History of Art and Architecture for Visiting Students

The department welcomes international students, who can selectmodules from the first three years of the History of Art and Architecture programme, space permitting. A summary list of modules on offer in 2012-13 is provided here.

For those with little prior knowledge of the history of art, we recommend the Junior Freshman courses on art and architecture. For those wishing to learn more of Irish culture, there are various modules including Art in Ireland: Making and Meaning. Each of the modules can be taken for credit. For further details see the outlines of the various undergraduate modules.

For students who have already studied the History of Art, we recommend the various modules offered to students at Senior Freshman, Junior Sophister and Senior Sophister level. Note that some of the modules on the list are taught in alternate years, so it is important to check that the particular subject you wish to take is available when you are studying in Trinity (see the 2012-13 list). Most modules are designed on a two-semester basis (ie they run throughout the academic year) but it is possible for visiting students to take them for one semester only. Members of staff will be happy to give advice about choices at the start of each semester. Given the constraints of the university timetable, it is not always possible for students to take all their first preference modules. Special Subject Modules are available only to students attending for a full year. Most of these are heavily subscribed, but if places are available, visiting students may be accepted.

Module requirements

In the week before the start of Michaelmas teaching term visiting students should arrange an appointment with the Visiting Students Representative in the Department, Dr Peter Cherry, to consider their choice of courses and to assess the workload involved. Students are required to attend the appropriate lectures and seminars and to complete the prescribed coursework – exercises, essays, and slide tests – as though they were Trinity undergraduates. Preparatory reading is often required for seminars and from time to time visiting students will be expected to make their own presentations to the class. Students should note that any requirements of their own home university for longer essays, small theses, and so forth, cannot be accommodated.

Examinations

Visiting students attending for both semesters are also required to take the annual examinations. These take place during Trinity Term, normally in May. Examinations form an essential part of the Trinity system, and, even if not specifically required by a home university, students are required to take them in order to gain credit. Return flights should not be booked until the approximate date of the examinations has been confirmed. The only exception is when students must return to their home university to undertake courses during the Trinity examination period. In such cases, this must be verified by the home university, agreed with the Head of Department, and with the Visiting Students’ Representative, and such students will be assigned additional coursework in lieu of relevant examinations.

Students visiting for one semester only are not required to take the annual examination. However, they have additional coursework as outlined below and/or by the lecturer leading each module.

Visiting students should note the College policy that dictionaries may NOT be used in exams or formal, assessed activities such as slide tests. No credit will be given for a course unless the student has fulfilled the agreed course requirements.

Coursework

Students attending for one semester are normally assessed by coursework only. They undertake the regular coursework for the semester (normally one essay and one slide test per module). However, their essay length must be 2,500 (rather than the standard 2,000 for those who undertake the examination); those attending for the full year undertake whatever coursework and end-of-year examinations are in place for regular students.

The details of coursework will be provided to students along with the relevant dates of tests, and deadlines for essays and other submissions. Missed deadlines for written submissions incur an automatic forefeit of 10% of the assessment mark for up to a maximum of one week after the deadline, and thereafter will not be accepted and will be graded as 0%. The penalty will apply automatically. However, students may appeal for restitution of their grade in the case of illness, if verified by a medical certificate. This will provide for a maximum extension equal to the duration of the certified illness. In the event of illness, students must advise the lecturer as soon as they are aware that they may be absent or miss their deadline.

As the deadlines are provided at the beginning of the module, students are given ample opportunity to manage their time including in relation to their other subjects. This is to enable them to complete work in advance of the deadline if necessary. Demands of other coursework will NOT be accepted as a reason for late submissions, or for absences.

If you are not clear on any aspect of the requirements, be sure to discuss with the lecturer in charge of each course.

Students are required to complete all coursework. Where a slide test is missed for reasons other than illness supported by a medical certificate, they will be required to submit an essay, for the same percentage credit as the slide test. Such essays must be submitted to the module organizer no later than the date of the examination for the course. Late essays will not contribute to the marks for the course, and could cause students to drop a grade or even to fail.

Auditing lectures

In certain circumstances visiting students are allowed to audit lectures for modules that are of interest, but for which they are not registered. ‘Auditing’ involves attending lectures for a selected module, but not seminars. Auditing students are not entitled to take tests or examinations, submit coursework, or attend seminars. No credits are awarded for modules attended on an audit basis. Students audit modules only with the prior agreement of the lecturer responsible for the module.

Disclaimer

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the General Regulations contained in the College Calendar and Departmental handbooks, the provisions of the General Regulations shall prevail.

Queries

If you have any queries about the courses, contact the Visiting Students Representative, Dr Peter Cherry or the Departmental Office.

Contact details:

Visiting Students representative: Dr Peter Cherry, room 5088
Departmental Office: Executive Officer: Ms Clare Canavan, room 5082; Tel: 00353 1 896 1995 canavac@tcd.ie

For general information for Visiting Students: Trinity College International Office

Late Essay Policy

Deadlines must be met. Extensions will be granted by the Head of Department ONLY on medical or ad misericordiam grounds only.
Extensions on medical grounds must be supported by a doctor’s certificate.
An extension must be sought at least 24 hours before the deadline, even if only by e-mail. Late essays will automatically be marked as 0%, UNLESS accompanied by an authorised extension sheet (.doc, 37kb).
Late essays will not be accepted or marked unless accompanied by an Authorized Extension sheet (.doc, 37kb).