Modern Languages and Visual Culture BA

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

The programme is normally studied over four years; the third year is spent abroad. It is possible to transfer onto an alternative 3-year programme should you be unable to spend a year abroad, subject to the agreement of the relevant Director of Education. Both the 4- and 3- year versions of the programme are identical in Years 1 and 2 and the final year, with a compulsory 30-credit core language module in each year.

The year abroad may be spent either in one country where a language of study is spoken or, if suitable arrangements can be made, divided between two countries. Exceptionally, other arrangements may be approved by the relevant Director of Education and/or Head of Department. On the year abroad all students are required either to take a core module which tests language acquisition, intercultural competence and develops employability skills and environmental awareness, or, if you study at a University on an Erasmus exchange, you will be assessed on the basis of marks obtained at the host university and an oral exam held on your return to the University of Exeter.

In each stage except the year abroad your study will be split equally between the two sides of the degree programme, with 60 credits taken from Modern Languages and 60 credits from Visual Culture.

The first year gives you a foundational knowledge of visual culture theory and concepts as well as essential language training. You will also gain important analytical techniques that will be useful across a range of subjects and research tasks.

For Modern Languages, you will study 30 credits of core language (French, German, Italian, Russian, or Spanish). You will then choose another 30 credits, which may consist of either another language module or of optional modules related to your language choice.

For Visual Culture, you will study two compulsory and one optional module. The first, Introducing Visual Culture, highlights elements of visual literacy from antiquity to the present. The module is structured around discreet themes or topics which may include the body, the archive, gender and art, ethnicity, religion and belief, exhibition and museum culture. The second core module is Visual Media.

In the second year you will advance your grasp of visual culture knowledge and methods and language learning through a set of compulsory modules. Optional modules enable you to develop specialist knowledge on a range of topics.

For Modern Languages, you will study a second core 30 credit language module, which will be in the same language as that studied in the core module of the previous stage. This will reinforce and enhance your core language ability. You will then choose a further 30 credits, which as with Stage 1 may consist of either another language module or content modules related to your core language choice.

For Visual Culture, you will study two core modules and 15 credits of optional Visual Culture modules. The core module, Contemporary Visual Practices, covers the ways in which different media construct contrasting visual worlds. Media may include painting, sculpture, installation, photography, film, video art, television, digital media, social networking, virtual and mixed reality. The second core module is the Art History and Visual Culture Field Study.

The third year is spent abroad, either on a work placement, studying at a university, or in a school working as a language assistant.

The centre-point of the final year is the dissertation. This provides you with the opportunity to explore an area of interest and to demonstrate what you have learned over the previous years of your degree. You will also take up to three other specialist modules to create a programme of work fully reflecting your interests.

In Modern Languages, you will study a third core 30-credit language module, again in the same language as that studied in the core modules of previous stages, and building on language acquisition from time spent abroad. Again, you will also choose a further 30 credits of either language or content study.

In Visual Culture, you will take 60 credits of options. You may also choose to undertake a dissertation in Visual Culture.