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Objectives
Binding Study Advice (BSA): additional requirements
Programme
Follow-on master’s programme
Objectives
The Dutch Studies programme trains non-native speakers of Dutch to become experts on the Netherlands and the Dutch language. Students acquire extended knowledge of the language and culture of the Netherlands. They also acquire the ability to tackle theoretical and practical problems in a manner consistent with the practice in this field of study. Most of all, students learn to independently reflect on the literature of the field.
Graduates have acquired a command of Dutch at C1 level for reading and listening skills. For spoken interaction, speaking and writing, graduates have acquired a B2 level or higher. For more information on these levels, see the descritpion online.
Achievement Levels
I. Graduates of the programme have attained the following achievement levels:
a. knowledge and understanding of the nature and scope of the discipline of Dutch Language, Culture and Studies, and thus
the foundation and historical development of the Dutch language,
an overview of writers, movements and works of Dutch literature,
an overview of the history of the Netherlands and of Dutch art and cultural history, and
aspects of contemporary Dutch culture and society;
b. knowledge and understanding of the key terms, instruments, research methods and techniques of the history of the Netherlands, Dutch linguistics, literary studies, art history and cultural history;
c. the ability to use the acquired knowledge and understanding to form a well-reasoned opinion on a topic in the discipline of Dutch, Language, Culture and Society that they have not yet covered.
II. This means that graduates in the field of literary studies:
a. have knowledge and understanding of a limited but representative body of primary texts from the Middle Ages to the present day;
b. are able to apply the knowledge and understanding they have acquired by placing the most important writers, texts and movements in a literary-historical context;
c. are able to analyse a literary text in a scholarly way and report on this.
III. This means that graduates in the field of linguistics:
a. have knowledge of basic Dutch phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics;
b. are able to apply the knowledge and understanding acquired through the most important research questions, research methods, theories and findings to the field of second language acquisition;
c. are able to analyse spoken and written language in a scholarly way and report on this.
IV. This means that graduates in the field of art history:
a. have knowledge of aspects of visual arts in the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the present day, and have an understanding of the most important approaches in the discipline;
b. are able to apply the knowledge and understanding they have acquired by placing the most important Dutch works of art and movements, the influence of Dutch art abroad or the interaction between Dutch and foreign artists in an historical and cultural context;
c. are able to analyse the above art-history topics in a scholarly way and report on this.
V. This means that in the field of history graduates:
a. have knowledge of aspects of the history of the Netherlands from prehistory down to the present day;
b. are able to apply the knowledge and understanding they have acquired by placing the most important events and developments in a historical and cultural context
c. are able to analyse a historical topic in a scholarly way and report on this.
VI. Aims and objectives from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Reference Propaedeuse Bachelor’s Listening B1/B2 C1 Reading B1/B2 C1 Spoken interaction B1 B2 Spoken production B1 B2 Writing B1 B2Furthermore, each Humanities programme at Leiden University trains the students in general academic skills formulated by the Faculty.
Binding Study Advice (BSA): additional requirements
In addition to the general requirements the programme also requires students to have
successfully completed the first-year course ‘Dutch Society represented in Dutch Movies’
Programme
General
The focus of the Bachelor’s programme in Dutch Studies lies on Dutch language and culture. The first (propedeuse) and the second year of the Bachelor’s programme consist of compulsory courses. English will be used as the language of instruction only in the first semester of the first year, except for the Philosophy of Science course held in the second term of the first year. In the third year, there is room for a subsidiary subjects (worth a total of 30 EC-credits, 15 EC-credits per semester).
First and second year
Teaching in the first two years concentrates on language acquisition: language acquisition courses represent half the credits in the first year and one third of the credits in the second year. In the first two years, special attention is also paid to the study of language from a scientific perspective. In addition, the first year includes introductions to Dutch Studies, Dutch Art History and Dutch Culture and Society, while the second year includes introductions to Dutch Linguistics, Literature and History. From the first year onwards, students are trained in research methods and techniques.
Third year
The third year consists of advanced language training. An important part of the third year is the Core Curriculum consisting of a Philosophy of Science course and one of the following courses: Introduction to Historical Studies, Introduction to Linguistic Studies, Introduction to Literary Studies or World Art Studies. Students are also required to write a Bachelor’s Thesis Dutch Studies worth 10 EC-credits, follow a Thesis seminar and sit the Oral Examination on the Departmental Reading List.
Discretionary space
In addition to the main subjects and Core Curriculum subjects, the third year offers students room for subsidiary subjects worth 30 EC-credits. They can choose for a minor, internship or an individual selection of courses. Consult the general information on discretionary space.
B.A. Thesis and requirements for graduation
In order to graduate, students are required to have completed the full 180-EC-credit programme including the main Dutch Studies subjects, the Core Curriculum subjects, a subsidiary subject and the Bachelor’s thesis.
To conclude the Bachelor’s programme in Dutch Studies, students must have followed the Thesis seminar and must have written a thesis for 10 EC-credits in Dutch of a maximum of 1000 words per EC-credit. The thesis research and writing must be carried out independently, under the supervision of a professor. The choice of a supervisor depends on the choice of the thesis subject. Read more about the regulations for the Bachelor’s thesis online.
Specialisation
There are four specialisations:
1. Dutch Linguistics
2. Dutch Literature
3. Dutch History
4. Dutch Art History
Programme specific regulation
Attending lectures and tutorials is compulsory. Students may miss up til two out of thirteen lecuters (regardless the reason). Students who are absent more than twice have to contact the study advisor. If, according to the judgement of the student advisor, there are special personal circumstances involved, one can deviate from the rule of not being allowed to miss the lectures and tutorials more than twice. The study advisor makes a decision after having consulted the lecturer(s) and reports to the student and the lecturer(s) concerned.
Follow on master’s programme
Students in possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Dutch Studies can be admitted
to the one-year Master’s programme in Dutch Studies, specialisation Dutch Language, Culture and Society. The track within the specialisation depends on the specialisation chosen in the third year of the bachelor programme. Depending on their study results and courses followed in the third year of their bachelor programme, students can also be admitted to a two-year Research Master, e.g. ‘Literary Studies’ or ‘Linguistics’
For more information on the Master’s programmes and the application procedure, see information online.
