Quality Assurance Regulations: Section C

Section C: Guidelines for the validation of joint honours or major with minor subject courses

 

C1. Introduction

This section applies to courses whose titles include more than one subject. These may be delivered as joint honours awards or as major/minor combinations. For major/minor combinations, all subjects must already be validated as single-subject courses.

 

C2.   Naming conventions

Subjects of equal weight are identified using “and”. Major/minor combinations are identified using “with”. Up to three subject areas may be included where each makes a significant contribution.

 

C3.   Proposals for major/minor courses

Outline proposals must be submitted in accordance with Section B3. Where both subjects are already validated, courses will normally be considered through Tier 1 validation. RSO will determine the validation level where new subject areas are involved.

 

C4.   Requirements for major/minor combinations

Major/minor undergraduate courses must comply with the approved credit structures set out below.

 

Course element	Major Subject	Minor Subject
Credits at foundation level	80	40
Credits at post-foundation level	160	80
Total credits across the course	240	120
Minimum core credits	200	100
Maximum optional credits	40	20

 

The major subject must carry the greater credit weighting at all levels. Once approved, named majors and minors must use the same set of modules across all approved combinations.

 

C5.   Validation of joint honours and major/minor courses

Validation follows Section B, with additional requirements relating to title coherence, academic rationale for the combination, module structure, assessment arrangements and transfer opportunities.

 

C6.   Responsibilities

Where courses involve more than one School, a lead School must be identified and responsibilities for curriculum delivery, assessment, quality assurance and student support clearly defined.