Modern History

Course detail Description

The history of modern Europe and Britain has always been central to our teaching. This popular Modern History MA course will give you the skills that you need to study modern history, and you will explore the key topics of the period, from European nation building to modern British politics. We have designed this MA primarily for those interested in Continental European and/or British History since the mid-18th century, and the course draws on a wide range of approaches to give you a comparative perspective. You will also have the opportunity to study a modern language, which will extend the range of sources that you can engage with.

We will help you to make comparisons between the experiences of different societies and polities, a skill that we believe is fundamental to understanding historical issues, and to think broadly, not just in terms of country, period and discipline.

The course will give you access to an exceptionally wide range of optional modules from across the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, as well as selected modules from the Departments of War Studies and Political Economy, and other institutions. You can also attend relevant undergraduate lecture series, such as Europe from 1793–1991 and Politics & Society in Britain, 1780–1945.

Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHoSTM)
The Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHoSTM) joined us in August 2013. The Centre is one of the most vibrant groups of historians devoted to the study of science, technology and medicine in the world, covering a wide chronological range, and concerned with global as well as national histories. You can take modules offered by CHoSTM and we will encourage you to attend their fortnightly seminar series.

Teaching
If you are a full-time student, we will give you six hours of teaching each week through seminars, where you will contribute to the discussion and deliver presentations, and we will expect you to undertake 34 hours of self-study.

If you are a part-time student, we will give you two to four hours of teaching each week through seminars, where you will contribute to the discussion and deliver presentations, and we will expect you to undertake 12 to 24 hours of self-study.

For your dissertation, we will give you six hours of one-to-one supervision, and we will expect you to undertake 574 hours of self-study.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment
We will assess you mostly through coursework, although some optional modules may differ. For your dissertation you will write a 15,000-word essay.

Regulating body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

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Structure

Year 1 Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. Required Modules You are required to take:

• Historical Methods (20 credits)
• Advanced Skills for Historians (20 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

If you are a part-time student, you will take your Historical Methods and Advanced Skills for Historians, along with two optional modules from the list below, in your first year. In your second year, you will take your dissertation and two further optional modules Optional Modules In addition, you are required to take four modules (totalling 80 credits) from a range of optional modules that may typically include:

• The Provisional IRA (20 credits)
• English Exceptions since 1918 (20 credits)
• Revolutions & Constitutions in Europe – C 1790–1870 (20 credits)
• Empire, Nation & Modernity in Eastern Europe 1848–1914 (20 credits)
• Materialities & Modernities 1900–2000 (20 credits)
• Gender in British Society 1900–45 (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics In The 20th Century United States (20 credits)
• Science, War & the Nation: Britain 1900–2000 (20 credits)
• Up to 40 credits from a range of Master’s modules offered outside of the department, including those offered by other institutions intercollegiately, subject to the course convenor’s approval

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.