What are Advanced Modules?
Please click here to view the Advanced Modules offered.
Advanced Curriculum Options
Fundamentally, the Advanced Curriculum is designed to give students the space to build upon and reinforce the habit of mind and attitude towards knowledge fostered by the First-Tier Curriculum.
The Advanced Curriculum consists of the following three options:
| (A) Academic Inquiry |
| (B) Cultural Immersion; |
| (C) Entrepreneurial Development; |
and aims to reinforce the following qualities:
- Intellectual rigour;
- Spirit of initiative, resourcefulness and innovation;
- Leadership.
It is the objective of the Advanced Curriculum to provide students with a more integral USP experience which will extend throughout their undergraduate years. More specifically:
| (i) |
An inductive component (University Scholars Seminar) is incorporated into the First-Tier Curriculum to help students plan their Advanced Curriculum; |
| (ii) |
A preparatory component for the Advanced Curriculum, through new and existing modules, internships, attachments, and summer programmes (such as NUS-in-Yale), is put in place; |
It is important for students to plan their studies early. This does not mean that you map out all the modules you want to read while at NUS, but it does mean that you give some serious thought sufficiently early to what you might want to pursue. For example, for the cultural immersion option, students will need to have taken two modules from a specific basket before embarking on the overseas experience. For students interested in the more traditional academic inquiry option, the University Scholars Seminar module USS2105 is part of the preparation to help students identify research interests.
Study Abroad
USP continues to strongly encourage you to gain a global education. Indeed, many of the Advanced Curriculum options have built-in study abroad components.
The benefits of study abroad are obvious to all and need not be explained here. However, the fact is: study abroad causes disruption and meticulous planning is needed. Which overseas university? Which courses? Which modules to substitute? How to fit back in after study abroad (in terms of graduation requirements)? You are advised to plan at least one year in advance.
How do I start planning for my Advanced Curriculum?
Given the great flexibility in the Advanced Curriculum, you need to think harder and earlier about it. In order for you to make the best of it, you need to decide on an Advanced Curriculum Option by Semester 3. Think seriously about the following questions:
- What are my intellectual and professional aspirations?
- What are my interests? What are my strengths and weaknesses?
- What are important questions/issues within my areas of interest/strength? What are recent progress/breakthroughs, and how are they relevant to me?
- What opportunities are available in NUS/USP and partner universities/ organizations for me to develop my interest and passion?
Your USP advisor will help you. Please keep in close touch with him/her. (But don't be restricted by your advisor. Feel free to talk to other professors/experts - feel free to ask your advisor to refer you to them.) A Scholars Advisory System has been designed to help you discuss and shape your Advanced Curriculum plans with your Advisor. The University Scholars Seminar (USS) is also designed to start you on this process. In addition, USP regularly organizes sharing sessions with companies, researchers, alumni etc. These will also help you.
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