Economic and Social History MSc

The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2018-2019 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2019 entry.

Semenster 1

You will take the following compulsory modules in Semester 1:

• Being a Social Scientist: explores the fundamental skills required by all social scientists, including how to design and produce a research dissertation. It will also address issues of professional development such as ethics, careers and grant writing.
• History in Practice 1: critically assesses different methods and settings for communicating research to non-academic audiences.
• Quantitative Methods in Social Science: provides a user-friendly introduction to the fundamental concepts of quantitative analysis.

• History in Practice 2: offers you the opportunity to develop your own knowledge transfer project.
• Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences: introduces you to the basic theoretical approaches in the social sciences, and teaches you to make connections between the methodological and epistemological issues involved in conducting social scientific research.
• Qualitative Methods in Social Science: offers both a theoretical and practical introduction to the collection, analysis and writing of qualitative social science research

Optional modules allow you to shape the degree around your own personal and professional interests.

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students .

• Global Times - Plural Spaces 1: offers a strong foundation in the major approaches to comparative and transnational history as well as the emerging field of spatial history.
• History in the Making: Theories, Approaches and Practice 1: examines the development of history-writing and historical research since the Enlightenment, and the emergence of fields, trends and new approaches in current historiography.
• The Idea of Law: introduces fundamental concepts, questions and analytical frameworks relevant to legal, historical and constitutional research.
• Sources and Source Criticism 1: addresses interpretation and criticism of mediaeval sources.
• Themes and Debates in Early Modern History 1: introduces students to a variety of key debates in early modern history through studying different scholars' approaches to the period.

• Comparative Studies in Legal and Constitutional Research: continues from 'The Idea of Law' and provides a forum for students to develop, present, and write on a particular field or topic, drawing on methodological ideas from Semester 1 modules.
• History in the Making 2: continues from part 1 and examines the development of history-writing and historical research since the Enlightenment, and the emergence of fields, trends and new approaches in current historiography.
• Global Times - Plural Spaces 2: continues from part 1 and explores a variety of understandings of spatial history, including the idea of mental maps, the study of landscapes, places of memory and spatial practices.
• Sources and Source Criticism 2: continues on from 'Sources and Source Criticism 1' to address interpretation and criticism of mediaeval sources.
• Themes and Debates in Early Modern History 2: continues from part 1 and introduces students to a variety of key debates in early modern history through studying different scholars' approaches to the period.

Students write a 15,000-word dissertation during the summer. The dissertation will be submitted in August. This date is fixed internally by the School of History each year.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.