Contemporary History and Politics (BA): 4-year, part-time

COURSE STRUCTURE

Our new survey course options in history range from the ancient to the contemporary world and will introduce you to the key themes you need to know about when studying the past. In keeping with our tradition of teaching an impressive chronological breadth within one department, these modules cover the time from prehistory to the present, moving across continents and cultures.

In parallel with these cutting-edge surveys, we offer a range of compulsory 'How to' modules which bring you together with academic staff to explore the study of the past and develop the skills needed to research and write history. Every year, as you build your studies and progress towards your degree, you will take one of these courses, helping you to develop your own unique perspective on the past.

Both the survey courses and our ‘How to’ courses run annually so that it doesn't matter whether you study part-time or full-time with us - you will be able to make the most of them.

The programme consists of 12 modules of 30 credits each, for a total of 360 credits. There are three kinds of module: compulsory Level 4 modules in core skills; Level 5 option modules which develop knowledge across broad areas of study; and Level 6 option modules which provide focused study on advanced topics. You take a balance of modules between the two disciplines.

The course structure is as follows:

• In Year 1, you take one compulsory history module and three compulsory politics modules.
• In Year 2, you take two compulsory history modules (one of which must be Exploring the Past) and two compulsory politics modules - either Contemporary British Politics and Contemporary British Policy or International Relations and Foreign Policy 1 and 2.
• In Year 3, you choose a Level 5 option module in both history and politics and a Level 6 option module from either discipline.
• In your final year, you choose a Level 6 option module in both history and politics and a further Level 6 option module from either discipline.

YEAR 1 HISTORY COMPULSORY MODULES

• The Contemporary World
• The Modern World

YEAR 1 POLITICS COMPULSORY MODULES

• Comparative Government - Concepts, Methods, and Institutions
• Comparative Government - Processes
• The Study of Politics

YEAR 2 HISTORY COMPULSORY MODULES

• Exploring the Past
• The Contemporary World
• The Modern World

YEAR 2 POLITICS OPTION MODULES

• Contemporary British Policy
• Contemporary British Politics
• International Relations and Foreign Policy 1: diplomacy
• International Relations and Foreign Policy 2: policy and issues

INDICATIVE LEVEL 5 HISTORY OPTION MODULES

• Italy and the World: Conflict and the Incomplete Nation, 1815-present
• Political and Social Change in the Middle East since 1918 (level 5)

INDICATIVE LEVEL 5 POLITICS OPTION MODULES

• Gender in the Global Political Economy
• Politics in the Middle East
• Race in the Global Political Economy

INDICATIVE LEVEL 6 HISTORY OPTION MODULES

• A Hundred Years of the Russian Revolution, 1891-1991
• Contested Nation: Germany, 1871-1918
• Intimate Britain: Family, Society and Culture, 1832-1918
• The Birth of a Superpower: China from 1900 to the Present Day
• The Cold War: A Global History
• The Third Reich
• Writing the Past: Dissertation

INDICATIVE LEVEL 6 POLITICS OPTION MODULES

• Capitalism and the Politics of Markets
• Capitalism: histories and theories
• Contemporary Social and Political Theory
• International Migration and Transnationalism I
• International Migration and Transnationalism II
• Political Economy in the Middle East
• Politics and the Arts (Level 6)
• The Politics of the Global Food System
• The Rise of the Modern Food System
• War and Modern Society I
• War and Modern Society II

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.