BA (Hons) History & Politics

What you'll study Overview Taught jointly by the Departments of History and Politics and International Relations , this degree applies methods and concepts from both areas to inform your studies, and you are encouraged to examine links between the two disciplines. Our interdisciplinary approach will give you insights into the ways that social, cultural and political institutions have shaped, and continue to shape, our society. Throughout the three years you study a range of units offered by both Departments - including a core unit for the study of History and Politics and International Relations, and a variety of complementary units - and are encouraged to examine links between the two areas. Your study of the relationships between Historical processes and politics will be enhanced by Goldsmiths' growing reputation as a centre of excellence in cultural and social processes. Year 1 (credit level 4) In your first year you take: Module title Credits. Concepts and Methods in History Concepts and Methods in History 30 credits This core module introduces you to theories of history, methodologies and conceptual problems of advanced historical work from the ancient to the contemporary world. The module will help you acquire some of the fundamental skills involved in historical study – including writing at university level – as well as help you with online research, footnoting and compiling a bibliography. It consists of one lecture and seminar per week. 30 credits. You also take one of the following History modules: Module title Credits. Dictators, War and Revolution Dictators, War and Revolution 30 credits This module introduces you to the discipline of political history, by analysing, from a comparative perspective, key modern political ideologies, developments and political leaders from a comparative perspective. In addition to a theoretical foundation, it provides a basic understanding of how the modern world has been shaped by dictators, wars and revolutions. The module is divided into four thematic blocks of five weeks each. The order of the blocks and the particular lecture topics may vary from year to year, but the four-part structure ensures that you are exposed to a wide array of methodological and empirical issues critical for the study of political history. Assessment by: a combination of coursework and a two-hour unseen written paper. There is also a range of coursework on which feedback is given. 30 credits. Religion, Peace and Conflict Religion, Peace and Conflict 30 credits This module explores the historical and contemporary role of religion in promoting peace and conflict through a series of case studies. The contexts chosen for study may vary from year to year but will normally include examples drawn from the West, the Middle East, and Asia. The module is divided into four blocks of five weeks each. By taking this module you will gain an introductory, but insightful, comprehension of religious belief and its role in promoting peace and conflict. 30 credits. Self, Citizen and Nation Self, Citizen and Nation 30 credits Self, Citizen and Nation introduces the importance of intellectual and cultural history as a way of understanding yourself and the world around you. It contributes to the department’s core strengths in the history of ideas, philosophy, ethics and culture. The course consists of four themes, each focusing on the relationship between human beings and their surroundings: the Medieval Self (the discovery of the individual, gender, childhood, the visual dimension, citizenship and ethnicity). Humans and the natural world (the human body, human mind, animals and birds, the rural and urban environments). Early modern identities (emotions and the soul, the self, religion and identity, ethnicity and nationality, gender and sexuality). Political systems in theory and practice (monarchies, republics, democracies, utopias and dystopias). Throughout the module you will engage with a wide variety of primary source material, including images, philosophical and literary texts, letters and works of self-reflection. 30 credits. And the following two Politics modules: Module title Credits. Political Theory and Ideologies Political Theory and Ideologies 30 credits This is an introduction to political theory and an exploration of why central political ideas and concepts influence our understanding of the world around us. Assessed by: one essay and a two-hour unseen examination. 30 credits. UK and European Comparative Governance and Politics UK and European Comparative Governance and Politics 30 credits This unit introduces students to the comparative approach to politics and government, in addition to building a understanding of the politics and governance of four key members of the European Union: the UK, Germany, Italy and France. The first half of the unit is focused on the UK and also considers the EU as an institution, while the second half concentrates on the other three countries at the unit’s core. Students will not only build an essential foundation for studying the politics of the UK and EU, but will also develop their skills in comparative methods. 30 credits. Year 2 (credit level 5) You take the following compulsory module: Module title Credits. Modern Political Theory Modern Political Theory 30 credits In this module we examine the modern tradition of political thought. Students will be introduced to the major figures in this tradition – English thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke and Mill – and continental thinkers such as Rousseau and Marx. Through these thinkers, we will explore key themes and concepts such as sovereignty, justice, human nature, property, rights, liberty, democracy and equality. 30 credits. You also take politics and international relations modules of up to 30 credits, and two history options. You can also take a module in a modern foreign language or apply to take a ‘related study’ – a relevant approved module from another department. Year 3 (credit level 6) You undertake an interdisciplinary dissertation (30 credits) for which you are given special supervision on a subject of particular interest to you. A range of specialist modules from the two departments are taken, and you also have the option of taking a Special Subjects module selected from the 40 or so available through the other University of London institutions. History modules. Teaching style This programme is mainly taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures and seminars. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work. The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*: Year 1 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning. Year 2 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning. Year 3 - 11% scheduled learning, 89% independent learning. How you’ll be assessed You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, extended essays, reports, presentations, practice-based projects or essays/logs, group projects, reflective essays, and seen and unseen written examinations. The following information gives an indication of how you can typically expect to be assessed on each year of this programme*: Year 1 - 56% coursework, 44% written exam. Year 2 - 56% coursework, 44% written exam. Year 3 - 75% coursework, 25% written exam. *Please note that these are averages are based on enrolments for 2016/17. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Credits and levels of learning An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project. Download the programme specification , for the 2018-19 intake. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.