CT Proposal
February 2023
This document describes the Curriculum Transformation (CT) of undergraduate courses in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The courses will start in 2023/4.
Course portfolio
- MMath and BSc Maths,
- BSc Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science (BSc MSDS),
- BSc Mathematics and Statistics (BSc M+S),
and joint courses with Physics (BSc and MSci), Economics (BSc), and Computer Science (BSc and MComp) (managed by the partner departments). All courses have placement and study-year-abroad versions.
Detailed unit descriptions
Detailed unit descriptions are available on SAMIS: Go to ‘Staff Home’. Scroll down to the bottom and, under the ‘Curriculum Maintenance’ panel, choose ‘Module Description Report’. Enter the unit code for the full description of the unit (e.g., MA12001 for Pure Mathematics A, MA12004 for Pure Mathematics B, etc. where A/B refers to Semesters 1/2).
Year One
Y1 BSc Maths, MMath, BSc M+S
These courses have a shared compulsory first-year. Each semester, students take two 15-credit units.
-
“MA12001/4 Pure Mathematics A/B” (15 credits/semester with two exams and courseworks) consisting of
- Algebra (6 credits)
- Analysis (6 credits)
- Foundations & Connections (3 credits)
-
“MA12002/3 Applied Mathematics A/B” (15 credits/semester with two exams and courseworks) consisting of
- Probability and Statistics (6 credits)
- S1: Multivariable Calculus & Differential Equations and S2: Vectors, Vector Calculus, & Mechanics (6 credits)
- Programming (in Python) (3 credits)
Y1 BSc MSDS
-
“MA12010/1 Core Pure & Applied Mathematics A/B” (15 credits/semester) consisting of
- Algebra (6 credits)
- S1: Multivariable Calculus & Differential Equations and S2: Vectors, Vector Calculus, and Mechanics (6 credits)
- Sequences & Functions (3 credits)
-
“MA12005/8 Statistics & Data Science A/B” (15 credits/semester) consisting of
- Probability and Statistics (6 credits)
- Programming & Data Science (6 credits)
- Foundations & Connections (3 credits)
Unit codes (Y1 2023/24 onwards)
The content that we deliver will change less than the packaging around it. The re-packaging means that there are new unit names. Here is your brief guide to all this.
Depending on which programme the student is on, they will take units with different codes. “A” indicates Semester 1, “B” indicates Semester 2. All units are worth 15 credits.
| New code | New name | Degree programme(s) |
|---|---|---|
| MA12001 MA12002 |
Pure mathematics 1A Applied mathematics 1A |
MA (= BSc (Hons) Maths, BSc (Hons) Maths+Stats, MMath ) MA |
| MA12003 | Applied mathematics 1B | MA |
| MA12004 | Pure mathematics 1B | MA |
| MA12005 | Statistics and data science 1A | MSDS |
| MA12008 | Statistics and data science 1B | MSDS |
| MA12010 | Core pure and applied mathematics A | PH (= BSc Maths & Phys and MPhys Maths & Phys), MSDS |
| MA12011 | Core pure and applied mathematics B | PH, MSDS |
| MA12012 | Core pure and statistical mathematics A | CS (=BSc CS & Maths and MComp CS & Maths) / ES (BSc Econ & Maths) |
| MA12013 | Core pure and statistical mathematics B | CS, ES |
Within each of these 15 credit units there will be three parts. The parts map onto existing units. Note that the audiences for these parts I think change a little (e.g. for Seq & Functions).
Parts for each CT unit code
| CT code | CT name | Part codes |
| MA12001 | Pure mathematics 1A | Anls, Algb, Fnds |
| MA12002 | Applied mathematics 1A | MvCs, PrSt, Prog |
| MA12003 | Applied mathematics 1B | Vect, PrSt, Prog |
| MA12004 | Pure mathematics 1B | Anls, Algb, Cons |
| MA12005 | Statistics and data science 1A | PrSt, PDSc, Fnds |
| MA12008 | Statistics and data science 1B | PrSt, PDSc, Cons |
| MA12010 | Core pure and applied mathematics A | MvCs, Algb, SqFn |
| MA12011 | Core pure and applied mathematics B | Vect, Algb, SqFn |
| MA12012 | Core pure and statistical mathematics A | PrSt, Algb, SqFn |
| MA12013 | Core pure and statistical mathematics B | PrSt, Algb, SqFn |
Semester 1 re-packaging:
| New unit name | Old unit name/content |
| MA12001-Algb / MA12010-Algb / MA12012-Algb | MA10209 Algebra 1A |
| MA12001-Anls | MA10207 Analysis 1(A) |
| MA12001-Fnds / MA12005-Fnds | MA10274/6 Foundations |
| MA12002-MvCs / MA12010-MvCs | MA10230 Multivariable calculus and DEs |
| MA12002-PrSt / MA12005-PrSt / MA12012-PrSt | MA10211 Probability & statistics 1A |
| MA12002-Prog | MA10276 Programming |
| MA12005-PDSc | MA10275 Programming for data science |
| MA12010-SqFn / MA12012-SqFn | MA10274 Sequences & Functions |
Semester 2 re-packaging:
| New unit name | Old unit name/content |
| MA12004-Algb / MA12011-Algb / MA12013-Algb | MA10210 Algebra 1B |
| MA12004-Anls | MA10207 Analysis 1(B) |
| MA12004-Cons / MA12008-Cons | MA10274/6 Connections |
| MA12003-Vect / MA12011-Vect | MA10236 Vectors, vector calculus and mechanics |
| MA12003-PrSt / MA12008-PrSt / MA12013-PrSt | MA10212: Probability & statistics 1B |
| MA12003-Prog | MA10276 Programming |
| MA12008-PDSc | MA10275 Programming for data science |
| MA12011-SqFn / MA12013-SqFn | MA10274 Sequences & Functions |
Year Two
We offer the following units in Y2.
| S1 | Credits | S2 | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| “MA22020 Algebra 2A” | 5 | “MA22017 Algebra 2B” | 10 |
| “MA22032 Analysis 2A” | 10 | “MA22033 Analysis 2B” | 5 |
| “MA22016 Differential Equations & Vector Calculus” | 10 | “MA22035 Mathematical Biology: ecology and epidemiology”; “MA22021 Partial Differential Equations” | 5+5 |
| “MA22014 Statistics 2A” | 10 | “MA22015 Statistics 2B” | 5 |
| “MA22037 Numerical Analysis” | 10 | ||
| “MA22018 Machine Learning 1” | 5 | “MA22019 Introduction to Data Science” | 5 |
| “MA22038 Probabilistic Modelling” | 5 | “MA22039 Probability Theory” | 10 |
| External | 5 | External | 5 |
- The prereqs are indicated by rows.
- Several external options are 10-credits year-long.
NOTE: We’d like students to take eight units or less, though students are allowed to take up to ten (e.g., 9-units as S1: 2x5+2x10 and S2: 1x10+4x5).
Y2 BSc Maths and MMath
Students take 30-credits/semester of options.
Y2 BSc MSDS
- S1
- Core (25 credits): “MA22014 Statistics 2A”; “MA22016 Differential Equations & Vector Calculus” (10-credits each); “MA22018 Machine Learning 1” (5 credits).
- Option (5 credits): Choose one 5-credit options from “MA22020 Algebra 2A”, “MA22038 Probabilistic Modelling”, range of external units.
- S2
- Core (10 credits): “MA22015 Statistics 2B”; “MA22019 Introduction to Data Science” (5-credits each).
- Options (20 credits; BOLD = “has S1 prereqs”): Choose one or two 10-credit options from “MA22017 Algebra 2B”; “MA22039 Probability Theory”; “MA22037 Numerical Analysis”. Choose zero or two 5-credit options from “MA22035 Mathematical Biology”; “MA22021 Partial Differential Equations”; range of external units.
(6x10 credits and 8x5 credits of maths teaching)
Y2 BSc M+S
- S1
- Core (10 credits): “MA22014 Statistics 2A”.
- Options (20 credits): Choose one or two 10-credit options from “MA22032 Analysis 2A”; “MA22016 Differential Equations & Vector Calculus”. Choose zero or two 5-credit options from “MA22020 Algebra 2A”; “MA22038 Probabilistic Modelling”; “MA22018 Machine Learning 1”; range of external units.
- S2
- Core (5 credits): “MA2205 Statistics 2B”.
- Options (25 credits; BOLD = “has S1 prereqs”): Choose zero, one, or two 10-credit options from “MA22017 Algebra 2B”; “MA22039 Probability Theory”; “MA22037 Numerical Analysis”. Choose zero, two, or four 5-credit options from “MA22033 Analysis 2B”; “MA220335 Mathematical Biology”; “MA22021 Partial Differential Equations”; “MA22019 Introduction to Data Science”; range of external units.
Y2 External units
All TBC.
- From Computer Science:
- n/a
- From Physics:
- PH12031 “Core Physics (MA)” (10-credits; year-long).
- From Economics
- ES22012 “Econometrics” (10-credits; year-long).
- From Management:
- MN12002 “Introduction to accounting” (5-credits; S1 or S2)
- MN12150 “Corporate finance for managers” (5-credits; S2)
Year Three
Students choose 30 credits/semester from 5/10-credit unit options. For detailed information on maths options and prereqs, see the [option map](/tjs42/unit_map/
Y3 BSc Maths and MMath
Students take 30-credits/semester of options.
Y3 BSc M+S
Core (15 credits/semester): “Statistical Modelling & Data Analytics 3A & 3B” (S1 & S2; 10-credits each); “Bayesian Statistics” (S1; 5-credits); “Medical Statistics” (S2; 5-credits).
Options: 15 credits/semester.
Y3 BSc MSDS
- S1
- Core (15 credits): “Statistical Modelling & Data Analytics 3A” (10-credits); “Machine Learning 2” ( 5-credits).
- Options (15 credits).
- S2
- Core (15 credits), “Statistical Modelling & Data Analytics 3B” (10-credits); “Applied Data Science” (5-credits).
- Options: (15 credits).
Y3 External units
- Students can take 10-credits/semester of external units in Y3.
- No Y3 follow-on to Y2 Econometrics.
The following are all TBC.
- Management:
- MN22162 “Intermediate accounting” (5-credits; S1)
- ?? “Principles of finance for managers” (5-credits; S1)
- MN22165 “Intermediate corporate finance for managers” (5-credits; S2)
- MN32179 “Advanced accounting” (5-credits; S2)
- Computer Science:
- n/a
Year Four of MMath
Students take a 20-credit year-long project and, for the remaining 40 credits, choose a mix of 5- and 10-credit options. The size of the project has increased from 12 to 20 credits. This means students have 10-credits each semester for their project and this complements the large range of 5-credit options.
For detailed information on options and prereqs, see the option map.
Delivery
CTWG has started to work out contact hours and assessment patterns for a typical unit (of 5 or 10 credits). The following is a summary of recent discussions and we will bring this to a department meeting for wider discussion. It is not finalised.
The official definition of an $n$-credit unit is one that has $20n$ notional study hours (100 hours for a 5-credit unit; 200 hours for 10 credits).
| Credits | Tutorials | Lectures/examples classes | Exam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y1; Y2 - now | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 hours |
| Y3/4 - now | 6 | 3 | 2 | |
| Y2 -CT | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | 1 | 4 | 2 /3 | |
| Y3/4 - CT | 5 | 2 | 2 | |
| 10 | 4 | 2 /3 |
-
A tutorial is a small group of students (10 to 20) working together on problem sheets with a tutor. Lectures and example classes are with the whole class; the unit convenor leads and goes through new content or solutions to problem sheets and exam papers.
-
5-credit units will normally have only one assessment.
-
10-credit units will normally have one or two assessments, including one exam. ?If only one assessment as an exam, we recommend a longer exam of 3-hours duration.
-
There may be more than one lecturer on a 10-credit unit.
For a student, this leads to the following hours:
| Pattern | Student contact | Total | Exams |
| Y2 | |||
| Now 5x6 | 5x(3+1) | 20 | 10 |
| CT 2x10+2x5 | 2x5+2x3 | 16 | 8-10 |
| CT 1x10+4x5 | 1x5+4x3 | 17 | 10-11 |
| Y3/4 | |||
| Now 5x6 | 5x3 | 15 | 10 |
| CT 2x10+2x5 | 2x4+2x2 | 12 | 8-10 |
| CT 1x10+4x5 | 1x4+4x2 | 12 | 10-11 |
Number of units
The proposal leads to average class sizes, based on 250 students taking 60-credits in Y2/3 and 40 students taking 40-credits (under CT; 48-credits currently) in Y4, as follows:
| Class size | Current | CT |
|---|---|---|
| Y2 | 179 | 150.0 |
| Y3 | 89 | 79 |
| Y4 | 16 | 14 |
(“Current” includes all new units introduced for MSDS)
Total credit and M=number of lecturers (based on 12 credits/lecturer)
| Total credits | Current | M | CT | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y1 | 78 | 6.5 | 78 | 6.5 |
| Y2 | 84 | 7 | 100 | 8.3 |
| Y3 | 168 | 14 | 190 | 15.8 |
| Y4 | 120 | 10 | 115 | 9.6 |
| Total | 450 | 37.5 | 483 | 40.2 |
Breakdown of CT units by credit sizes
| Number of units | 10 credits | 5 credit |
|---|---|---|
| Y2 | 6 | 8 |
| Y3/4 | 13 | 35 |
| Total | 19 | 43 |
Transition
We’ve submitted a plan to the registry for the transition years and are awaiting feedback.
Units at Y3 and Y4
We are offering a number of units at Y3 and Y4 by sharing lectures. In the past, it has been easy to do this by offering a single unit with a single code and allowing Y4 students to take MA3 units, etc. Under CT, we are required to assess at the correct level. Units with shared teaching at Y3/4 will be “double badged” with an MA3 and an MA4 unit code. These units need appropriate assessments at FHEQ Level 6/7 (see here for FHEQ level descriptions - page 29 and 31).
Joint degrees
In year one, on the joint degrees with Economics and Computer Science, students take
- “MA12012/3 Core pure and statistical mathematics A/B” (15 credits/semester) consisting of
- Algebra (6 credits)
- Probability & Statistics (6 credits)
- Sequences & Functions (3 credits)
On the joint degree with Physics, students take
- “MA12010/1 Core pure and applied mathematics A/B” (15 credits/semester) consisting of
- Algebra (6 credits)
- S1: Multivariable Calculus & Differential Equations and S2: Vectors, Vector Calculus, & Mechanics (6 credits)
- Sequences & Functions (3 credits)
Here are summary documents for later years.
- CS+Maths (html) or pdf.
- Econ+Maths (html) or pdf.
- Maths+Physics (html) or pdf.
Other stuff
Accreditation
We will seek the following accreditations.
| RSS | IMA | |
|---|---|---|
| BSc Maths and MMath | Conditional | Yes |
| BSc M+S | Full | Yes |
| BSc MSDS | Full | Yes |
Course Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
For example, here are the course-level learning outcomes for the MMath (others available on request).
Transferring to a different degree during Y1/2
In the following, MA courses = BSc Maths, BSc M+S, MMath.
Transferring in between MA courses, and from MA courses to BSc MSDS: Y1 okay. Y2 subject to taking Statistics if necessary and mark threshold for MMath.
Transferring from BSc MSDS to MA courses. Subject to approval in Y1S1. Not possible in Y1S2 onwards.
Transferring from joint courses to MA courses or BSc MSDS. Okay for first few weeks of Y1S1, subject to approval. After first few weeks of Y1S1, not possible (NOTE: big change to current arrangements).
CT Phase-1
Approved Phase-1 documents are available for BSc Maths, BSc M+S, MMath, and BSc MSDS.
Student view of Y2 BSc Maths
-
S1 Options (30 credits): Choose two or three 10-credit options from “Analysis 2A”; “Applied Mathematics”; “Statistics 2A”. Choose zero or two 5-credit options from “Algebra 2A”; “Probabilistic Modelling”; “Machine Learning 1”; range of external units.
-
S2 Options (30 credits; BOLD = “has S1 prereqs”): Choose one, two or three 10-credit options from “Algebra 2B”; “Statistics 2B”; “Probability Theory”; “Numerical Analysis”. Choose zero, two, or four 5-credit options from “Analysis 2B”; “Mathematical Biology”; “PDEs”; “Introduction to Data Science”; range of external units.
-
Only one external unit-per-semester (total 10 credits) allowed.