Welsh and Philosophy (BA)

Throughout the degree, we’ll support you to become an independent thinker. You’ll learn through a wide range of teaching methods including interactive lectures, lively discussion-based seminars and workshops.

Seminars and workshops offer a rewarding experience to engage critically with the key ideas and readings on a topic. They let you explore ideas and work closely with your lecturers and to learn from other students. For Welsh, there’s also an important role to be played by tutorials, workshops and language classes, especially if you’re following the second language route. You’ll have access to all course materials through our electronic learning environment.

In this supportive environment, you’ll develop your abilities to closely analyse texts and arguments, evaluate evidence, collaboratively work through problems, construct your own arguments, hone your language skills, and present your ideas clearly to others.

How will I be supported?

Your main sources of support are your module leaders and your personal tutors. Personal Tutors can advise you on academic matters, including study skills, careers, and your academic progress, as well as on pastoral matters and you’ll be invited to meet with them regularly throughout your degree. Your module leaders are also available during teaching weeks if you have any questions about course materials or assessments.

The Writing Development Centre provides specialist support for academic writing across the programme. You can access online materials, workshops and one-to-one meetings about any aspect of academic writing to support you with your assessments.

Professional services teams are there to help you with information and guidance if you have any queries. You'll also have access to a range of student services and support, co-located in the Centre for Student Life. This includes services relating to Advice and Money, Student Futures, Counselling, Health and Wellbeing, the Student Disability Service, Academic Study Skills and Student Mentoring.

You’ll regularly receive feedback on your progress. Oral feedback in lectures, workshops and seminars will help you assess your understanding of the course material and your critical responses to it. You’ll receive formative feedback on assessment ideas, and detailed feedback on all marked coursework. You’ll receive regular feedback on your final year research project from your supervisor.

How will I be assessed?

Your assessments are designed to collectively develop key skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and reflection. These can include critical analyses of texts, essays, exams, critical reviews, presentations, group work and group discussion assessments, and reflective assessments of your own skills. In the final year, you’ll take part in a large collaborative philosophy project that involves writing and presenting for a professional audience, and in Welsh you’ll undertake an independent research project.

Optional modules can offer a wider variety of assessments, including writing for a public audience, commenting on an artwork or a media piece, or creative assignments.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Understand the structures, registers and varieties of Welsh and use them flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes, as appropriate.
• Critique the development of the Welsh language and its literature in different historical periods, from a linguistic, literary, and social context as well as an understanding of the attempts to restore and promote the language.
• Critically analyse aspects of Welsh-language culture, literature, history and society, drawing on a range of materials and approaches.  
• Critically evaluate some of the central theories and arguments, and their applications, in moral, political or social philosophy.
• Critically evaluate some of the central theories and arguments, and their applications, in philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, or epistemology.
• Critically analyse theories and arguments from contemporary philosophical research, which may come from the intersection of different areas of philosophy or from interdisciplinary research.
• Apply philosophical research to draft policy or strategy documents, or action recommendations, in response to a real-world ethical or social problem of contemporary societal concern.

Intellectual Skills:

• Critically analyse how meanings are created through language and the affective power of language.
• Develop independent and innovative responses to linguistic, literary, critical, cultural and creative material in writing and in speech, and for different audiences. 
• Critically evaluate texts, data, concepts, and theories relevant to the context of the Welsh language and Welsh literature, using the appropriate vocabulary and terminology.
• Explain complex and specialised philosophical claims and arguments.
• Construct informed and well-supported arguments.
• Apply techniques of philosophical, linguistic or cultural analysis to critically evaluate texts, claims and arguments.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Produce a range of material using written and spoken Welsh that is appropriate for the workplace and intended to address a range of audiences.
• Apply knowledge, understanding and skills in a professional context.
• Utilise relevant and effective research techniques to produce a supervised extended essay or research project.
• Communicate complex information in different formats appropriate to different purposes.
• Contribute in a collaborative manner to group discussions and team projects.
• Articulate and evaluate your own academic and professional skills.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Effectively use relevant IT programmes, including Welsh medium software, to present and analyse materials.
• Respond to problems creatively, critically and independently.
• Implement task instructions and manage workload effectively to meet deadlines.
• Deliver and act on constructive feedback.
• Demonstrate initiative, resilience, adaptability and creativity, actively reflecting on own studies and achievements.