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Changes to policy and curriculum

Changes to module sequence

Warning: the content within this page reflects what was communicated to students in the 2013/14 academic year. As such, this information may no longer be factually accurate.

From 1 September 2014, to build on previous learning, students may be required to take some modules either before (pre-requisite) or at the same time as (co-requisite) others. For example, a project module may require students to demonstrate what they have already learned through their qualification by drawing on knowledge acquired from specific previous modules.

What has changed

Students now cannot study certain modules unless

  • they have already passed a particular named module (a pre-requisite), or
  • they have studied a particular named module, or intend to study it at the same time (a co-requisite).

What students need to do

If a student intends to study one of the affected modules (listed below) they must check the module description to make sure they understand the new requirements.

To summarise:

  • Before a student can enrol on certain modules, they will need to have passed any pre-requisites; this means that they may be prevented from enrolling online until they have their result.
  • Students may be asked to enrol on two modules if there is a co-requisite.

However, students may be able to apply for an exemption from studying a pre- or co-requisite module. To find out about the circumstances in which an exemption may be possible, and to apply, please see Pre and co-requisite exemptions.

Affected modules

The modules listed below are those which currently have a pre-requisite or co-requisite requirement:

Undergraduate modules

  • Algorithms, data structures & computability (M269)
  • Certificated IT Practitioner 1 (MT127)
  • Certificated IT Practitioner 2 (TM227)
  • Demonstrating practice in health sciences (SZL110)
  • Developing your paramedic practice (S211/SYP211)
  • Development of financial practice (DB124)
  • Engineering: professions, practice & skills 2 (T276)
  • Essential mathematics 2 (MST125)
  • Exploring psychology (DSE212)
  • Extending professional practice in the Early Years (E210)
  • Health sciences in practice (S110)
  • Key skills for professional engineers (T397)
  • Mathematical methods (MST224)
  • Mathematical methods, models and modelling (MST210)
  • Pure mathematics (M208)
  • Software development with Java (M256)
  • Technologies in practice (TM129)
  • The computing and IT project (TM470)
  • The engineering project (T450)
  • Working with young people in trouble (K116)

Postgraduate modules

  • Advanced mathematical methods (M833)
  • Analytic number theory II (M829)
  • Applied complex variables (M828)
  • Approximation theory (M832)
  • Coding theory (M836)
  • Dissertation in mathematics (M840)
  • Fractal geometry (M835)
  • Functional analysis (M826)
  • MA Art History part 2 (A844) - module planned for October 2015)
  • MA Classical Studies part 2 (A864) - module planned for October 2015)
  • MA English part 2 (A816)
  • MA History part 2 (A826)
  • MA Music part 2 (A874) - module planned for October 2015)
  • MA Religious Studies part 2 (A881)
  • MSc project module (S810)
  • MSc project module for IPEM (SXP810)
  • Nonlinear ordinary differential equations (M821)
  • Optimising networks - CCNP 4 (T827)
  • Project module for MSc Medicinal Chemistry (SXM810)
  • Project module MSc Professional Science (SXB810)
  • The art history dissertation (A847)
  • The classical studies dissertation (A867)
  • The music dissertation (A877)
  • The philosophy dissertation (A857)
  • Transforming professional practice (K829)

Please talk to your Student Support Team if you need any further information. You can find out how to contact them on Contact the OU.