Course units

There are two types of course units in the Liberal Arts course that are designed to give you both structure and flexibility in your studies: core units and thematic clusters.

Core units

These are bespoke courses that will give you the theoretical and methodological foundations needed to contextualise knowledge from across a range of different disciplines.

You'll also gain the skills to communicate ideas with different academic and non-academic audiences.

In core units, you'll be able to specialise in topics, based on your interests. Our core units are:

• Research Methods in the Arts
• Humanities in Public: The Past, Present, and Future of Ideas that Shape the World
• Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Foundations for Study in the Arts
• Understanding Rhetoric: The Arts of Persuasion
• Arts & The City: People, Power & Protest
• Creative Manchester: Engagement Report
• Reflections on Liberal Arts
• Independent Research Project (optional)

Thematic clusters

Units from across the University are structured into thematised categories in order for you to identify where you'd like to specialise or broaden further your interests.

These clusters give you the most freedom and flexibility in what to study while helping you to filter and navigate the 500+ units that are available to you (subject to availability and timetabling restrictions).

You'll be invited to discuss your options with your academic advisor as you progress through your course.

Our thematic clusters provide an innovative way to help you to decide what you want to study, free of disciplinary boundaries.

You'll be guided by your Academic Advisor to take a mix of these different clusters as you progress throughout your course, which will ensure that you're getting the most out of your degree.

There are ten thematic clusters.