Program Overview

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University Program Information

The university offers a wide range of programs, including short and online courses, undergraduate, postgraduate, professional, and research degrees.

Subject Areas

• Archaeology and anthropology
  • Courses include Archaeology, Certificate of Higher Education, English Literature, History, History of Art, and Theological Studies
• Architectural history
  • Courses include Architectural History, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Ecological Survey Techniques, and more
• Business and management
  • Courses include Business and management, Cultural heritage, Data science, computing, maths, and more
• Data science, computing, maths
  • Courses include Data science, computing, maths, Diplomatic studies, Education, and more
• Diplomatic studies and law
  • Courses include Diplomatic studies, Economics and politics, Education and study skills, and more
• Economics and politics
  • Courses include Economics and politics, Environment and sustainability, History of art, and more
• Education and study skills
  • Courses include Education and study skills, Environment and sustainability, History, including local and social, and more
• Environment and sustainability
  • Courses include Environment and sustainability, History of art, History, including local and social, and more
• History of art
  • Courses include History of art, History, including local and social, Languages and cultural studies, and more
• History, including local and social
  • Courses include History, including local and social, Languages and cultural studies, Literature, creative writing and film studies, and more
• Languages and cultural studies
  • Courses include Languages and cultural studies, Literature, creative writing and film studies, Medical and health sciences, and more
• Literature, creative writing and film studies
  • Courses include Literature, creative writing and film studies, Medical and health sciences, Music, and more
• Medical and health sciences
  • Courses include Medical and health sciences, Music, Natural sciences, and more
• Music
  • Courses include Music, Natural sciences, Philosophy, and more
• Natural sciences
  • Courses include Natural sciences, Philosophy, Psychology and counselling, and more
• Philosophy
  • Courses include Philosophy, Psychology and counselling, Religion and theology, and more
• Psychology and counselling
  • Courses include Psychology and counselling, Religion and theology, Technology and AI, and more
• Religion and theology
  • Courses include Religion and theology, Technology and AI, and more
• Technology and AI
  • Courses include Technology and AI, and more

Course Format

• Day and weekend events
• In-person learning
• Lecture series
• Online learning
• Professional
• Summer schools
• Weekly learning

Academic Credit

Many courses can be studied for academic credit, which means they can count towards a recognised qualification.

Undergraduate Programs

Certificates

• Archaeology
• Certificate of Higher Education
• English Literature
• History
• History of Art
• Theological Studies

Diplomas

• Archaeology
• Creative Writing
• English Social and Local History
• History of Art

Advanced Diplomas

• British Archaeology
• IT Systems Analysis and Design (Online)
• Local History (Online)

Pre-Master's

• Advanced Pre-sessional Course for Graduate Students (nine weeks, full-time)
• Foundations of Diplomacy Pre-Master's Course (six months, full-time)

Postgraduate Programs

Certificates

• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Ecological Survey Techniques
• Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Health Research
• Historical Studies
• Nanotechnology
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Psychodynamic Counselling
• Qualitative Health Research Methods
• Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care

Diplomas

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Severe Mental Health Problems
• Health Research
• International Wildlife Conservation Practice
• Psychodynamic Practice

Master of Studies (MSt)

• Creative Writing
• Diplomatic Studies
• Historical Studies
• History of Design
• Literature and Arts
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
• Practical Ethics
• Psychodynamic Practice

Research Degrees (DPhil)

• Archaeology
• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Literature and Arts
• Sustainable Urban Development

Master of Science (MSc)

• Applied Landscape Archaeology
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Evidence-Based Health Care Medical Statistics
• Evidence-Based Health Care Systematic Reviews
• Evidence-Based Health Care Teaching and Education
• Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
• Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care
• Surgical Science and Practice
• Sustainable Urban Development
• Translational Health Sciences

Professional Programs

Continuing Professional Development

• Business and management
• Cultural heritage
• Data science, computing, maths
• Diplomatic studies
• Education
• Environment and sustainability
• Medical and health sciences
• Nanotechnology and nanomedicine
• Philosophy and ethics
• Psychology and counselling
• Research methods and skills
• Technology and AI
• Urban studies

Research

The university has an active interdisciplinary research community, with a strong focus on the humanities and social sciences.

Research Community

• Academic staff profiles
• Part-time DPhil programmes
• Research areas
• Research students

Graduate School

The Graduate School offers a supportive and stimulating environment for both internal and external postgraduate students and researchers.

Research Forums

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Steering Group
• Lifelong Learning Pedagogies forum
• Research Ethics Colloquium
• The Vice-Chancellors Colloquium

Course Details

Origins of Human Behaviour

• Code: O25P520AHV
• Credit: 10 CATS points
• Fees: Ł415.00
• Dates: Wed 24 Sep 2025 - Fri 05 Dec 2025
• Location: Online (Flexible)

Course Aims

• To review the archaeological and fossil evidence for the development of human behaviour from six million years ago to the end of the last ice age.
• Provide a structured overview of human evolution.
• Highlight contrasting interpretations of human evolution and how these reflect the historical and social contexts in which they were formulated.
• Encourage students to share their ideas and develop critical arguments.

Teaching Methods

• Guided reading of texts
• Group discussions of particular issues
• Questions to be answered in personal folders
• Students will be directed to websites relevant to each session (occasionally as a requirement, usually as optional additional reading)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Chart the general progress of evolution from one hominid species to another and understand the characteristics which make humans a unique species.
• Chart when these characteristics arose on an evolutionary timescale.
• Understand how contrasting interpretations of human evolution reflect the historical and social contexts in which they were formulated.

And students will have developed the following skills:

• The ability to think critically.
• The ability to express their own views in a reasoned manner.

Assessment Methods

Students will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through the course. This does not count towards the final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback given, will help students prepare for their assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Level and Demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required. The course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (i.e., first year undergraduate level) and students will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for their assignments. The 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

The university does not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warns that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on the university's website. If students are confident in their proficiency, they are free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements, please refer to the university's website.

IT Requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate, students must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. Students will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting the university's recommended minimum computer specification.