B.A. History and Media Studies

Course Content First Year:As a full-time Main student: You may up take three modules of History in your first year. (You take three from your other other named subject. You will take 40 credits of history and twenty credits of your other subject in one semester and 20 credits of history and 40 credits of your other subject in the other semester. Students are free to do this in either semester 1 or 2.The first year history modules in the newly revalidated degree (approval pending) will include:YEAR 1Semester 1Semester 2Historical Skills: Themes in the History of the Modern World, 1789-1989 (Compulsory for all HIS students)Europe and the Wider World 1492-1789The United States Since 1776Britain, 1750-1945Early Modern Britain and Ireland, 1500-1800Modern Ireland, 1801-1998These will provide a building block from which students can pursue more specialist study in Second Year and Third Year. In second year, first term, you will take three modules of History which will examine major themes in the history of nation states, or discrete topics such as gender history, early modern History and societies. Examples include 20th Century Russia, the West and Middle East, Northern Ireland and its troubles, Modern Japan and China.In your second semester, second year you may take a major survey course on Historiogrpahy. You will also have the opportunity to take at least one (a maximum of four) career focussed Practical History modules, which may include a work placement element. You will also take at least one (a maximum of four) Focal points, which will be fine grained examinations of key historical events involving details readings key historical events and their historical contexts. An example of the Structure of Second Year is outlined below: Module titles may of course change.YEAR 2Semester 1Semester 2Options: Thematic or Geographical; maximum chronology one ‘long century’ Main History Choose 1 or 2 options. (These are all examples for illustrative purposes) Practical Histories with skills employability dimension Chose a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 4. (These are all examples for illustrative purposes)Option (20)Example: Post: War BritainHIS2xx Practical Histories 1: Public History (10)Option (20)Example The Cold WarHIS2xx Practical History 3: History and Computing (10)HIS2xx Practical History 4: History and Public Policy (10)HIS2xx Practical Histories 2: Work Placement (10)Runs Week 1-6 and Week 7-12 (Each being worth 10 credits though a student who chooses placement obviously only does 1 session)Option (20) The West and the Middle East.Focal Points: Fine-grained examinations of turning points and key issues in context. Some will run week 1-6 and some will run week 7-12. Weeks 1-6 will be assessed by Essay and Weeks 7-12 by a two hour class test. There will be room for a presentation or seminar element) Chose a minimum of one and a maximum of 4. (These examples are for illustrative purposes)Option (20) The Rise of Modern China and Japan since 1867.HIS2xx Focal Point: Chartism in Britain (10)HIS2xx Focal Point: The Suez Crisis (10)Option (20) 3 Irish themed modulese.g the Northern Irish TroublesHIS2xx Focal Point: The Gordon Riots (10)HIS2xx Focal Point: The Spanish Armada (10)Late Imperial Russia (20)HIS2xx Focal Point: The Debate about the Easter Rising. (10)HIS2xx Focal Point: The Salem Witch Trials (10)Option (20)HIS2xx Problems and Perspectives on the Past (20) (Historiography and problems in History). This is compulsory for Single History and Major History. It is optional for Main History and Minor History.Final Year: Third Year or Fourth Year (if you study abroad).You may also take an optional third year of study abroad (see international study below).Your final year in such case will be fourth year. For those who do not take a year abroad, Third Year will be your final and graduating year.In your final year you may undertake the History project on a subject of your own choice (with help from a supervisor) and two other modules from a wide choice which will include the end of the European Empires, a number of Irish history module choices, the Irish Diaspora, the late Soviet Union, Gender History, and American History. If you do not do the History project because you are taking a project/ dissertation in your other subject, you will do three History modules of your choice.YEAR 3Semester 1Semester 2History Project: an independent project (7000 words) on a subject chosen by the student after discussion with an academic supervisor. Students may take this in Semester 1 or Semester 2. If they take their dissertation/ project in their other subject, they do not do the History project.5-6 Optional 20 credit modules of which 2 will be Irish themed.5-6 Optional 20 credit modules of which 2 will be Irish themed