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Bachelor Arts & Culture

Curriculum Catalogue 2015/16


Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

Contents

Message from the Dean

Word of Welcome from the Programme


Directors

What is Arts & Culture

Programme Content
Year 1 Arts & Culture
Year 2 Arts & Culture
Year 3 Arts & Culture
The BA AC Skills Trajectory
The Final Bachelor Thesis
The BA AC Mentor Programme

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11
14
16
19
21
22

PBL: A Student-Centred Approach

23

Student Services @ FASoS

25

FASoS Code of Conduct

27

Annex 1: BA AC Final Qualifications


Annex 2: Overview Curriculum, incl. Skills Track
Annex 3: Academic Calendar 2015/2016

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32
34

Message from the Dean


Dear students,
Welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Social
Sciences (FASoS) and its Bachelor's programme in
Arts & Culture (BA AC). It is with pleasure that
we present you with the Curriculum Catalogue
for Arts & Culture 2015/2016.
The catalogue provides information about the
programme, and describes what you can expect
during each year of the BA AC. Next to the
programme overview, the catalogue also
provides you with the essential basics about
studying at FASoS.
As there may sometimes be a need to update
some of this information, you can also find it via
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos > Current
students > Study Information. The latest
information will be published there, as will the
Education and Examination regulations of the
programme.
A Curriculum Catalogue is also available for the
Bachelor in European Studies. At your request
you can collect a copy at the Front Office, Grote
Gracht 90-92. For information about our
Masters, Minors and elective courses (other than
those that are part of the Arts & Culture
curriculum), please visit the faculty website.
It goes without saying that suggestions to
improve the Curriculum Catalogue are most
welcome!
Wishing you a pleasant and successful academic
year,
Professor Rein de Wilde, the Netherlands
Dean Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

Word of Welcome from the Programme Directors


Dear all,
A very warm welcome to Maastricht Universitys
Bachelor in Arts & Culture / Cultuurwetenschappen! We hope that you will join us in making this
year an academically rewarding experience as
well as a socially pleasant one for everyone
involved.
You are now looking at the Curriculum Catalogue
for the academic year 2015/2016. It contains an
overview of the programme (detailed course
descriptions are available online), but also
important information about when and how to
contact our student advisors. Included are also a
concise whos who at this faculty and guidelines
for communication with other faculty members,
both staff and students. But before you start to
browse through the catalogue, please allow us to
tell you a little bit more about our programme.
Fully taught in English (BA Cultuurwetenschappen is taught partly in Dutch), Arts and Culture is
a programme for students with a broad interest in
the cultural, historical, philosophical, political, and
social aspects of our Western society. Rather than
being trained in a narrowly defined field, you will
be introduced to a variety of disciplines and
perspectives on Western Culture in its widest
sense. Throughout the programme we focus on
several questions, such as: the future of
democracy, the consequences of globalisation, the
role of new media or the question of whether
technology always represents progress.

At the end of your three years of studying BA AC,


we aim to have trained you to become critical
thinkers who can understand, analyse and explain
(both orally and in writing) interrelationships
between science, culture, and politics in Western
society from various disciplinary perspectives.
Despite the wider focus and the interdisciplinary
character, BA AC presents a coherent curriculum
consisting of courses and skills trainings. The first
phase, which is the same for all BA AC students,
consists of a series of six chronological modules.
You will learn about the origins and development
of Western thought until present day. The
curriculum is linked to contemporary society so
that todays problems can be understood in a
historical context. During the second phase of the
programme you will pick one of four specialisations. At the beginning of the third year, there is a
free semester in which you can do an internship,
study abroad, choose a minor or take courses at
another faculty or university or at the local art
academy or music academy.
In this catalogue you will also find more information about our teaching and learning approach,
Problem-Based Learning (PBL), which centres on
you, our students. Learning takes place in an
active, constructive and collaborative manner, in
small groups of 15 students, guided by a tutor.
You will constantly be challenged to improve your
professional and communicative skills.

While the original premises of the programme


remain, we are constantly looking at options to
improve it. Since 2002 a number of modifications
have been made, ranging from content-related
adjustments to changes to the programmes
structure. For instance, following feedback from
our students, our alumni and external examiners,
this year will see a number of changes with
regard to our skills training trajectory in the
specialisation phase.
Your feedback plays an important role in our
reflections about the quality and content of the
BA AC. We would therefore like to ask you to use
the online evaluation forms, as well as personal
discussions with your tutors to share your
opinions and provide us with input. Also, support
your student representatives, attend their
meetings and, if you are interested, find out how
you can get involved yourself!

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

We hope that you will help us improve the


programme further, just as your predecessors
have shaped the programme into what it is today;
a programme that is well known across Europe
and is highly appreciated by other universities and
your future employers.
Wishing you a great start of the academic year
and looking forward to meeting you soon,
Anique Hommels & Amanda Kluveld
Programme Directors

Open office hour: Thursday 09:00-10:00 (by


appointment)
E: baaccw-fasos@maastrichtuniversity.nl

What is Arts & Culture


Arts and Culture is a three-year bachelor's
programme which focuses on contemporary
Western culture and society. Change and
complexity are two of the key characteristics of
this culture and society, and rapid developments
demand that we make choices of an ethical,
political and social nature. Society at large has an
important stake in these questions.
What we see is that people who want to study at
this faculty are concerned with values, with the
place that the arts and the media hold in our
culture and society. They want to play a role in the
quality of our existence and to discover where we
can find answers to the relevant questions. They
want to know more about our relationship with
non-Western cultures, the influence of religion
and the interrelations between academia, art,
culture, politics and society. The BA AC revolves
around precisely these themes, making this
programme a sound choice for anyone with these
interests in mind.
Arts and Culture is an interdisciplinary bachelor's
programme that takes a multifaceted approach to
the themes and debates in contemporary culture
and society. It does not shy away from the related
conflicts between different interests and visions,
and the traditions from which they originate. The
programme builds on insights, methods and
techniques drawn from a broad range of fields,
encompassing history, philosophy, social sciences,
literature and the arts.
In the elementary phase of the programme,
students are acquainted with the key ideas,
perspectives and problems that characterise
contemporary Western culture and society.

Lasting 18 months, this phase has a chronological


structure, with successive modules addressing the
history of Western culture from ancient times to
the present day. It thus follows the historical
developments, but at the same time each course
revolves around a particular aspect of Western
culture. These cultural themes are chosen because
of their prominence in the given area, yet also for
their on-going relevance in today's culture and
society. In each case, these themes also transcend
traditional disciplinary borders.

Each course examines the ways in which our


culture has dealt with certain fundamental
questions. For instance, in the first course
students focuses upon a number of influential
world views and their moral implications - from
the tenets of Socrates and Plato to those of
Nietzsche and Foucault -, and considers the ways
in which such views were bound to clash with the
reality of the human condition. In the last module,
students revisit the theme of the first module
(how to live?), this time discussing the conflicting
perspectives by reflecting on the situation in
today's world.
Each module is linked to a skills training, which is
thematically related but mono disciplinary in
approach. The aim of these skills trainings is to
gain insight into the various disciplines philosophy, history, arts and social sciences - and
the skills needed to examine them. The first and
last skills training are exceptions to this: the first
(Academic Skills) is introductory in nature, while
the last familiarises students with the possibilities
(and limitations) of the interdisciplinary
approaches of the Arts and Culture programme
for their own topics. The skills trainings, too, thus
form a complete circle: the last skills training
revisits the methods addressed in the previous
skills trainings, this time comparing them with
interdisciplinary approaches to themes addressed
in publications that transcend the borders of
individual disciplines

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

The specialisation phase encompasses the last 18


months of the Arts and Culture programme.
During their fifth semester, students will
preferably spend five months working on an
internship, project or modules at other faculties or
universities or studying abroad. In the
specialisation phase, the programme also gives
students the chance to broaden and deepen their
knowledge by choosing one of four
specialisations: Cultures of Knowledge and
Technology; Literature, Art and Culture; Political
Culture; and Media Culture. These four broad
specialisations build on the themes introduced in
the elementary phase of AC, touching further on
the wide spectrum of research conducted by the
tutors and lecturers.
Finally, the programme culminates in a thesis, in
which students put all the gained knowledge into
practice. Thus, the Arts and Culture programme
also forms an excellent stepping stone towards a
master's programme.
Please consult Annex 1 for an overview of the final
qualifications of the BA AC.

Programme Content
The BA AC is a coherent programme. Courses are
designed to build upon each other and there are
implicit and explicit links between them. The
courses of the skills trajectory supplement the
regular courses to provide you with important
language, professional, research and writing skills.
The research trainings gradually prepare you for
writing your final Bachelor Thesis.
The BA AC consists out of two phases; the
elementary phase and the specialisation phase.
The elementary phase covers year 1 and the first
half year of year 2. This phase consists of
compulsory courses only whereas there are
options to specialise in year 2. The specialisation
phase starts in the second half of year 2 and ends
with the Bachelor Thesis in year 3. The top 20% of
students can participate in a research based
programme, called Marble.

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BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

The top second- and third-year students can take


part in an honours programme, during which they
follow workshops offered by the FASoS professors.
Each academic year is built around five periods:
two 8-week periods, one 4-week period and two
further 8-week periods.
For a detailed overview of all courses, please
consult the faculty website:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos > Prospective
students > Bachelors programmes > Arts &
Culture > Course descriptions
For your rights and duties as a student, please
consult the BA AC Education and Examination
regulations. You can find them at the faculty
website: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos >
Current students > Study information > Exams
and Study Results > Education and Examination
regulations

Year 1 Arts & Culture

Period 1 Sept-Oct

Year 1 Apollo and Dionysus

incl. Introduction in

Ethics (10 ECTS)

Period 2 Nov-Dec
Knowledge and
Criticism (10 ECTS)

Lecture Series of Research and Writing I


Skills Training:
Entering the
Humanities
(3 ECTS)

Period 3 January

Skills Training:
Reading Philosophy
(3 ECTS)

Research and
Writing I, part 1
(7 ECTS)

Period 4 Febr-March Period 5 April-May June


Disenchantment
and Ideology incl
Research and
Writing I, part 2
(10 ECTS)

Style and
Modernity
(10 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Debates among
Historians
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Analysis of
Paintings and
Literary Texts
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training: Academic Skills I (1 ECTS) + Mentor Programme


Language &
Professional Skills:
English Diagnostic
Test (pass-fail)

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In the first year of the programme, you are


acquainted with the key ideas, perspectives and
problems that characterise contemporary
Western culture and society. This phase has a
chronological structure, with courses addressing
the history of Western culture from ancient times
to the end of the 19th century.
The first year of the BA AC commences with
Apollo and Dionysus. This course aims to provide
an overview of the different ethical traditions in
the history of Western civilisation. It focuses upon
a number of influential world views and their
moral implications - from the tenets of Socrates
and Plato to those of Nietzsche and Foucault -,
and considers the ways in which such views were
bound to clash with the reality of the human
condition.
During period 2, Knowledge and Criticism
examines the role of science in modern, western
culture. On what choices and assumptions is
modern science based? This course answers these
questions by going back to the founders of
modern science (like Newton), to the
Enlightenment ideals of knowledge and progress
(like in the French Encyclopdie), and to the
reaction against all this during the Romantic era
(with poets like Goethe). You will also investigate
the present: what do scientists do today, and how
does their work fit into our culture and society?
In period 3, Research and Writing I, you will acquire
the basic tools needed for collecting, analysing
and presenting academic information. Students
give each other feedback on their presentations
and work for the first time with the Style Sheet
AC. This course starts in the first period with
lectures on the theme of memory.

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BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

In period 4 Disenchantment and Ideology provides


you with an insight in the political, socialeconomic and cultural modernisation of European
society from the late 18th until the early 20th
century. In this course the rise of modern society
will be studied from the perspective of the
fundamental ambiguities of this transformation.
Style and Modernity (period 5) investigates the
transformations of the concept of style in visual
arts, literature, film and architecture and the role
of style in the analysis of politics and science.

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Year 2 Arts & Culture

Period 1 Sept-Oct

Year 2 Network Society


(8,5 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Close to the Foreign
(3 ECTS)

Period 2 Nov-Dec

Period 3 January

Specialisation
Course*
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(12 ECTS)

Specialisation
Course*
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(12 ECTS)

Theory of Science and Research and


Interdisciplinarity
Writing II:
(3 ECTS)
The first step
(6 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Entering the Field I
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Entering the Field II
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training: Academic Skills II (1 ECTS) + Mentor Programme

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Period 4 Febr-March Period 5 April-May June

Cultural Pluralism
(8,5 ECTS)

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

Network Society, the 1st course of the 2nd year,


explores the nature and backgrounds of common
characterisations of modern society and assesses
the related assumptions and implications.
Cultural Pluralism, in period 2, examines a number
of normative dilemmas that arise from the
co-existence of a diversity of cultural traditions.
In period 3 you will independently write an
academic paper on a self-chosen subject in
Research and Writing II.
In the 2nd half of this year you will follow courses
in one of the 4 specialisations:
1. Cultures of Knowledge and Technology (CKT)
CKT looks at the erratic reality and approaches
science and technology as cultural phenomena.
The interaction between science, technology and
society is studied by zooming in on actual
historical and present-day practices.
In period 4 the key questions in Frankensteins
Hope are: how do we evaluate science and technology in modern cultures; and how are the
relations shaped between science, technology,
and politics?
The focus in The Design of Man (period 5) is on
understanding the 19th and 20th century history
of the life and human sciences in the context of
modern society.
2. Literature, the Arts and Culture (LAC)
LAC offers an interdisciplinary approach to the
study of social-cultural implications and effects in
literature, art and philosophy, focusing on historical setting, reading and philosophical reflection.

In period 4, Modernity and the Arts I, devotes


considerable attention to the analysis of primary
works of art and literature.
The question in Modernity and the Arts II
(period 5) is how contemporary art is produced
and distributed.
3. Political Culture (PC)
PC examines problems of democracy, political
fundamentalism, human rights and totalitarianism. You study politics as a historically evolved
cultural phenomenon.
To understand the role of politics in our
contemporary culture, it is necessary to have
insight in the origin and function of The European
State (taught in period 4).
In period 5 the course Power and Democracy aims
at an interdisciplinary understanding of politics
and democracy.
4. Media Culture (MC)
MC studies the influence of media on modern
culture and society, and the interaction between
old and new media, focusing on contemporary
and historical practices.
Observing and Representing, in period 4 addresses
the multi-sensuous character of daily life and
provides methods on how to analyse the
character and relative importance of the different
senses.
In period 5 you will follow the course Logo and
Imago. This course focuses thematically on the
history, the cultural meaning and the political and
economic impact and importance and branding
for our modern consumer society.

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Year 3 Arts & Culture

Period 1 Sept-Oct

Year 3

Period 2 Nov-Dec

Period 3 January

Elective Semester:
Study Abroad, Minor, Electives, Internship
(30 ECTS)

Period 4 Febr-March Period 5 April-May June


Doing Research in
your Specialisation*
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(12 ECTS)
Vademecum Thesis Writing in your
Specialisation* (CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(6 ECTS)

Bachelor Thesis (12 ECTS; deadline late June)


* Students choose one specialisation out of four

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BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

The third year starts with the fifth semester. You


are encouraged to spend this free semester (30
ECTS) abroad, but you can also stay in Maastricht
or elsewhere in the Netherlands. You can opt for
an internship or for courses. Studying at another
university (or in another programme) or
undertaking an internship offers you the change
of scenery and a chance to get a better insight
into future master's programmes and career
options. It also allows you to apply the acquired
knowledge and skills, as well as to gain new
insights.
Studying abroad
Studying abroad offers the chance to study certain
issues in more depth, in a setting that may differ from
FASoS (a different country, different teaching
philosophy, etc.). FASoS has agreements with some 100
European and non-European partner universities,
where you can take courses in several fields.
Internships
Students have so far undertaken a wide range of
internships, in, for instance, non-governmental
organisations, cultural institutions, business firms and

Should you decide to stay at FASoS, courses in


periods 1 and 2 are offered (and are open for
exchange students and students from other
faculties). European Environments (period 1)
probes the social and political dimension of the
environment in a European context. One World
(period 2) stresses the close interdependency that
has always existed between Europe and other
parts of the world. Museum Meanings (period 1)
probes the role of museum in a shifting society.
For all descriptions of the offered electives you can
visit the website of the BA programme.
No regular courses or trainings are planned
during period 3 since most of you will still be
abroad. On your return to Maastricht, the top 20%
of students have the additional opportunity to
take part in a so-called Marble project, a
specialised research project linked strongly with
Faculty research.
The third year is built around doing research and
writing your Bachelor Thesis. From period 4
onwards you will follow the last course and skills
seminar of your specialisation phase.

press organisations. This is a chance to apply the


acquired knowledge and skills in a professional setting.
In addition, internships offer the opportunity to learn
new skills and gain a further understanding into the
fields of Arts and Culture. An internship also may help
in terms of employability. There is guidance from a
Faculty supervisor and one from the host organisation.
Minors
When you decide to stay in Maastricht you can choose
between different minors at FASoS or other faculties,
for instance the minor Crucial Differences or Creative
Writing. If you want to continue your studies in Art
History it is advisable to take courses in that field, in
order to be able to meet Master's -specific entrance
requirements.

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Cultures of Knowledge and Technology

Political Culture

The course Doing Research in CKT will acquaint


you with doing hands-on research. The course
starts with a concise, joint introduction to the
research theme of Responsible Research and
Innovation (RRI) and recapitulates the main
methodological approaches in the field of CKT.

The content of the course Doing Research in PC


is the study of 20th century totalitarianism. We
will focus on the theory and scholarly debates on
the nature of totalitarianism as well of on
practical examples of totalitarian rule and
thoughts. An historical overview of the most
relevant examples (National Socialism, Facism
and Stalinism) will be followed up by an
investigation into post-1945 phenomena such as
polital radicalism, populism and religious
fundamentals.

Literature, the Arts and Culture


The course Doing Research in LAC analyses the arts
as technologies of cultural remembrance, the
current obsession with commemorating the past
and recycling aesthetic forms and styles from
former periods being another manifestation of
the radical pluralism and eclecticism that has
followed upon the demise of the avant-garde and
the loss of belief in stories of progress. It trains
you in designing, implementing and reporting on
a small-scale research project in the field, as a
preparation for the Bachelor Thesis.
Current third year students (2015/16) will follow
the course Future of the Arts.

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BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

Media Culture
The course Doing Research in MC starts from the
claim that media have been at least when it
comes to their discursive construction always
already new (Gitelman). This course will teach
students to think about the transition of our
mediascape in an intermedial and longue-dure
perspective.

The BA AC Skills Trajectory


The BA AC Skills Trajectory consists of training
courses that aim to familiarise you with key
research methodologies that are vital in both
academic and professional settings. All skills
prepare for academic research and writing, but
also for future job-related assignments and tasks.
Often the latter involve writing papers and
conducting research, using different concepts and
methodologies simultaneously. An overview of
how the Skills Trajectory relates to the content
courses can be found in Annex 2. The research
skills courses provide essential academic tools for
writing your final Bachelor Thesis (see page 21).
During the first year particular attention is paid to
PBL and study skills, English skills and general
issues related to academic research and writing.
You will first be introduced to PBL and study skills
during the introduction day and continuously
practice these skills throughout the three years of
your studies. Tutors are tasked to provide regular
feedback or provide opportunities for peer
feedback.
Everyone is required to take a diagnostic English
language test during the first few weeks. It is
intended to increase awareness of the importance of English proficiency and allows us to offer
advise. The first full academic skills training takes
place in period 1. Focussing on academic writing,
you will learn about the influence of language on
the reader and the importance of accuracy in
Academic Skills I. In period 1 you will learn how to
read and summarise an academic text whereas in
period 2 you will learn how to compare and
contrast academic texts.
Next to Academic Skills I in period 1 you will follow
the skills training Entering the Humanities which
gives you an elementary preparation to study in
an interdisciplinary and PBL environment.
Reading Philosophy introduces you in period 2
some early modern philosophers (Rene Descartes,

Benedito de Spinoza, and Immanuel Kant) and


traces their influence in modern philosophy.
The aim of the skills training in period 4, Debate
among Historians, is to gain insight into the
nature of historical debates, especially their
relation to political ideologies and (national)
identities. Three historical debates will be studied
and discussed.
The Analysis of Paintings and Literary Texts, in
period 5 can best be characterised as a kind of
speed learning introduction into the basic of two
academic disciplines that specialise in this area:
art history and literature studies. You will learn
how to analyse a visual and literary work of art,
how to talk about it, and last but not least, how to
write about it.
The first two skills trainings in year 2 are still part
of the elementary phase. In Close to the Foreign,
students learn to study behaviour and customs in
their own environment as if they belonged to a
foreign culture. Students will be trained in
ethnographic research methods (observations,
interviews) to study a number of research topics
closely connected to the themes of the course
Network Society.
Theory of Science and Interdisciplinarity, is built
around a series of lectures where the following
questions are addressed: What exactly are
scientific theories? What can and cannot be
expected from scientific theories? These
questions will be approached in period 2 from
different academic perspectives, philosophy,
history and literary criticism.
Entering the Field I in period 4 in CKT consists of a
series of seminars based on the discussion of key
texts, highlighting specific themes, debates and
approaches in the history and theory of the
human and life sciences. The skills seminar
Entering the Field II in period 5 will acquaint you
with classical texts, recurring topics and research

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puzzles in history and theory of the human and


life sciences.
In the specialisation LAC Entering the Field I in
period 4 will train you in close reading in the
broadest sense of the term (including the analysis
of visual artefacts such as paintings and films),
equipping you with indispensable tools for
analysing individual aesthetic works in depth.
Entering the Field II will introduce you to
methodologies concerning the institutional
contexts that shape the production, distribution
and reception of works of arts and literature.
In the specialisation PC Entering the Field I in
period 4 provides an overview of Europes political

history during the 20th century. Moreover, we will


analyse forms of historical narration and the
contribution of history to academic education. In
period 5 Entering the Field II offers reflection on
the conceptual and political problems related to
the theme Global Justice and Human Rights. Is it
just to feel more solidarity towards your fellow
citizens than to people in other parts of the
world? Do universal rights, which are valid for the
whole world, exist?
After having completed Entering the Field I in MC
you will be familiar with topics, theories and
methodologies relevant to this field.
Subsequently, Entering the Field II introduces you
to: (1) methods and tools used for research in the
field of Media Culture and (2) the types of
research that can be done within Media Culture.
The third year is built around doing research and
writing your Bachelor Thesis. From period 4
onwards you will follow the last course and skills
seminar of your specialisation phase.
All specialisations offer the skills seminar
Vademecum Thesis Writing in period 4. This skills
seminar, prepares you for writing your Bachelor
Thesis within the field of your specialiastion by
preparing assignments and a step-by-step
development of a research proposal. The work on
these assignments is supported by secondary
readings and lectures on research and writing
skills; presentations and discussions in the
tutorial group and individual meetings with the
(prospective) thesis supervisor.
For this, a timely matching of student and
supervisor is essential. The research and writing
for the thesis proper covers period 5 and a part of
the non-scheduled period. In period 5 three
inter-vision meetings are planned in which
students present and discuss their work in
progress.

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BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

The Final Bachelor Thesis


The skills training courses have been organised in
such a way as to progressively introduce you to
academic research and writing. They tackle
important issues concerning, for instance, how to
formulate a good research question and how to
apply theories and use methodology. You will get
acquainted with several different methodological
approaches, but also with more general practical
and ethical choices and challenges that you will
encounter when undertaking research.
The research training, Vademecum Thesis Writing,
culminates in the Bachelor Thesis. You will have to
apply the knowledge and skills acquired during
the BA AC courses and skills trainings to design,
execute and present an individual piece of
research, supervised by a member of the
academic staff of your choice (each supervisor
works with a pre-defined theme, and students
sign up for a supervisor and theme on a
first-come-first-served basis). This is an important
preparation for undertaking indepen- dent
research and for Master's thesis research.

Your final Bachelor Thesis is an exercise in writing


a longer, individual piece of work. Your thesis
should not only demonstrate the ability to
develop a sound conceptual/theoretical and
methodological framework, but should also show
that you are able to use this in an innovative way,
either by looking at topics or data from a different
perspective, or by using original data.

To be more precise, this final thesis should


illustrate the ability to:
Devise and conduct research of a limited size
with the use of methods and techniques
relevant to Arts & Culture;
Formulate a feasible research question;
Collect the academic sources and literature that
are required to answer this research question;
Use the results of your research (i.e. selection
and analysis of your sources) to articulate a
proper conclusion;
And include the results of the research in a
coherent line of argument.

Starting in period 4 of the third year, you will write


your Bachelor Thesis parallel to the regular courses
and skills training courses in periods 4 and 5.

21

The BA AC Mentor Programme


The objective of the BA AC mentor programme is
to facilitate personal student-staff contact
regarding academic questions. The mentor
programme is aimed at helping you to survive
the first year, to help you become familiar with
studying at university, and at helping you
navigate through the BA AC, the faculty and the
university. There will be two collective meetings
for the whole cohort. The first follows up on the
introduction days and will take place in
September or October (to be announced in due
time). The focus will be on your first experience
with Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and with
study skills. The second collective meeting takes
place at the end of the academic year and focuses
on what you should expect from year 2 of the
programme. The core component, however, is the
student-mentor relationship. All first year
students will be assigned to a mentor group. You
will meet your mentor a couple of times during
the first and second year.

22

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

PBL: A Student-Centred Approach


The BA AC is largely based on Problem-Based
Learning (PBL), a student-centred approach to
teaching. Learning takes place in an active,
constructive and collaborative manner, in small
groups of no more than 15 students, guided by a
tutor (normally a faculty staff member, in some
cases a colleague from another faculty or a
visiting scholar). You will be working together to
solve abstract, as well as very practical problems
identified in the respective assignment texts. You
will be reading and analysing mandatory
literature and may conduct additional research.
This way the learning process is identified within
a context. Moreover, by means of the so-called
seven steps, PBL mimics the research process. The
composition of tutor groups is made as diverse as
possible, in line with the universitys focus is on
the international classroom, creating a unique
international study environment in which
students and staff benefit from the exchange of
ideas, experiences and opinions that are rooted in
different nationalities and backgrounds.
PBL constitutes a very intensive and interactive
method of teaching and learning. Your
responsibility for the learning process is key: in
terms of formulating the respective learning goals
for each session, but also in terms of organising
meetings by fulfilling the roles of chair, secretary
and whiteboard worker. The importance of PBL for
your learning process is emphasised by the fact
that there are attendance requirements. In
addition, your participation will be graded. Details
about the respective rules and regulations are to
be found in the official Education and
Examination regulations.
The tutor encourages and provides feedback on
the learning process and outcome, and the
cooperation within the group, and intervenes in
the discussion when necessary.

Lectures complement group work by providing a


deeper insight into a subject, by guiding you
through the content of the course or by raising
new questions.
While PBL rests on your responsibility, there is
ample opportunity to learn in groups, in- and
outside the tutorial. In courses such as Close to the
Foreign you are even expected to work together
to write papers and present their research.
By means of PBL you will get acquainted with
valuable academic and professional skills. Such
academic skills are required in a BA programme
aimed at independent and group work, a
research-oriented attitude and critical reflection.
You will also be trained in generic skills that are
increasingly identified as crucial by employers:
problem-solving, professional communication,
result- and quality-orientated behaviour, being
able to prioritise and organise ones own
working/learning process, working with others in
a multicultural team, and, perhaps most
importantly: learning to learn. In a PBL learning
environment you will constantly be challenged to
improve your professional and communicative
skills, such as cooperating in teams, chairing
meetings, taking minutes and engaging in
constructive and respectful discussions.
PBL comes in many guises. First-year courses in
particular tend to take a more traditional
approach to PBL, yet as you move on you will also
encounter other types of PBL or a mixture of
different approaches. Although forms of PBL are
also used in some skills training courses, the
emphasis is on practising the corresponding skills.
Likewise, internships are an opportunity to apply
the acquired knowledge and skills in a
professional setting.

23

24

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

Student Services @ FASoS


For course registration, personal timetables and
results see My UM (log in with username and
password):
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos > My UM
For up to date course information see the digital
curriculum catalogue on:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos > Prospective
students > Bachelors programmes > European
Studies > Course descriptions
You can contact a member of the teaching staff by
email via: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos >
About the faculty > Organisational structure >
FASoS Staff Members
The Student Advisors
New study, new city, new country, moving,
homesickness, relationships, money matters,
study finance, friends, family, parents, sports,
student association, study abroad, internship,
study load, study pressure, (retakes of) exams,
study stress, illness, disability, procrastination,
fear of failure, study doubts, choices youll have to
make... Nearly all students will sooner or later
experience a period in which the study does not
work out the way they expected it to. Some
consult friends, fellow students or relatives, others
find a solution on their own. Some students visit
the student advisor.

The main task of the student advisor is to help


students to make the study progress as smoothly
as possible.
In addition, the student advisor monitors the
progress of all students. In case of disappointing
results students will be invited for an interview. At
the end of the first year all students will receive a
binding study advice (BSA).
Our faculty has two student advisors: Miranda
van den Boorn for Arts and Culture and Pia
Harbers for European Studies. Quick questions
can be answered easily during our open office
hours. If you think you need more time, its better
to make an appointment via email. A brief
question can of course also be answered by email.
Feel free to contact us!
Student Advisor Arts and Culture
Miranda van den Boorn
Room E-0.0, Tel: +31 (0)43 388 3616
Open office hours:
Monday,Thursday and Friday 09.30 - 10.00
E: m.vandenboorn@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Student advisors are available for a multitude of


questions: study planning, study methods, study
delay and academic career, but also regarding
studying with a disability, problems with a more
personal character and psychological problems.
Student advisors are confidential advisors, they
listen, give information, advice and support. If
necessary, they might refer to the Student Service
Centre for specific courses or workshops, or to the
student psychologists, the student deans or the
career counsellors. Obviously, consultations with
the student advisor are always strictly
confidential.

25

Student Advisor European Studies


Pia Harbers
Room B-0.14, Tel: + 31 (0)43 388 4983
Open office hours:
Daily 09.30 - 10.00
E: p.harbers@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Front Office

Back Office

For all questions and requests you can consult


FASoS Study Information via
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos > Current
students > Study Information

Exams
Agnes Gilissen, Simon Vogel, Jean-Marie Willems,
Bo Nuis, Leentje Snellings
Room D0.06, Tel: +31 (0)43-388 27 62
(for questions, see FASoS Study Information).
Opening hours at Front Office Desk:
Monday-Friday 10.30-12.30 and 13.00-15.30.

Ruben Janssen, Karin Menks, Ivy Nijst


Front Office, Tel: +31 (0)43 388 3946
Opening hours at Front Office Desk:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
10.00-12.30 and 13.30-16.00, closed on Wednesday
and during course free periods
You can visit our Front Office Desk to (amongst
others):
Ask questions about course/exam registration and
time tables
Obtain a place for an educational activity or

Examination organisation
Examination administration
Graduations
Administration and processing of obtained results

Board of Examiners
Lucie van Gastel
Room E0.07
(for questions, see FASoS Study Information).
Open office hour: Tuesday 11.00-12.00

examination after the registration deadline has passed


Receive certified copies of results
Ask questions about EleUM
Receive a selection of promotional/ informative flyers
and brochures

Digital newsletter
Important announcements will be published in
the FASoS Weekly which you receive every
Thursday via your Maastricht University email.

26

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

International Relations Office


Ine Mourmans, Resi Schenk, Sabine Vanhouwe
Room D0.14, Tel: +31(0)43-388 20 32
(for questions, see FASoS Study Information).
Opening hours at Front Office Desk:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 12.30-13.30
Internships
Mobility and student exchange coordination

FASoS Code of Conduct


Preamble
Respect means an appreciation of and regard for
fellow students and university staff members. The
aim of this Code of Conduct is to ensure a
respectful and productive study environment and
to avoid undesirable and unwanted situations. It
is not meant to restrict the freedom of opinion
and expression in any way, but to foster the
respectful inter-exchange and cooperation within
the Faculty on all levels.
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is the vital
study-concept applied at the Faculty. PBL requires
students to take an active part in discussions. This
applies equally to lectures. When working in
teams or subgroups, each member is expected to
make an equal contribution to the assignment
and take responsibility for the final result of the
assignment at hand.
The following core values should be respected at
all times:

All information relevant to students will be


disseminated via the official channels of the
Faculty. You should check these sources regularly.
You cannot claim to be unaware of information if
it was disseminated via these official channels in
a correct and timely manner.
E-mail is a formal means of communication:
always state your name and ID number and
formulate your questions as specific and clearly as
possible. An e-mail template is available via FASoS
Study Information.
Using your UM account to send spam or other
undesired messages is strictly forbidden as well as
the passing on of personal data to third parties
without permission. You may not introduce
viruses to the UM network, whether intentionally
or through negligence. Hacking into the UM
network, its servers and workstations is strictly
forbidden and subject to sanctions.

Respect for one another should be shown at all


times. Behaviour such as hostility, violence, sexual
harassment and discrimination on any grounds is
not acceptable.*

An agreement made between students or


between students and staff members must be
kept by all parties. If you are unable to fulfil your
promise, you should always let the other party
know in due time.

Honesty is indispensable in an academic


environment. This means taking exams
independently, indicating your sources when
writing a paper, essay or thesis, being truthful
when filling out forms, etc.**

Problems between students or between students


and staff members should be resolved in a civil
manner. If a resolution cannot be reached through
consultation, you should contact your course
coordinator or student advisor.

Commitment is an essential requirement for


students in an academic environment. This means
showing your intellectual passion by taking an
active attitude during classes, activities and
discussions.

* In case of violation, please contact the students and


staffs confidential advisers:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ssc > support >
confidential advisor

Communication
Communication between students or between
students and staff members should be conducted
politely and respectfully.

** For details, check FASoS Study Information > Exams


and Study Results > Education and Examination
Regulations.

27

Respect for the properties and facilities of FASoS


and UM should be shown at all time. Equipment
should be handled with care. This applies equally
to students and staff members properties.
Damage and misuse is not allowed and will be
sanctioned.

The link to the CSP is available via FASoS Study


Information. The CSP will forward the complaint
to the correct body or person. However, you are
advised to contact the institution or person who is
the originator of the unfair or improper treatment
before lodging a formal appeal or complaint.

In general, it is unacceptable to smoke inside


faculty buildings and to eat and drink in places
where it is prohibited.

In the Student Charter and FASoS Complaint


regulations you will find more detailed
information (available via FASoS Study
Information).

Disciplinary Measures, References and Complaints


In the event students consider themselves unduly
disadvantaged by a decision (e.g. a decision by the
Examination Committee), or feel unfairly treated
by the university without this being based on a
formal decision (e.g. improper treatment by a
lecturer), students can lodge a formal complaint,
objection or appeal. You have to submit your case
at the Complaints Service Point (CSP): a central
point to submit your objection, appeal or formal
complaint.

28

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

When students disobey the above guideline and


rules, disciplinary measures may be taken and
sanctions may be issued by the Faculty and/or
university. These may include denying the student
in question access entirely or partially to UM
buildings and domains for a maximum of one
year. In cases where the Dean decides to apply a
sanction for more than six months, this must be
in consultation with the Executive Board (CvB).

Annex 1: BA AC Final Qualifications


1. The student has an understanding of the key

7. The student is able to design a research project and

moments and core issues of the intellectual, cultural

conduct research under supervision, based on sources

and social history of modern Western society.

and literature, and to analyse and understand these in

2. The student is able to analyse at a basic level core


ideas and key moments from scholarly, political,

the context of academic and public debate.


8. The Cultuurwetenschappen student is able to express

artistic and cultural traditions and interpret and place

him- or herself adequately in academic Dutch in both

them in their social and historical contexts.

spoken and written forms. The Arts and Culture

3. The student is able to apply important concepts and


skills from the cultural studies domain in a
problem-centred approach to topical issues in
Western culture and society.
4. The student has learned to approach learning and

student is able to express him- or herself adequately


in academic English in both spoken and written
forms.
9. The student has an understanding of the advantages
and challenges of using digital sources and is able to

applied technology, politics and art as cultural

use relevant digital tools for collecting and presenting

practices and has a basic understanding of the

information on cultural sciences themes in a sound

appropriate academic tools (ways of thinking,


reasoning and acting).
5. The student has a basic understanding of what
interdisciplinary research means.
6. The student has the basic skills to conduct research
into cultural sciences subjects under supervision and

way.
10. The student is able to analyse, phrase and evaluate
normative issues, including temporary ones, and,
based on this, will in principle be able to participate in
public debates and in activities relevant to social
institutions and businesses.

an understanding of the elementary forms of


qualitative methods in social sciences.

29

Didactics
Since the UM was founded, PBL has been the
norm for all programmes. That does not mean
that the PBL method is always applied uniformly.
Although each programme will have some emphases of its own, this does not affect the basic
principles of PBL. It is characterised by teaching in
small tutorial groups of around 15 students.
Students investigate issues in ways similar to
those used by staff. Students take turns in
chairing the tutorial group, take minutes, discuss,
exchange knowledge and decide together what
their learning objectives should be.

They are led by a lecturer who is an expert in the


field (the tutor). Tutors guide the group process,
ask critical questions on the subject in hand, share
their knowledge and support students where
needed. There is little distance between student
and lecturer. Within the PBL system students
learn to interpret information critically. They learn
how to trace relevant information and activate
prior knowledge into enduring knowledge.
Furthermore, they develop a responsible attitude
towards the learning process and the group
process. In this way they develop independence
and self-discipline in their studies. By actively
working on issues students understand theory
more profoundly and learn to apply their insights
to various issues of cultural studies. In addition
they acquire essential skills in: conducting
research, presenting points of view, debating,
writing texts, chairing a meeting and
collaborating. These skills are of great use in
authentic learning situations and in professional
situations and offer our students the chance to
stand out.
PBL has been designed as a didactic model to
improve the transfer of subject matter. Although
not intended, the effect is there, alumni tell us,
and was shown in research (ROA: Research Centre
for Education and the Labour Market;
www.roa.nl), that our alumni are well prepared for
todays job market. They are very independent,
able to analyse complex issues, to acquire and
structure information and to work in teams,
including international teams. They have learned
to lead discussions and present ideas.
Contact hours
The average number of contact hours per week in
the first year is at least 10, examination weeks
included. This relatively small number is related to
the form of education, PBL, which is not only
intensive but also requires a lot of self-study.

30

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

31

Annex 2: Overview Curriculum including Skills Track

Period 1 Sept-Oct

Year 1 Apollo and Dionysus

incl. Introduction in

Ethics (10 ECTS)

Period 2 Nov-Dec

Period 4 Febr-March Period 5 April-May June


Disenchantment
and Ideology incl
Research and
Writing I, part 2
(10 ECTS)

Style and
Modernity
(10 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Debates among
Historians
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Analysis of
Paintings and
Literary Texts
(3 ECTS)

Cultural Pluralism
(8,5 ECTS)

Specialisation
Course*
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(12 ECTS)

Specialisation
Course*
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(12 ECTS)

Theory of Science and Research and


Interdisciplinarity
Writing II:
(3 ECTS)
The first step
(6 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Entering the Field I
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Entering the Field II
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(3 ECTS)

Lecture Series of Research and Writing I


Skills Training:
Entering the
Humanities
(3 ECTS)

Period 3 January

Knowledge and
Criticism (10 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Reading Philosophy
(3 ECTS)

Research and
Writing I, part 1
(7 ECTS)

Skills Training: Academic Skills I (1 ECTS) + Mentor Programme


Language &
Professional Skills:
English Diagnostic
Test (pass-fail)
Year 2 Network Society
(8,5 ECTS)

Skills Training:
Close to the Foreign
(3 ECTS)

Skills Training: Academic Skills II (1 ECTS) + Mentor Programme


Year 3

Elective Semester:
Study Abroad, Minor, Electives, Internship
(30 ECTS)

Doing Research in
your Specialisation*
(CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(12 ECTS)
Vademecum Thesis Writing in your
Specialisation* (CKT, LAC, PC, MC)
(6 ECTS)
Bachelor Thesis (12 ECTS; deadline late June)

* Students choose one specialisation out of four

32

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

33

Annex 3: Academic Calendar 2015/2016


August 2015
31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

September 2015
28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
WEEK 1

October 2015
25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14

November 2015
30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

December 2015
27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
WEEK 7

WEEK 6

WEEK 8

January 2016
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
PERIOD 3, WEEK 1

WEEK 2

February 2016
29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
SEMESTER 2, PERIOD 4,WEEK 1

WEEK 2

CARNIVAL

March 2016
26 27 28 29 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
WEEK 5

WEEK 4

WEEK 6

April 2016
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
WEEK 8

PERIOD 5, WEEK 1

WEEK 2

May 2016
29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

June 2016
27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
WEEK 9

July 2016
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
August 2016
29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

September 2016
26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
INTRODUCTION DAYS

34

SEMESTER 1, PERIOD 1,WEEK 1

Education

Publication Date Time Table for upcoming period

No courses

Introduction period

BA AC Curriculum Catalogue 2015/2016

WEEK 2

Deadline of Booking terms in 2015/16:


26 July 2015 for period 1 (not in calendar);
13 September 2015 for period 2; 8 November
2015 for period 3; 29 November 2015 for
period 4; 21 February 2016 for period 5
and 24 July 2016 for period 1 2016/17

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06
SEMESTER 1, PERIOD 1,WEEK 1

INTRODUCTION DAYS

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01
PERIOD 2, WEEK 1

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06
WEEK 5

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03
CHRISTMAS BREAK

CHRISTMAS BREAK

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
WEEK 3

WEEK 4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 01 02 03 04 05 06
WEEK 3

WEEK 4

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03
WEEK 7

WEEK 8

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01
WEEK 3

WEEK 4

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05
WEEK 8

WEEK 9

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04
INTRODUCTION DAYS

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02
WEEK 3

1 June 2015 (not in calendar) and 1 June 2016:


Opening booking term for all modules.

WEEK 4

For details about exams go to fasos.info/study >


Course and Exam registration overviews.
Publication of grades 15 working days after the
exam date (for final work count 18 working days).

35

Maastricht University
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands

UM-103860-en-GB-0815-3

Based in Europe, focused on the world. Maastricht University is a


stimulating environment. Where research and teaching are
complementary. Where innovation is our focus. Where talent can
florish. A truly student oriented research university.

www.maastrichtuniversity.nl

2015 Marketing & Communications Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht,
The Netherlands. | Photography: Arjen Schmitz, Maastricht, Jonathan Vos, Maastricht, Moniek Wegdam, iStockpfoto | Concept and
design template: Vormgeversassociatie BV, Hoog-Keppel | Layout and production: Marketing & Communications, Maastricht
University | Final editing: Maartje Lieshout.
Although this brochure was made with the utmost care, no rights can be attained from it.

Contact Information

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