Courses - University Enrichment
Courses
The University Enrichment courses for 2009 are:
July
- Economics and Business
- English Literature
- Drama
- Law
- Science and Medicine
August
- Geography
- Maths
- International History
- Physics
- Philosophy and Knowledge
In every case, efforts are made to match up the syllabus of the course with
(a) material the students will be covering at school,
(b) current research taking place at Cambridge and
(c) the museums and facilities in Cambridge.
Economics and Business - July
This course would suit students studying economics or business at school as well as those seeking an insight into the course at University. The course features units of study on Market Failure, Competition and Macro Policies. Each unit features theoretical insights into the subject followed by workshops looking at applications of the different topics, with a particular focus on comparisons between different economies. In addition, the course will offer opportunities to meet Cambridge graduates working a variety of roles in business, as well as undertaking several field trips.
English Literature - July
The English Literature course is structured to provide a comparable experience to a first year undergraduate at Cambridge. The bulk of the course is made up of three distinct Units of Study, one on Renaissance Literature – with an inevitable focus on Shakespeare and a trip to the restored Globe Theatre to watch a play – a second unit on Romanticism and finally a study of Modernism. Each Unit will use the study of one or two texts to develop students’ understanding of the context of the period. In addition, an hour each day will be devoted to a range of key English skills, for example practical criticism and creative writing. As with all our courses, it will be delivered by academics currently teaching Cambridge University undergraduates.
Drama - July
The Reach Cambridge Drama Class will rehearse, study and perform two theatre pieces in Cambridge: One Shakespeare play (abridged) and one collective creation. In past years performances have included Macbeth and The Tempest. The second piece will be a contemporary collective creation based on the strengths of the company and it may be movement, music and acting based. Drama is a perfect fit with the overall programme, which is jam-packed with drama-related activities and excursions. We have three theatre trips over the course of the programme: One to Stratford-upon-Avon, one to the Globe Theatre, London and one at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. In addition, a proportion of the course will be devoted to understanding the texts being performed in the form of practical criticism and creative writing.
Law - July
This course offers an introduction to the study of law at University. Following the outline of the Cambridge undergraduate course, students take modules in Criminal, International and Constitutional Law, providing an insight into both the content and the way in which Law is taught at a top University. The course will be brought to life through the study of real cases as well as an opportunity for students to try a case in a mock courtroom, known as a moot. In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet practising lawyers and understand the range of career opportunities in the sector.
Science and Medicine - July
This course introduces students to a range of subjects taught by scientists at the cutting edge of research and with an element of pre-clinical medicine included for aspiring doctors or nurses. Students have a permanent tutor guiding them through the course, with guest lecturers coming in to discuss the latest developments in their field. These are followed by workshops and practicals as well as excursions to sites of particular scientific interest. Highlights include an introduction to Astrophysics, followed by a visit to a Planetarium and night observing at the University laboratory, as well as visits to a number of University Museums and laboratories. Other topics include Plant Virology, Special Relativity, Molecular Pharmacology and Quantum Mechanics as well as an introduction to pre-clinical medicine.
Geography - August
The Geography course is divided in half to cover some of the key aspects of (a) physical and (b) human geography at University level. The week on physical geography covers topics such as hydrology, glaciology and climate change. Afternoon excursions include a visit to the Scott Polar Research Institute in addition to a number of field trips to the Fenland around Cambridge as well as a look at river features on the river Cam. The week on human geography looks at key topics such as globalisation, population pressure, migration and urbanisation and development studies. Excursions include a trip to the centre for sustainable development and the full day trip to London, including the Natural History Museum and a tour of contrasting London Boroughs. The final day of the course brings the two streams of physical and human geography together.
International History - August
Taking advantage of the reputation of Cambridge as one of the best places to study History world-wide, the International History course is taught by members of the University who are experts in their fields. Students study three modules: one on the Cold War, investigating how the dynamic between The USA and the Soviet Union changed and using The Korean War and The Cuban Missile Crisis as case studies to analyse in detail. The second module is a Special Subject using documentary evidence to analyse the Holocaust and its role in the formation of Israel. Finally, the third module takes advantage of the great expertise in the University on Ancient History, considering the great civilisations of Greece and Rome. The course will use a range of historical sources and will be taught the way History is taught at the University.
Maths - August
The Mathematics course offers an overview of studying Maths at University level. The course begins with an introduction to the history of Maths at Cambridge, examining the work of Newton, Turing and Hawking amongst others. Topics during the course include those from both the Pure and Applied Mathematics streams and also incorporate some inevitable overlap with Physics. A highlight is the trip to the Science Museum in London. Subjects covered include Number Theory, Game Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Special Relativity, Linear Algebra and Set Theory.
Philosophy and Knowledge - August
A fascinating course offering an introduction to this extremely diverse discipline. The course is divided into lectures and workshops with an emphasis on students developing their own ideas and coming to their own conclusions, the Socratic dialogue and regular student presentations. The course will introduce the main ideas of Western philosophy, followed by a unit of study on critical thinking skills and an investigation into how knowledge is acquired in different disciplines. Some of the questions posed include: What is a good argument? What is real? How should we be governed?
Physics - August
This course introduces students to a range of subjects taught by scientists at the cutting edge of research. Students have a permanent tutor guiding them through the course, with guest lecturers coming in to discuss the latest developments in the subject. These are followed by workshops and practicals as well as excursions to sites of particular scientific interest. Highlights include an introduction to Astrophysics, followed by a visit to a Planetarium and night observing at the University laboratory, as well as an introduction to chemical product design including a fascinating visit to Genzyme, a fully functioning commercial laboratory. Other topics include Plant Virology, Special Relativity, Molecular Pharmacology and Quantum Mechanics.
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