History and International Relations (BA): 4-year, part-time

COURSE STRUCTURE

Our new survey course options 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.

This course consists of modules of 30 credits each and you must complete modules worth 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 - history and politics - or focus on either one of the disciplines at Level 6.

In Year 1, you take three compulsory politics modules and one Level 4 history option module.

In Year 2, you take two compulsory politics modules, one compulsory history module and a Level 4 history option module.

In Year 3, you take two compulsory politics modules, a Level 5 history option module and a Level 5 politics option module.

In Year 4, you take a Level 6 history option module, a Level 6 politics option module, and a further Level 6 option module from either discipline.

YEAR 1 COMPULSORY MODULES

• Introduction to International Relations: History and Theory
• Structures and Issues in Global Politics
• The Study of Politics

YEAR 2 COMPULSORY MODULES

• Exploring the Past
• International Relations and Foreign Policy 1: diplomacy
• International Relations and Foreign Policy 2: policy and issues

YEAR 3 COMPULSORY MODULES

• War and Modern Society I
• War and Modern Society II

INDICATIVE LEVEL 4 HISTORY OPTION MODULES

• The Contemporary World
• The Early Modern World, 1500-1800: Reformations and Revolutions
• The Modern World

INDICATIVE LEVEL 5 HISTORY OPTION MODULES

• Contested Nation: Germany, 1871-1918 (level 5)
• Empires: Conquest and Decolonisation, from 1700 to Brexit
• The Ottoman Empire (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
• 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

INDICATIVE LEVEL 6 POLITICS OPTION MODULES

• Capitalism and the Politics of Markets
• Capitalism: histories and theories
• Classic Texts
• Contemporary Social and Political Theory
• International Migration and Transnationalism I
• International Migration and Transnationalism II
• Political Economy in the Middle East
• The Politics of the Global Food System
• The Rise of the Modern Food System

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.