Exploring the Past: An introduction to the Foundation Pathway
Exploring the Past has been developed to help you realise your ambition to study history, ancient history, archaeology or religion at degree level. It allows you to study within a timescale, framework and environment designed specifically to cater for the needs of busy adult learners.
Exploring the Past is a collaboration between the Centre for Lifelong Learning (LEARN) and the School of History, Archaeology and Religion (SHARE) at Cardiff University. It combines LEARN’s vast experience of progressing and supporting adult learners with SHARE’s exciting teaching and research expertise. Exploring the Past courses are taught by people with both expert subject knowledge and the ability to support, inspire and share their learning with you.
Why study the past? Because the study of the archaeology, ancient history and history have immense value. These subjects help us to understand our origins; from pre-historic societies to ancient civilizations, from medieval institutions to twentieth-century politics and culture. All of these eras have direct relevance for our lives; they have helped to shape our identity, the nature of our society and the world that we live in. Whether you have a general interest in history and/or archaeology and would like to know more, or are already active in researching a particular topic, Exploring the Past courses will help you to enhance your understanding and extend your knowledge. They will provide you with excellent and highly transferable employability skills (oral and written communication skills, data analysis/research, team working) that will help you to participate in historical/archaeological study and fieldwork and to progress you towards full or part-time degree study in one or both of these fascinating subjects at Cardiff University.
The Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway is made up of six 10 credit courses. It is equivalent to 50% of the first year of a degree and is intended to provide you with basic skills and intellectual preparation for a history, ancient history and / or archaeology degree at Cardiff. It includes a core compulsory 10 credit course in study skills and methods which is designed to enhance your presentational abilities and to help you to organise your ideas and manage your study time; it will provide guidance on using information technology and help you to develop your skills in researching and writing essays or reports. The courses within the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway also provide valuable experience and knowledge that will enhance your career prospects more generally. Useful and highly marketable transferable employability skills are embedded within the Foundation Pathway including the ability to understand concepts, to think laterally and challenge assumptions, the ability to assimilate knowledge and provide critical analysis, an eagerness to learn and be challenged, an ability to work well with as part of a team and an ability to communicate in both written and oral form.