Modules for the

21st Century
2017-18
Elective Programme
What are electives?
Our elective programme, Modules for the 21st Century, offers you the opportunity to
study a module outside your core programme. Our electives have been designed
to broaden your educational experience, deepen your knowledge of the physical
and social world and enhance your critical and academic skills. All students are
expected to take one elective each year during their first two years of their degree.

What electives are available?

There are currently 21 electives
Module
Code Elective Title
ELE001 How big is infinity? Getting to grips with how we know what we know
ELE002 Games for Change
ELE003 People, Planet, Profit: Sustainable business futures
ELE005 Defence Against the Dark Arts
ELE006 Global Change
ELE007 Cities of the future: Science Fiction to Science Fact
ELE008 Inspire and Discover: Communicating Science
ELE009 Environmental Sustainability and Citizenship in the 21st Century
ELE010 Live Well and Prosper
ELE011 Debating the 21st Century
ELE012 Film and Game Genres
ELE014 The Study of Games and Cultures of Play
ELE015 Renewable Energy Challenges and Opportunities
ELE016 The Art and Science of Decision Making
ELE017 You and Your Legal Rights
ELE018 Ethical Reasoning for a Global Society
ELE019 The Secret Life of Language
ELE020 Forensic Investigation
ELE021 Success through Failure: How we learn from Disaster
ELE022 Starting a Business
ELE023 Career Management in the 21st Century

In order to help you choose your elective, this booklet contains a module descrip-
tor for each elective. These module descriptors provide a brief description of the
elective, outlining the content, workload and the mode of assessment. If you have
difficulty choosing which elective to take remember you will also have the opportu-
nity to take one next year.
Prohibited Programmes
While many electives are open to all students, some electives are not available to
students on particular programmes where the elective and programme content
overlap too closely.

Elective Descriptors
ELE001: How big is infinity? Getting to grips with how we know what we know
Brief Description: This module attempts to tackle two big questions: How do we
know what we know? How sure are we that we know it? These questions underpin
much of our technically-reliant society, and yet some of what we know seems
to contradict common sense or experience. The module will present several of
these current big ideas - concepts that capture the imagination yet which can be
explained without recourse to specialist or technical language - and use these to
illustrate and explain the process of scientific and technical progress.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with an understanding of
systematic methods of enquiry, with a particular focus on the philosophy of science,
and to develop key skills in presentation, critical thinking, reasoning and modes of
enquiry.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Identify and describe different kinds of knowledge and the mechanisms that
we use to develop these.
2. Describe and discuss key issues in the philosophy of science.
3. Discuss and evaluate key arguments surrounding the philosophy of science.
4. Present and defend independent views about scientific enquiry and how it
relates to established ideas and beliefs.
ELE002: Games for Change
Prohibited Programmes: BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development;
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology; BA (Hons) Game Design and Production
Management; BA (Hons) Computer Arts; BA (Hons) Management and the Games
Industry.
Brief Description: The module will provide the opportunity to work in teams in
order to develop game design concepts for serious applications.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with: the knowledge,
processes and techniques of game design and study examples of serious games
that have been developed to benefit society.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Critically analyse texts and applications in a variety of media.
2. Work collaboratively with peers to analyse and critique their own and others ideas.
3. Undertake interdisciplinary team work, accountability, and communication.
4. Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas across disciplines in order to
develop creative solutions to complex problems.

ELE003: People, Planet, Profit

Prohibited Programmes: BA (Hons) Business Management; BA (Hons) Marketing
and Business; BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management
Brief Description: This module develops an awareness in students in the critical
success factors of sustainable business.
Aim: The module aims to develop student awareness of the business challenges
associated with sustainable business creation and development and to provide
students with the knowledge and skills required to make a convincing case for
investment in a sustainable business idea.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Identify the key business challenges associated with the creation of sustainable
business.
2. Prepare and produce a sustainable business investment pitch.
3. Understand the issues involved in ethical practices in emergent business.
4. Identify and promote new sustainable business opportunities.

ELE005: Defence against the Dark Arts

Prohibited Programmes: BSc (Hons) Computing; BSc (Hons) Ethical Hacking
Brief Description: Aimed at students who have an interest in technology but are
not experts, the module will include personal digital safety, but go beyond this
and look at principles, enabling students to apply their knowledge to tomorrows
digital world as well as todays. We also include aspects relating to industry/
management/society. The aim is to make computer security fun and practical,
while also being eye-opening and covering base knowledge that will continue to
be relevant to future generations of devices.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with: Knowledge and practical
skills in cybersecurity for students whose core modules do not focus on this. It
considers the main threats to cybersecurity and personal, technical and societal
countermeasures.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Describe vulnerabilities in computer systems and possible threats arising from
their exploitation.
2. Evaluate and assess methods for defending computer systems and securing
data and information.
3. Explain the significance, underlying science, limitations and consequences for
society of cryptography and information hiding.

ELE006: Global Change

Brief Description: Earths future population faces grand challenges including
environmental change, increased food and energy prices, conflicts, emerging
diseases, and changing demographics. This module enables students to develop
perspectives on these challenges. Important ideas often transcend a single discipline
or program. Students will be introduced to key challenges facing humankind,
the overwhelming complexity of the problems and the need for interdisciplinary
approaches to create solutions. This will broaden the students view of the possibilities
that their study and skills can contribute to society.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with: 1. An introduction to
inter- and multi- disciplinary research; 2. An introduction to challenges facing
humankind; 3. An understanding of contributions from diverse disciplines;
4. Skills to make contributions to working in interdisciplinary teams
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Identify and describe examples of interdisciplinary research.
2. Identify interdisciplinary skills that are required to tackle grand challenges.
3. Communicate confidently to interdisciplinary groups orally and in writing.
ELE007: Cities of the future: Science fiction to Science Fact
Brief Description: This module will introduce the concept of smart cities, which
brings together hard infrastructure, social capital including local skills and community
institutions, and (digital) technologies to fuel sustainable economic development
and provide an attractive environment for all (Department for Business Innovation
& Skills October 2013).
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with: Knowledge and
understanding of the different aspects of a smart city and their impacts on our lives.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Understand concept of smart cities.
2. Analyse data within the concept of a smart city.
ELE008: Inspire and Discover: Communicating Science
Brief Description: This module introduces students to the skills required to
communicate scientific ideas and principles to a wide audience.
Aim: The aim of the module is to develop skills in communicating scientific ideas
to a wide audience.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Discuss the efficacy of different approaches to communicating science to the
wider public.
2. Present a complex scientific idea or concept to the wider lay community.

ELE009: Sustainable Development in Scotland

Prohibited Programmes: BA (Hons) Social Science; BA (Hons) Sociology
Brief Description: Based on a breadth of knowledge from across the disciplinary
spectrum and from lay and community-based interests, this module aims to
reflexively foster the development of a range of skills, knowledge and techniques
within the natural, technological and social sciences that are relevant to the study
of environmental sustainability and concurrently, life in the twenty-first century. It
will promote an understanding of critical issues that confront humanity and begin
to discern appropriate responses to these issues.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to begin to provide students with the skills and
knowledge required to innovate locally in the context of transforming globally;
that is, an understanding of social, cultural, economic and environmental issues
associated with sustainable development and its practicalities; an understanding
that will facilitate a transformational experience and a notion of active citizenship.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Outline and discuss the complex relationship between society and the environment.
2. Describe the principles and characteristics of sustainable development and
appreciate how they relate to specific study disciplines.
3. Describe the social and cultural nuances of recent political and social change
as regards sustainable development and global agreements thereof.
4. Recognise and critically evaluate the social, technological and natural aspects
of a range of environmental issues.
5. Reflect on personal modes of practice and knowledge attainment in line with
sustainable lifestyles and sustainable futures.
6. An appreciation of local innovation as regards global transformation.

ELE010: Live Well and Prosper

Prohibited Programmes: BA (Hons) Sport & Management; BSc Sport & Psychology;
BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science; BSc (Hons) Food and Consumer Sciences;
BSc (Hons) Food Nutrition and Health; BSc (Hons) Fitness, Nutrition and Health
Brief Description: This modules primary aim is to illustrate how physical and
mental health can be maintained through the understanding of physical activity
and nutrition. This module will enable students to reflect on their own health and
lifestyle choices and how to incorporate good health behaviours into their lives.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with the knowledge and
understanding of the role physical activity and nutrition play in promoting and
maintaining physical and mental health and well-being and how this could be
applied to their own lives.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how lifestyle choices impact on
health and well-being.
2. Demonstrate competence and knowledge of nutrition and dietary analysis.
3. Present in a team environment a reflective account of an aspect from the
module.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theories that underpin
personal health.

ELE011: Debating the 21st Century

Brief Description: This module aims to facilitate the development of critical
thinking skills that form the basis for progression across the academic disciplines
of the university. Student engagement is activated by fore-fronting timeless and
timely ethical, social and political issues in a series of set piece debates, and by
the provision of innovative follow-up opportunities for both enquiry-based group
dialogue and individual critical reflection. Through a combination of debates and
tutorials students are taught how to recognise, construct, evaluate, criticise and
defend different forms of argument.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with: critical thinking skills that
form the basis for successful progression through Abertay degree programmes.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Exhibit an ability to analyse, evaluate, debate, and communicate knowledge
from competing intellectual perspectives.
2. Demonstrate organisation, self-management and scholarship skills by using
information technology to access relevant sources and complete assessments
for set deadlines.
3. Show evidence of collaboration and discursive review of written work with
student peers.

ELE012: Media Genres

Brief Description: This module introduces students to the cultural codes and formal
content underlying the composition of popular cultural genres, as these are
realised traditionally through films, and more contemporaneously through video
games.
Aim: The aim of this module is to provide students with an overview of key questions
relating to the understanding of film and games genres, and the continuities and
discontinuities that arise from these distinctive, yet related cultural forms.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Understand some of basic structural elements of the production process of both
genre types, considering points of similarity and convergence as well as difference.
2. Understand video games using theories from sociology, cultural and media
studies, film and games studies.
3. Appreciate narrative dynamics and spectacular cinema through the appreciation
of key distinctive genre films, focusing on epic fantasy, crime/thriller and horror,
and war films.

ELE014: Study of Games and Cultures of Play

Prohibited Programmes: BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development;
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology; BA (Hons) Computer Arts; BA (Hons)
Game Design and Production Management; BA (Hons) Management and the
Games Industry
Aim: To provide students with the historical and theoretical foundations in the study
of games and play.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Describe the ontological and anthropological characteristics of games and play.
2. Describe various games using a range of analytical methods.
3. Articulate the characteristics of gameplay experience for different types of players.
4. Discuss patterns of historical change in games and play.
5. Produce a scholarly paper appropriate to level, reflecting original research and
reflection.

ELE015: Renewable Energy Challenges and Opportunities

Prohibited Programmes: BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Technology
Aim: The module is designed to expose students to the renewable energy
production and consumption and their various implications in our modern society.
Delivery of the module will focus on challenges and opportunities created by
these various implications.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Appreciate the social and managerial challenges and opportunities associated
with renewable energy.
2. Understand the economic and political challenges and benefit of renewable energy.
3. Develop an understanding of technological opportunities and innovation challenges
of renewable energy by an overview of renewable Energy Technologies and
associated processes: Wind, wave, solar, heat pumps, hydro-electric, waste to
energy systems and bio-based solutions.

ELE016: The Art and Science of Decision Making

Brief Description: An introduction to decision analysis and evidence-based
decision making.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide the student with: an understanding of
basic concepts, and a skill set, in decision analysis and support, and evidence-
based decision making.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Understand key concepts and processes in decision making, analysis, and support.
2. Structure decision problems, elicit preferences and priorities.
3. Analyse, interpret and use different datasets, and evaluate real data problems.
4. Perform basic decision analysis.

ELE017: You and Your Legal Rights

Prohibited Programmes: LLB (Hons) Law
Brief Description: This module is designed to provide students with a back-
ground to their legal rights as citizens and consumers.
Aim: The aim of this Module is to provide students, as citizens and consumers,
with core legal knowledge in defined areas to enable them to understand and
enforce their legal rights in a variety of everyday situations.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate broad knowledge of the context in which particular laws operate.
2. Explain the fundamental principles applicable to the areas of study and the
remedies available to consumers and citizens.
3. Apply the main principles of law in context to the areas of study and apply the
appropriate remedies.
4. Demonstrate basic skills of legal research and legal reasoning.

ELE018: Ethical Reasoning for a Global Society

Brief Description: Graduate attributes refer to qualities, characteristics and skills
that can transfer to being responsible citizens (Bowden et al, 2000). Britain has
become a more multi-cultural society and there is an aspiration that Abertay graduates
will become global and active citizens therefore they should understand the
concepts of tolerance, and the importance of making sound ethical decisions.
Aim: The aim is to: increase students awareness of the requirements/responsibilities
in respect of Equality and Ethics legislation; Require the students to reflect on
their responsibilities (moral/ethical) and their potential personal preconceptions
when engaging with organisations and their membership.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Understand the terms inclusiveness, equal opportunities, positive action and
reasonable adjustment.
2. Discern the ethical issues within personal and professional decisions.
3. Identify and utilise fundamental evidence-based ethical arguments detailing
considerations which individuals/organisations need to make.
4. Reflect on how knowledge and insight into equality and ethics issues will
inform their engagement with individuals and organisations.

ELE019: The Secret Life of Language

Brief Description: Whether were writing a status update on social media or an
academic assignment, we continually adjust our language to suit our context. This
elective module will look at a range of linguistic issues, including proper English,
how language can be used to create moral panics, and the ethics of communication.
We will do this by analysing a wide range of texts including films, digital games and
poetry; students will also create a number of academic, scientific or creative texts
of their own. Peer review of each others work forms an integral part of this module.
Aim: The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to the
ways language is used, particularly to express identity. We will look at writing and
reading as social interactions that vary among different communities of writers,
such as academics, bloggers and journalists. We will examine the conventions
around these interactions and evaluate the way we decide who has the authority
to write and how the rules around language use can change and be negotiated
within particular communities. The module will encourage students to think
critically about writing in a range of areas, including journalism, research, popular
fiction and screenwriting; students will be encouraged to write in a range of genres,
both individually and collaboratively.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Explain the key concepts of sociolinguistic study.
2. Identify key aspects of particular genres and discourse communities.
3. Critically evaluate texts in terms of their successful use of these identifying aspects.
4. Work collaboratively with peers to analyse and critique their own and others
writing.

ELE020: Forensic Investigation

Prohibited Programmes: BSc (Hons) Psychology and Forensic Biology; BSc
(Hons) Forensic Sciences
Brief Description: In this module you will learn how crimes are investigated from
the moment of reporting through to the presentation of the evidence in court. A
hypothetical case study will be used to provide an over-arching framework in which
the critical aspects of forensic investigations can be explored. Forensic investigation
involves a wide range of disciplines and this module will give an introduction to
some of these. A typical investigation involves not only physical and electronic
evidence, but also statements from witnesses, suspects and victims. This requires
cross discipline collaboration of profess.
Aim: The aim of this module is to introduce students to the wide range of skills
employed in investigating criminal cases and to show the need for a holistic
approach drawing from various disciplines.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. To understand the complexity of forensic investigations and the wide range of
skills that may be required.
2. To appreciate the complimentary nature of different disciplines and aspects of
forensic investigation.
3. To logically follow a sequence of evidence and draw appropriate conclusions.

ELE021: Success Through Failure: How we learn from Disaster

Brief Description: This module will utilise the expertise of Abertay in the Natural
and Built Environment. The students will learn about natural disaster such as
landslides and flooding, structural disasters such as the Tay Rail Bridge and the
system of critical infrastructure, part of built environment, such as road, rail, air
and shipping transport networks, power grid, gas and water networks, health
system, etc, constitutes the backbone of modern societies.
Aim: The review of causes requires students to develop their investigation skills
and their critical thinking is developed through examining the impact of changes
arising from the disasters.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Understand the causes and consequences of different disaster scenarios.
2. Identify the role of reports and investigations that inform lessons to be
learned from failure.

ELE022: Starting a Business

Brief Description: This module introduces students the skills and knowledge
needed to launch a small business successfully. This module defines and helps
students acquire the personal and professional skills needed in order to develop
a professional career and/or to succeed as entrepreneurs in Small and Medium
sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Aim: The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to:
1. To raise awareness of self-employment as a career option. 2. Understand
and analyse the role of the entrepreneur in the process of business start-up
and development. 3. Develop and practice the skills necessary to operate
effectively as entrepreneurs in the small business sector.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Review the skills and qualities they possess and how these relate to the
skills and qualities associated with successful entrepreneurs.
2. Understand the skills and approaches the entrepreneur brings to the process
of value creation.
3. Produce a simple business plan which demonstrates the commercial viability
of a proposed small business start-up.

ELE023: Career Management in the 21st Century

Brief Description: TThe world of work is constantly evolving with new industries,
occupations and ways of working emerging all the time. Finding the right career
path depends upon having an awareness of your own strengths and motivations
and how these fit into the job market. So, is this the time to think about what
you have to offer and how you can start to shape your future? If so, this elective
will help you to develop the knowledge and awareness required to make good
career decisions and the skills and confidence to successfully navigate each
stage of the recruitment process for graduate jobs.
Aim: The aim of this module is to help you focus on the career options that best match
your strengths, interests, values and priorities. The course will also help you to understand
what employers look for in graduates so that you can excel in the full range of recruitment
activities.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Identify knowledge, abilities and transferable skills developed by ones degree.
2. Synthesise ones key strengths, goals and motivations into a rounded
personal profile.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of general trends in graduate employment and
opportunities for graduates in ones discipline.
4. Devise a short/medium-term career development action plan.
5. Demonstrate understanding of effective opportunity-search strategies.
6. Demonstrate ability to present oneself effectively in selection interviews and
other selection processes.
More Information
If you want more information on any of
the electives listed above, please see the
full Elective descriptors which you can
access through OASIS on the applicant portal.
https://applications.abertay.ac.uk/external/
oasis/structdesc/modspc.cfm