This degree explores the rich cultural, historical and literary heritage of Scotland, with a particular focus on Dumfries, Galloway and the Borders. Within the degree, there are five components. Each student completes two core courses: ‘Scottish Cultural Heritage: Approaches and Explorations’ and ‘Southwest Scotland: Image and Identity’. In addition, students select two electives from the following list (one in each semester): 'The Scottish Wars of Independence', 'The Ballad', 'Scottish Folklore and Popular Culture', 'The Scots abroad', 'Scotland and Film', 'Scottish Poetry in the Nineteenth Century', 'Tourism and Regional Development' and 'Heritage, Interpretation and Development'. The programme, in short, comprises a cross-disciplinary set of courses, with the opportunity to experience different approaches to Scottish culture, from folk life to farming, fishing, traditions of the supernatural, and the rich song traditions of the Scotland. Approaches to these are drawn from diverse but complementary dis
ciplines such as Literary Studies, Folkloristics, History, Philosophy and Tourism Studies. Each week, specialists on the Dumfries staff discuss current developments in their own area within seminars, supported by regular tutorials with the course convenor.
The degree has a certain amount of flexibility, allowing students to choose, based on their own interests, whether to pursue particular and specific interests, or to follow a broad course of study. Although a general degree in Scottish Cultural Heritage is possible, individual students can distinguish a specialist strand which they can follow throughout the degree. For example, they may opt for such specialist subjects as Tourism, History or Literature. Following the latter option, students would be encouraged to concentrate on the relevant specialism in each of the courses. Thus, for example, a person might opt to write on Folklore in the two core courses and then pursue the same theme in whatever options are selected. This could be seen as consolidation for the eventual completion of a dissertation; thus, students would be thinking about, and reflecting upon, possible dissertation themes virtually from the earliest stages of the degree.
Each compulsory course ('Approaches' and 'South West Scotland') attracts 30 credits, while a dissertation of 15–20,000 words is worth 60 credits. In order to proceed to the dissertation, candidates must achieve an overall ‘C’ average in the four courses. Students who decline the dissertation may qualify for a ‘Diploma in Scottish Cultural Heritage’.
Content
Core courses
* Scottish cultural heritage: approaches and explorations
* Southwest Scotland: image and identity
* The completion of a dissertation
Optional courses
You will also choose one optional course in each of the first two semesters. Elective courses are
* Scottish poetry in the 19th century
* The ballad
* Scotland and film
* The Scottish wars of independence
* The Scots abroad
* Scottish folklore and popular culture
* Tourism and regional development
* Heritage, interpretation and development