LEARNING OUTCOMES
Proficiencies
Ability to analyze – and contextualize – characteristics of ancient cultures over time
• Ability to identify trends and long-term developmental aspects, as well as to follow the complex reasoning inherent in their particular discourses
• Awareness of cultural individuality and cross-cultural inspirations – within and between cultural and social groups
Ability to analyze art, architecture and material culture as primary sources
• Familiarity with relevant historical, art historical and architectural terminology and ability to deploy these with precision and to effect
• Understanding of the context of public and private art and architecture – and the ability for comparative analyses of these as expressions of culture and acculturation
Ability to articulate interests and developments as affected by cultural factors
• Awareness of avenues of engagement with new forms and the motivations for doing so among diverse social groupings and communities
• Appreciation of directions of artistic inspiration – and of the expression of provincial and non-elite participation in a dominant culture
Ability to analyze the construction and articulation of cultural identities
• Ability for analyzing material culture as dynamic interactions of inspiration, response and emulation – not simply imperialism or control
• Awareness of how the image of cultural identity is changeable and shaped by a perception of ‘self’ and sense of position within a wider world
Skills
Communicative skills – writing and oral competence
Term paper: Skills of organization of material, focus on topic, and nuance in discussion
Exams: Aptitudes for contextualization and nuanced discussion of works, as well as for focused presentation of data
Class presentations: Skills of public speaking (presentation of material, development of argument, illustration of evidence) and didactic methods (engaging audience through description, posing questions, responding to answers)
Participation: Skills of formulating reviews and analytical responses; participating in debates; posing questions
Cognitive skills – critical thinking and interpretation
Class presentation: Skills of evaluation and consideration of evidence; analysis of information gathered from observation; and skillful reflection on significance
Participation: Skills of reasoned consideration of evidence and methods; willingness to adapt/revise ways of thinking; and openness to alternative perspectives
Term paper and exams: Development of subtlety, nuance and engagement in the approach to the topic at hand
Lectures and class presentations: Adeptness at contextualization and interpretation of objects, including observations on cultural norms that inform them
Collaborative and shared inquiry skills
Lectures and participation: Development of investigative response-skills; collaborative contributions; and open debate – ability to test, explore and communicate complex ideas
Class presentations: Skills of thoughtful dialogue; sharing of observations; and active contribution to an academic milieu
Investigative skills and evaluation of data
Term paper and class presentations: Skills of using and evaluating secondary texts of diverse focus, specialism and target audience; as well as of interpreting both the inherent interests of these and the arguments presented
Lectures and participation: Skills of evaluation of context, impact and patronage of objects and spaces