Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 120 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
Why study the arts? Apart from sheer enjoyment, these subjects give you an enormous breadth of cultural literacy while training you to think and argue clearly. The Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities offers you a broad introduction to the arts and humanities across a range of subjects, including history, art history, philosophy, classical studies, religious studies, music and English. You’ll gain essential knowledge and perspectives about human culture, studying a range of issues which encompass understanding of the past, reading and studying the arts, and the analysis of different points of view. Your work will help you practise and refine the skills of argument and analysis, which are highly valued by employers. Through this CertHE course, you’ll acquire the necessary skills and vocabulary to discuss the arts at university level.
Planning your studies
We recommend that you start your studies with The arts past and present (AA100). This will give you a firm foundation for further study at Level 1 and for progression to Level 2.
We recommend that you continue your humanities study with Voices, texts and material culture (A105), an interdisciplinary Level 1 module that has been designed to follow – and develop the skills you will have learned in – The arts past and present (AA100).
We expect most students to complete this certificate in two years of part-time study.
As well as leading to the BA (Hons) Humanities (B03), this certificate also provides a pathway to the Diploma of Higher Education in Humanities (E64), BA (Hons) English Literature (B66), the BA (Hons) English Language and Literature (B39), the BA (Hons) History (B01) and the BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Psychological Studies (B43).
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your certificate.
Career relevance and employability
Study of the arts and humanities requires an understanding of human activities in diverse cultural environments and in very different historical circumstances. The breadth of study and range of cultural texts and objects analysed, combined with training in clear thinking and communication, make this CertHE course relevant to a wide variety of careers, including:
- public administration, local government, the civil service, art institutions, and social services
- advertising, journalism, publishing, creative industries and public relations
- education
- legal work
- business, banking and the retail sector
- human resources
- charities and campaigning organisations.
Employers greatly value the high-level skills acquired by studying a Certificate in humanities – such as the ability to read and review different kinds of information, and using it as evidence in arguing a point of view. In arguing your case, you’ll also develop a focused approach to writing. Study for this CertHE course involves developing information literacy skills, often in an online environment. All these are skills that are valued in modern society, both at work and in the voluntary sector.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this 120-credit certificate you require:
60 credits from the following compulsory module:
Level 1 compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- The arts past and present (AA100)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A103 or AZX103
And 60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195)
|
30 |
|
- Beginners' Chinese (L197)
|
30 |
|
- Bon départ: beginners’ French (L192])
|
30 |
|
- Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)
|
60 |
|
- English for academic purposes online (L185)
|
30 |
|
- Exploring languages and cultures (L161)
|
30 |
|
- Investigating the social world (DD103)
|
60 |
|
- Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194)
|
30 |
|
- Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193)
|
30 |
|
- Vivace: intermediate Italian (L150)
|
30 |
|
- Voices, texts and material culture (A105)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A150, A151, A171*, A172*, A173*, A174*, A175*, A176*, A177*, A178*, A179*, A180*, A181*, A182*, DD100, DD101, DD121, DD122, DD131, DD132, D171, L120, L130, L140, L196, LXR122*, LZX120, LZX130, LZX140, LZX192, LZX193, LZX194, SA188*, T183*, T189*, TM190*, Y160*, Y178*
*You may not count more than 30 credits of short modules (i.e. 10-credit or 15-credit modules) towards this qualification
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities and will be entitled to use the letters Cert HE (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification