Undergraduate Departmental Handbook 2014-2015
/The Department of Philosophy
UNDERGRADUATE
HANDBOOK
2014-2015
Department of Philosophy
University of Sheffield
45 Victoria Street
Sheffield S3 7QB
Phone: +44 (0)114 222 0599Table of Contents
1. Introductory Matters 3
2. The Degrees 4
2.1 Aims of Philosophy Courses 4
2.2 Objectives of Philosophy Courses 4
2.3 Aims of Religion, Theology, and The Bible Courses 5
2.4 Objectives of Religion, Theology, and The Bible Courses 5
2.5 Modular Structure of Degree Programmes 6
3. Staff Names and Contact Details 6
3.1 The Departmental Office 6
3.2 Academic Staff at Victoria Street 8
3.3 Academic Staff Outside Victoria Street 8
3.4 Contacting Staff 8
3.5 Staff Office Hours 9
3.6 Personal Advisors 9
3.7 The College of the Resurrection and Yorkshire Ministry Course 9
4. The Shape of the Year 10
4.1 Philosophy Term Dates 10
4.2 Religion, Theology, and The Bible Term Dates 10
5. Student Attendance and Records 11
5.1 Student Attendance 11
5.2 Student Records and CVs 12
5.3 Adding or Dropping a Module 12
6. Student Welfare 12
6.1 Personal Harassment 12
6.2 Counselling 12
6.3 Complaints and Grievances 13
6.4 Changing Course, Taking a Leave of Absence, and Withdrawing 13
6.5 Health and Safety 13
6.6 Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) 14
6.7 Sheffield University Nightline 14
6.8 Disabled and Dyslexic Students 14
7. Plagiarism, Unfair Means, and Referencing 15
8. Appeals, Student Evaluation, and Representation 16
8.1 Appeals Procedure 16
8.2 Student Evaluation of Courses 16
8.3 Student Representation (Staff-Student and Teaching Committees) 17
8.4 The Equality and Diversity Committee 17
8.5 Union Links 18
9. Student-Led Societies and Initiatives 18
9.1 Philosophy Society (PhilSoc) 18
9.2 Philosophy in the City (PinC) 19
9.3 Biblical Studies Society (BIBSOC) 19
10. Careers 19
11. Library Facilities 20
11.1 The University Library 20
11.2 The Information Commons 21
11.3 Computer, Internet, and Multimedia Facilities 22
12. English Language Teaching Centre 22
13. The Sheffield Graduate Award 22
13.2 The Sheffield Graduate 22
13.3 The Sheffield Graduate Development Programme 23
14. Study Abroad 23
14.1 Home Students 23
14.2 Incoming Students Participating in Study Abroad 24
1. Introductory Matters
This document contains important information concerning degree regulations, methods of assessment, course contents and other relevant matters. You are advised to read it carefully now, and to keep it safely for consultation during the course of the year.
Our course regulations are aimed to maximise student choice, and to enable you to construct a pattern for your degree that serves your needs and interests. Methods of assessment have been designed to reward effort during the year and to help students acquire the transferable skills involved in essay writing. At the same time a strict system of deadlines and penalties ensures that fair comparisons can be made between students’ work.
While our Philosophy modules differ in their various emphases, all are designed to present students with an intellectual challenge – either to understand the ideas of some of the great philosophers, or to develop their own arguments in relation to a particular problem area; or (more often) to do both those things. They are also intended to be engaging, even exciting. The contents of our courses are under continual review, and we are always glad of comments from students, either informally in the course of the year, or formally on the Student Evaluation Questionnaires towards the end of each semester. Comments can also be transmitted via the student representatives on Teaching Committee: see departmental noticeboards for details.
2. Aims and Objectives of Philosophy and Religion, Theology and the Bible Courses
The Department endorses the University’s Mission, ‘to maintain the highest standards of excellence as a research-led institution, whose staff work at the frontiers of academic enquiry and educate students in a research environment’.
2.1 Aims of Philosophy Courses
The Department aims to:
a) equip students with an understanding of a range of philosophers and philosophical problems, while encouraging as deep a critical engagement with those philosophers and problems as is feasible in the time available
b) promote respect for the norms of – clarity; careful analysis; critical reflection; rational argument; sympathetic interpretation and understanding; and impartial pursuit of truth
c) promote independence of thought and a critical and analytical approach, not only to theories and concepts, but to the assumptions on which they are based
d) equip students with the core skills involved in – careful reading, comprehension and compression of textual material; clear thinking; sound argumentation; and the clear and well-organised expression of ideas
e) provide high quality teaching which is informed and invigorated by the research activities of members of staff
f) facilitate an awareness of the application of philosophical thought to other academic disciplines or to matters of public interest, encouraging students to apply philosophical skills more widely where appropriate
g) encourage students to plan for themselves the contents of their degree programmes in philosophy, and to plan and organise their own work, within the constraints and advice provided by the Department
h) recruit highly qualified students, while at the same time providing access for those with non-standard qualifications who can benefit successfully from the appropriate level of degree work.
2.2 Objectives of Philosophy Courses
By the end of an undergraduate programme of study, students will:
a) understand a range of fundamental terms and concepts essential to the discipline of philosophical investigation
b) be able, not only to assess critically both their own thinking and the work of other philosophers, but also to make out their own positive case for their views
c) have an awareness of selected current philosophical debates, and be able to engage with central philosophical issues
d) have acquired a high level of understanding of a number of areas of philosophical work, and an informed grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of different proposals made within those areas
e) be able to write effectively, and will have developed a range of intellectual virtues and core skills (see Aims b, c, d above)
f) have displayed their core skills in assessed work, as well as their knowledge and understanding of the subject area
g) have had the opportunity to select from a range of introductory courses which attest to the diversity and vigour of contemporary analytical philosophy, and illustrate the qualities and value of philosophical thought
h) have had the opportunity to take courses introducing them to some major figures from the history of philosophical thought, and which encourage careful reading, sympathetic exegesis, and critical engagement with their works
i) have been permitted to study philosophy alongside any of a wide range of other subjects, thus also promoting the application of philosophical thinking to other areas
j) have been equipped with the relevant knowledge and intellectual skills required for entry into postgraduate study or the workforce, as appropriate.
2.3 Aims of Religion, Theology and the Bible Courses
The RTB programme aims in its delivery of the degree in Religion, Theology and the Bible to:
1. provide quality teaching at undergraduate level that is informed and invigorated by the research and scholarship of its staff.
2.. sustain a culture of research and teaching that is able to foster the free and independent pursuit of knowledge and the impartial analysis of values.
3. foster an enthusiastic and self-motivated approach through student-centred learning.
4. provide opportunities to acquire knowledge and understanding of biblical history, institutions, languages, and culture.
5. familiarize students with essential primary and secondary source materials about the Bible.
6. develop skills in acquiring, using, and critically evaluating information about the Bible from a variety of sources.
7. develop tolerant, professional, and informed attitudes to a variety of approaches to biblical texts.
8. equip students with the ability to identify problems and ways of resolving them, the ability to construct and sustain logical arguments, and the ability to present reasoned and informed arguments clearly in both oral and written form.
9. develop abilities in a broad range of other transferable skills, such as information gathering and IT skills.
10. provide a coherent programme of study that is responsive to the interests and needs of students from a wide variety of educational and social backgrounds.
2.4 Objectives of Religion, Theology and the Bible Courses
By the end of an undergraduate programme of study in RTB, students will:
1. have acquired a broad understanding of Biblical Studies and the variety of approaches used to study the Bible.
2. have acquired detailed knowledge of individual biblical books.
3. have had the opportunity to take modules introducing them to some of the major scholarly issues in the study of the Bible and its understanding in the modern world.
4. be able to relate the Bible to broader cultural and intellectual contexts.
5. have acquired an awareness of selected current debates within biblical studies and be able to engage with the central issues.
6. be able to deploy a range of skills, including methodological, historical, and textual skills, in studying the Bible.
7. be able to assess critically scholarly arguments about the Bible and be able to offer informed and reasoned arguments of their own.
8. be able to write clearly and effectively, using appropriate academic language, and be able to create a variety of written reports.
9. have had the opportunity to work with others in preparing, presenting or evaluating a project.
10. have acquired computer and IT skills required for the handling of textual and graphical information, including the use of the Internet and a variety of appropriate computer software.
11 have demonstrated the breadth and depth of their knowledge and understanding through a variety of methods of assessment.
12 have acquired a range of intellectual and transferable skills and subject knowledge required for further study or entry into the workforce, as appropriate.
2.5 The Modular Degree Structure
The University of Sheffield operates a modular degree structure based upon the accumulation of transferable credits and the division of the academic year into two consecutive 15-week semesters. Each semester consists of 15 weeks, with the examination/assessment period in the last 3 weeks. The Christmas and Easter vacations fall within the first and second semesters respectively and allow time for revision.
Although each university module carries a credit weighting of 10 or 20 credits, most RTB modules are weighted as 20 credits, with the single honours dissertation weighted as 40 credits. Each academic year carries a total credit weighting of 120 credits. In order to qualify for a single or dual honours degree in Religion, Theology and the Bible, students must amass a total of 360 credits. However, only modules assessed in the second and final years contribute toward the degree classification.
Opportunities to change the degree course for which you are registered exist at the end of the first year, and the modular degree structure allows for flexibility in the choice of modules in subsequent years. Students contemplating a change of course should consult with their Tutor before taking a final decision.
3. Staff Names and Contact Details
3.1 The Departmental Office
The Departmental Office is in Room B01, 45 Victoria Street. It is open between 9:00am and 12.30pm and 1.30pm and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Here you can hand in various forms and leave messages for staff or get help and advice from the following members of staff:
Mrs Sally Weston [ - Office Manager
Mrs Anne-Marie Frisby [ – Student Support Officer, Levels 2 & 3
Miss Joanne Elliott [ – PG Secretary/Level One Secretary
Mrs Alison Bygrave [ – Administrator – RTB Programme
Miss Kate Atkinson – [ – Student Liaison Officer
The full postal address of the programme Office is:
Department of Philosophy
The University of Sheffield
45 Victoria Street
SHEFFIELD
S3 7QB
Telephone: 0114 222 0599 or
0114 222 2000 Ext. 20599 (via University switchboard)
E-mail: /
University Telephone: 0114 222 2000
(from overseas +44 114 222 2000)
3.2 Academic Staff based in Victoria Street
Name / Room / Email AddressKate Atkinson / B01 /
Luca Barlassina / C10
Chris Bennett / B14 /
Alison Bygrave / B01 [Mon/Wed/Fri] /
Tom Cochrane / B08 /
Niall Connolly / B06
Jeremy Dunham / A07
Ryan Doran / B25 /
Joanne Elliott / C01 /
Paul Faulkner / C20 /
Anne-Marie Frisby / B01 /
Miranda Fricker / C12 /
Anca Gheaus / C11 /
Dominic Gregory / A07 /
Bob Hale / B12 /
Angie Hobbs / B13 /
Christopher Hookway / C18 /
Katharine Jenkins / B20 /
Rosanna Keefe / C11 /
Steve Laurence / A06 /
Holly Lawford-Smith / C04 /
Jessica Leech / C09 /
Jimmy Lenman / C31 /
Steve Makin / C05 /
Eric Olson / C14 /
Hugh Pyper / C01 /
Jenny Saul / C19 /
Yonatan Shemmer / C29 /
Minna Shkul / B03 /
Bob Stern / C02 /
Daniel Viehoff / C11 /
Sally Weston / B01 /
3.3 Academic Staff Based Outside Victoria Street
Name / Location / Room / EmailJames Crossley / Jessops West Building / 2.22 /
Katie Edwards / Jessops West Building / 4.05a /
Mark Finney / Jessops West Building / 1.07 /
Casey Strine / Jessops West Building / 3.38 /
Jennifer Cooper / Visiting Lecturer / Mirfield /
3.4 Contacting Members of Staff
You can contact a member of staff by making an appointment through the Departmental Office, leaving a note, by email, or by internal telephone. Temporary lecturers can be contacted by e-mail. Academic members of RTB staff should be contacted via their relative department in Jessops West.
Office hours for members of staff are posted outside the Departmental Office in the foyer of 45 Victoria Street.
Student Mail
Please note that all student mail is deposited in the pigeonholes in the Departmental Office at 45 Victoria Street [Map Reference F3, building 161] on the University Map]. This is your collection point not only for mail but also for information from the staff on lectures, meetings, social events, etc. So please check your pigeonhole regularly or you may miss something important.
Please note that we use email to contact you on a range of matters,
so please: check your e-mail account regularly.