Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 240 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.
The Diploma of Higher Education in Humanities will help you refine your skills of debate and analysis while developing your cultural literacy. It encompasses a wide range of fascinating disciplines including art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language, French, German, history, literature, music, philosophy, religious studies and Spanish. Taking a broad perspective on human culture through the ages, you’ll sharpen your critical awareness and understanding of diverse cultural environments in widely varying historical circumstances. This diploma course offers a number of specialist pathways to suit your needs and interests. Whichever you choose, you’ll encounter a great diversity of topics from across different periods and civilisations, enabling you to develop your understanding of the past; reading and studying the arts; and the analysis of differential points of view.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you’re new to study with the OU we recommend that you start with a module at Level 1 and that you complete your Level 1 study before going on to Level 2.
For this diploma we recommend that you start your studies with the compulsory Level 1 module 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) as this interdisciplinary Level 1 module has been designed to follow – and develop the skills you will have learned in – The arts past and present (AA100). For some pathways, other Level 1 modules might be just as appropriate, and you can see our suggestions in the routes below.
When you complete your Level 1 study as you progress through this diploma you can claim the Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities (C98).
As well as leading to the BA (Honours) Humanities (B03), this diploma can also provide pathways to the BA (Honours) English Literature (B66), the BA (Honours) English Language and Literature (B39), the BA (Honours) History (B01) and the BA (Honours) Philosophy and Psychological Studies (B43).
Your choice of modules for this diploma will determine which degree(s) you are eligible for, so you must ensure that the modules you choose for this diploma will also count towards the degree you are aiming for.
As part of this diploma, if you are planning to continue your studies towards a:
See the suggested routes below for illustrations of some of these pathways through the Diploma.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 80 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 diploma of higher education.
We expect most students to complete this diploma in four years of part-time study, although it is possible to complete it in two or three years by studying more than one module at a time. If you wish to complete the diploma in less than four years, you should speak to an adviser who will help you put together a programme of study to suit you. Studying this diploma in two years is the equivalent of being a full-time student.
Advice if you intend to study French, German or Spanish
As part of this diploma, you can study 60 credits of modern languages at Level 1 and 60 credits at Level 2. If you wish, you can then continue to the BA (Hons) Humanities (B03), which can include a further 60 credits of modern languages at Level 3 and lead to the BA (Hons) Humanities with French, BA (Hons) Humanities with German or BA (Hons) Humanities with Spanish. If you wish, you can combine the study of French, German or Spanish with another subject such as history, music or classical studies. See the description of the BA (Hons) Humanities (B03) for details of all the specialisms you can study and the modules that can count towards them.
If you are not sure whether to study languages as part of the Humanities programme or as part of the Modern Languages programme, then you should speak to an adviser who will help you to plan a programme of study that suits your needs and interests.
Career relevance and employability
This Diploma in Humanities will help you practise and refine the skills of argument and analysis which are valued highly by employers. The breadth of study and the range of cultural texts and objects analysed, combined with training in clear thinking and communication, make this subject 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 retail
- human resources
- charities and campaigning.
As you study this diploma course, you’ll enhance the skills you’ve already acquired. You’ll develop greater perception in understanding and analysing information, while constructing more sophisticated arguments in responding to assignments. You’ll learn to study independently and develop your information literacy. These are key transferable skills. and when you’ve completed this qualification you’ll be able to explain how they are relevant to the modern workplace.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this 240-credit diploma 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 A102, A103, AZX103
And 60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195)
|
30 |
|
- Beginner’s 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 |
|
- Introduction to counselling (D171)*
|
15 |
|
- 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, DSE141, L120, L130, L140, L196, LXR122*, LZX120, LZX130, LZX140, LZX192, LZX193, LZX194, SA188*, T183*, T189*, TM190*, Y160*, Y180*
And 60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 2 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Classical Latin: the language of ancient Rome (A276)
|
60 |
|
- Creative writing (A215)
|
60 |
|
- Early modern Europe: society and culture c.1500-1789 (A223)
|
60 |
|
- Exploring art and visual culture (A226)
|
60 |
|
- (Exploring philosophy (A222)
|
60 |
|
- Exploring religion: places, practices, texts and experiences (A227)
|
60 |
|
- Exploring the classical world (A219)
|
60 |
|
- Inside music (A224)
|
60 |
|
- Reading and studying literature (A230)
|
60 |
|
- Reading classical Greek: language and literature (A275)
|
30 |
|
- The British Isles and the modern world, 1789-1914 (A225)
|
60 |
|
- Worlds of English (U214)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A200, A204, A205, A206, A207, A209, A210, A211, A213, A214, A216, A217, A218, A220, A221, A231, A251, A281, A282, A293, A294, A295, A296, A297, AD252, AD280, AD281, AS208, AS283, AT272, AXR271*, AXR272*, MA290, TA212, TA225, U210, U211
And a further 60 credits from either the list above or the following optional modules:
Level 2 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Envol: upper intermediate French (L211)
|
60 |
|
- Motive: upper intermediate German (L203)
|
60 |
|
- (Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules COXR205, COXR206, DSE212, L210, L213, L221, L224, L230, L231,LZX203, LZX204, LZX211, LL203, LL204, LL221, LL230
*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
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards an Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Humanities, and will be entitled to use the letters Dip 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