History and International Relations BA (Hons)

What you'll study

Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on our History and International Relations BA (Hons) degree, take a sneak preview of some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study below.

The information below reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Final year

Year 1

This year provides you with a strong grounding in topics and approaches in history and international relations. Course modules include surveys of modern European and world history, the nature of history, international organisations, democratic government, international political theory and the contemporary world arena. Our assumption is that students are not necessarily familiar with international relations at this stage.

Semester 1

Smart Scholarship Core

Smart Scholarship

This module introduces students to fundamental skills for successful study in Politics, International Relations, and/or History.

The Making and Unmaking of the World Order Core

The Making and Unmaking of the World Order

This module introduces students to the main currents of world history and to the shifting structure of the international order in the modern period. It aims to cover both the mainstream narratives and those critical of Eurocentrism, thereby stimulating an appreciation in cultural diversity

The Contemporary World Arena Core

The Contemporary World Arena

The aims of the module are to explore various aspects of the contemporary world arena, and to consider the importance of different actors and issues; and to identify links between theory and practice in the world arena.

The Atlantic World Core

The Atlantic World

This module introduces students to the concept of the 'Atlantic World', surveys the early modern history of Africa, the Americas and Western Europe, and explores the key historical themes of this period including race, religion and empire.

Semester 2

International Political Theory Core

International Political Theory

This module aims to introduce students to a selection of theories, concepts and theorists of International Politics. Students will learn to critically evaluate the strengths, weaknesses and limits of each approach.

Power, Politics and Ideology in Modern Europe Core

Power, Politics and Ideology in Modern Europe

This module provides an introduction to modern European history from c.1750 to the present and to the major ideological families that have defined, and continue to shape, European political, cultural, and intellectual life.

Understanding Democratic Institutions Core

Understanding Democratic Institutions

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the main institutions, powers and dynamics of a liberal democracy.

What is History? Core

What is History?

This module establishes a foundation about the nature of History as a subject area.

Elective Optional

Elective

Including: Economics; English; Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese); Geography; History; Business; Social Sciences

Semester 1 and 2

Year 2

This year enables you to choose areas of history and international relations in which to specialise. Areas studied include Cold War Europe, twentieth-century Britain, the United States, Russia, China, slavery, foreign policy analysis, protest and resistance, the European Union and security studies. You will also receive training in methods and prepare for your final-year dissertation.

There will also be an alternative option to study abroad for the second semester of the second year - if you choose this route (instead of the standard route) you will undertake assessed work and complete a Distance Learning Research Design module, plus select from a range of optional modules.

Semester 1

Theories and Methods in Political Research Core

Theories and Methods in Political Research

The aims of this module are to introduce students to the dominant approaches and their research methods in politics.

Understanding History Core

Understanding History

The European Union Optional

The European Union

The purpose of this course is to inform students about the European Union, including: its historical evolution, its deepening process, its enlargement process, its institutions, its member states and its policy areas.

British Politics Optional

British Politics

The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the history, institutions, actors, processes and challenges of British Politics and Government.

History of Political Thought Optional

History of Political Thought

The aim of this module is to examine the development of political thought by looking at key concepts, thinkers and movements in the history of ideas.

Modern China in a Global Perspective Optional

Modern China in a Global Perspective

Victorian Values Reconsidered Optional

Victorian Values Reconsidered

This module introduces students to debates in the social, political and cultural history of Victorian Britain, with emphases on histories of childhood, democratisation, poverty, sex and sexuality, crime and deviance, religion, and race.

Modern Germany: From Racial Dictatorship to Recivilization Optional

Modern Germany: From Racial Dictatorship to Recivilization

Enterprise, Employability and Personal Development Optional

Enterprise, Employability and Personal Development

The key aim of this module is to influence students' awareness of and performance in key competencies which are required for personal effectiveness in employment and as a citizen in the wider community

Small Wars Optional

Small Wars

Political Communication Optional

Political Communication

The key aim of this module is to introduce students to the different theoretical perspectives underpinning the study of the political communication before examining specific aspects of political communication in various democracies.

Modern France: A History of Conflict? Optional

Modern France: A History of Conflict?

The aim of this module is to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of some of the main issues in French history since 1789, particularly through an examination of the theme of social and political conflict.

Semester 2

Research Design Core

Research Design

The aim of this module is to develop skills in research design, involving selecting research methodologies, sourcing research data and adapting conceptual frameworks.

Cold War Europe Optional

Cold War Europe

The aims of the module are to discuss key selected key issues raised by the history of the Cold War. It assesses the threats, fears, ideological conflicts and competition which dominated Global politics for 50 years. It explores Cold War politics through original documents and eyewitness accounts.

Comparative European Politics Optional

Comparative European Politics

This module offers a pan-European introduction to the continent's politics and compares the institutions of, and processes within democracies across Europe.

International Semester Optional

International Semester

Modern Russia from Emancipation to Revolution Optional

Modern Russia from Emancipation to Revolution

Politics of Developing Countries Optional

Politics of Developing Countries

This module aims to examine the problem of socio-economic inequality between the global North and global South and to analyse the relationship between global and local politics and socio-economic development.

Slavery in Global History Optional

Slavery in Global History

The American Century: US Politics and Society in 20th Century Optional

The American Century: US Politics and Society in 20th Century

1) Introduce students to the main institutions of the US government and how they function within the US political system 2) Examine the politics and foreign policy of the United States through an analysis of its 20th century history 3) Explore how US cultural, social and intellectual history influenced US politics in the 20th century.

Semester 1 & 2

Elective Optional

Elective

Including: Economics; English; Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese); Geography; History; Business; Social Sciences

Final year

This year is all about in-depth research. All students write a 12,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice in the field of history or international relations. You will also choose options that are based on the current research projects of the history and IR staff. These include the Beatles and sixties Britain, the rise of Nazism, Jim Crow America, the British Empire, terrorism and political violence, major current global challenges, Britain and the EU, nationalism and politics and religion.

Semester 1 & 2

Dissertation Core

Dissertation

To enable students to undertake an extensive piece of research on a topic of their choice in the field of their degree title, and to further develop their skills in research techniques and methods.

Semester 1

State, Violence and Terrorism Optional

State, Violence and Terrorism

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of terrorism and political violence by examining a variety of past and present case studies, and by exploring definitions of terrorism, causes of political violence, and the roles played by the state and the media in connection to it.

The Asia-Pacific in Global Politics Optional

The Asia-Pacific in Global Politics

This Module explores the various vectors of international politics in the Asia-Pacific; and locates this dynamic region within the larger framework of global politics. Students are expected to demonstrate an appreciation of the web of interactions in the Asia-Pacific at the end of the module.

Contemporary Political Philosophy Optional

Contemporary Political Philosophy

The key aim of this module is to outline and discuss important themes in contemporary political philosophy by encouraging reflection on a number of common basic assumptions and intuitions about the nature of politics, the responsibilities of social and political institutions and the principles upon which ideas about politics are founded.

The Populist Challenge to Western Democracies Optional