BA Modern History

University of Essex

Bachelor's degree

In Colchester

£ 9,250 + VAT

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Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Colchester

  • Duration

    3 Years

About the course
The modern period marked an age of discovery and globalisation; a time of rapid change, brutal wars, and a belief in the possibility of societal and scientific progress

Our BA Modern History allows you to specialise in this exciting period, studying the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world from the 18th century to the present day


You investigate the intersection of the ideas, cultures and economics of different people over the last 200 years of western history

This introduces you to the relationship between today’s ‘modern’ world, which assumes the significance of political liberty, global interdependence and sexuality, and events and ideas which originated in the 18th and 19th centuries


You also choose from a broad range of topics including:
The spread of communist-inspired revolutions in China, Russia, and Latin America
The origins and consequences of the Cold War
Slavery and its demise in the Atlantic world
Imperialism in India and Africa
Our Department of History has developed a strong research and teaching profile, with the majority of our research rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014)

We provide you with opportunities to explore local history, and have strong links with the Essex Record Office, one of the best county record offices in the UK

You can also explore more international topics; our corridors are truly cosmopolitan, with an international research team and a high proportion of international students

Facilities

Location

Start date

Colchester (Essex)
See map
Wivenhoe Park, CO4 3SQ

Start date

On request

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Subjects

  • International
  • Teaching
  • Modern History

Course programme

Example structure
Studying at Essex is about discovering yourself, so your course combines compulsory and optional modules to make sure you gain key knowledge in the discipline, while having as much freedom as possible to explore your own interests. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore to ensure your course is as relevant and up-to-date as possible your core module structure may be subject to change.
For many of our courses you’ll have a wide range of optional modules to choose from – those listed in this example structure are just a selection of those available. The opportunity to take optional modules will depend on the number of core modules within any year of the course. In many instances, the flexibility to take optional modules increases as you progress through the course.
Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current first-year students, including details of all optional modules.
Year 1
The Making of the Modern World 1776-1989


Becoming a Historian


Society, Culture and Politics in Europe 1500-1750 (optional)


Year 2
Making Histories: Concepts, Themes and Sources


History Works: Beyond Your BA


'The Special Relationship'? Anglo-American Relations 1850-2005 (optional)


Consensus Britain? The State and the People, 1945-79 (optional)


Sex, Class and War at the Movies: Britain, 1930-2000 (optional)


South Africa: The Road to Apartheid (optional)


The Making of Modern Brazil (optional)


Final year
Independent Research Project


Metropolis: Urban Germany 1900-1945 (optional)


The Third Reich (Special Subject) (optional)


The Russian Revolution 1905-1932 (Special Subject) (optional)


From Stalin to Putin (optional)


Women, Gender and Sexuality in US History (optional)


The Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69) (Special Subject) (optional)


The United States and the Vietnam War (optional)


Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Teaching
Taught by a weekly lecture followed by a seminar, where groups of about 15 students meet with their tutor to discuss their reading, to work together with primary sources, or to make presentations to the rest of the group
One-to-one tuition for your final-year project
Assessment
Assessment methods include essays, coursework journals, oral presentations, book and film reviews, source analysis, and the dissertation
Your first-year marks do not count towards your final degree class
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Additional information

At Essex we’re about social conscience, wondering why, and understanding the bigger picture We teach you to find your own critical voice, and to view history through the eyes of ordinary people, giving them the voice they often lacked at the time Study abroad Your education extends beyond our University campus We support you extending your education by offering you an additional year at no extra cost The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend your third year studying abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised We have exchange partners in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, the Middle East, Hong Kong and Japan Placement year When you arrive at Essex, you can decide whether you would like to combine your course with a placement year You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our Employability and Careers Centre Our expert staff Our staff are among world leaders in their field, and our enthusiasm for our subject is infectious We welcome you into our scholarly community, and value your views Our teaching and research concentrates on the period from 1500 to the present and covers a wide geographical area that includes British and European history, as well as Latin America, the USA, China, Russia and Africa Specialist facilities We have several Special Collections in history, including the Essex Society for Archaeology and History Library, the Harsnett Collection, the Hervey Benham Oral History Sound Archive, the Bensusan Collection, and the Colchester Medical Society Library Access the UK Data Archive, a national service provider digital resources for historians, which is particularly...

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BA Modern History

£ 9,250 + VAT

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