At the Milestone Institute, module selection is one of the liveliest topics of conversation each term. Which courses are student favourites? What are the new ones like? And what have others experienced?
As soon as we announced the summer trimester’s courses, we have already challenged our students with a dilemma: they need to decide which modules to take in the summer term. As we have mentioned in the Milestone Behind The Scenes series, each student is responsible for their own module choices. Of course they are not on their own with this and their mentors help them make informed choices. What is more, the shopping lectures over the weekend offer each student a taste of the available modules of the summer term.
A shopping lecture is a brief exposition of a given module’s topics and requirements, and attending one gives the advantage of getting information and being able to ask questions without having to commit to taking the module. The module leader giving the lecture can highlight the most important elements of the module and can get an impression of the potential participants. Over the weekend, students can find out what the Good and Evil module is about, what the requirements for completing Electromagnetism are, how long the readings are in the State Theory module, and what the word Anthropocene means in our module with the same title.
Course Offerings and Academic Pathways
In the summer trimester, 28 modules and three admission support programmes are offered. Our modules span the broader disciplines of the numerical sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, the humanities and the arts, and offer students a range of study pathways within these broad categories. Each pathway provides opportunities to explore a particular discipline, giving interested students the chance to take in-depth, more difficult courses after the introductory ones, and to build on prior knowledge and commitment.
For example, this semester the Thought, Language, Behaviour pathway offers an introduction to applied linguistics through a data-driven study of swear words, while at a more advanced level, students can take Statistics and Natural Philosophies in the summer. We prepare with exciting new challenges in the autumn for those who are committed to this pathway. But let’s look at another example: Biology of the Cell is an introductory module in the Life Sciences pathway offered this summer. Students enthusiastic about the subject can go on to study a course on evolution (among other topics) in the autumn. Students who have already completed several life science courses can take Lab Research this summer.
Sophomores are particularly encouraged to experiment with their module choices: be brave and try new areas. In the meantime, students are encouraged to reflect on the courses they particularly enjoy. The pathway(s) those courses belong to can be further explored in the Upper House, giving relevant information to both student and mentor about future university orientation.
