too.

[hr]

Tommy can you hear me?

[hoopy froodette]

Quoting maenad from 20:08, 8th Mar 2007

I have been told (need to confirm this) that I will need to do three Latin modules and two Greek, leaving me with three 'extra' choices over the two Honours years (Ancient History, Classical Studies). So it's not completely inflexible. If I do Ancient History as part of my degree, there is a compulsory introductory module, but more choice in the rest.

Yes, you only need to do three modules in one language and two in the other for a Classics degree, so 3 in Latin and 2 in Greek would be fine - and you could even get the Greek out of the way in third year. If you do some Ancient History modules you do not need to do the compulsory third year module - I don't think you're even allowed to and it may not fit in with your other choices anyway, as it is only run in the first semester. A couple of modules in Romance Philology (in the School of Modern Languages) are also acceptable, but I haven't heard good things about these.

[hr]

Nothing succeeds like a toothless budgie.

[lauraelizabeth]

at least your advisor arranged to meet you. mine just kept saying "turn up at my office" which i did 7 times, and he wouldn't tell me when he would be in (i couldnt make his office hours). and then i eventually had to go see the pro dean of advising instead, cause i couldn't face camping outside my advisor's office any longer. and then said advisor got really pissy and sent me an email that simply said "done".