History and Politics BA (Hons)

This History and Politics BA (Hons) course enables you to study both History and Politics equally at the same level. Don't worry, studying joint honours doesn't mean more work. You'll study the same number of credits as a single honours student, but just take fewer modules in each of the subjects. There are lots of reasons why students choose a joint honours qualification. Just some include: that you have two subject areas of interest, that you want to explore something new alongside a core subject area or that you want to keep your career options open to a range of professions.

Our Modern History programme is designed to introduce you to the essential skills of the historian, including an understanding of current debates and perspectives, alongside an ability to contextualise history from a local and global viewpoint. This is complemented by the necessary acquisition of advanced research and analytical skills, set against substantive material drawn from modern history from the eighteenth century to the present day. The degree is designed to help you form a deeper understanding of the relationship of the social and cultural present with that of the past. This degree also helps you develop powers of analysis and problem solving, research skills, critical thinking, team work and interpersonal skills.

The Politics programme is stimulating, interesting and contemporary, and quickly develops students' own powers of analysis and problem solving, research skills, critical thinking, team work and interpersonal skills. It is designed to help you to form a deeper understanding of the Politics of Britain and the wider world, whilst exploring the world of the political, within the complex power relationships of contemporary society. In the first year you will take a common core of introductory modules designed to familiarise yourself with differing approaches to the study of Politics, to help you understand key theories, concepts and ideas and to understand some of the key debates and issues in the world around us. At second and third level students can choose from a range of modules to reflect developing interests and potential career choices.

All students take a total of 120 credits per level.

Level 4 Modules (all modules are mandatory) include:

• Studying History: Sources Methods & Interpretations
• British Social & Economic History 1750-1939
• Place in the Sun: Europe & the Race for Empire
• Introduction to Political Theory
• Introduction to British Government & Politics
• Comparative Politics

Level 5 Modules (there are 3 mandatory modules and 3 optional modules out of a choice of 6 as indicated by *) include:

• Never Had it So Good: Britain (1945-1979)
• Social Science Research Methods with SPSS
• New Politics in Britain

Choose 2 History modules from the optional modules below

• The Long 18th Century in Perspective*
• Local History*
• Total Warfare: World Wars I & II in Perspective*

and Choose 1 Politics module from the optional modules below:

• Local and Regional Government*
• Political Ideas and the Making of the Modern World:
  Western Perspective*
• Politics and Government of the USA*

Level 6 Modules (there is 1 mandatory module and 4 optional modules out of a choice of 9 as indicated by *) include:

• Dissertation

Choose 2 History modules from the optional modules below:

• Witchcraft and Magic in Early Modern England*
• Sport in British Society*
• From Medieval to Modern: A History of Ideas*
• Debates on the Russian Revolution*
• The History of British Women (1800-2000)*

and Choose 2 Politics modules from the optional modules below

• Saving the world: Green Politics, Green Society*
• International Relations and Globalisation*
• United States’ Foreign Policy and the Making of a New Global Order*
• Riots, Disorders and Responses of the State*

You’ll need 80 UCAS points to join this programme. All applicants must show that they have a good level of spoken or written English, and if English is not your first language you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to study in English.

Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria but have relevant work / life experience will be considered on an individual basis and may be invited to interview. 

Care Leavers or Young Carers

We want students from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to go to University. If you have spent three months or more in local authority care OR are a young carer, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This is a grade reduction of 1-A Level grade below our standard entry requirements. For example, a standard offer of CCC, would become CCD. MMM at Level 3 Extended Diploma would become MMP. To apply we advise that you tick the box on your UCAS application which identifies you have spent time in care and to help identify you as eligible for our contextual offer.

See our General Entry Requirements.

Modules in at Level 4 study are assessed by both examinations (50%) and coursework (50%). Level 5 and 6 modules are also assessed by examination and coursework combinations. You can also expect to take part in seminar presentations which will form part of the assessment for Level 5 and 6 modules. In the third year, you will undertake a dissertation which is assessed through coursework (100%).

Each module is formally assessed through, for example, examinations, open book examinations, group projects, essays, assignments or briefs, presentations, group presentations, portfolio building and a dissertation. This formal assessment will count towards your module mark and feedback is usually given within 3 weeks following the submission of your formal submission of work.

Additionally, some lecturers will provide informal feedback, for example, following an examination they may choose to work through the exam paper in a tutorial. It should be noted that feedback is part of the ongoing learning cycle which is not limited to written feedback. Other forms of feedback include one-to-one meetings with a personal tutor, dissertation and project supervision meetings, a lecturer responding to learner questions or responses during topic or situation discussions. 

Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

The learning environment and facilities could include lecture theatres, classrooms, technology suites, laboratories and workshops, library and skills labs, art and photography studios, small group and quiet zones. Learning methods will vary according to the programme of study but will include lectures and group tutorials. In addition, seminars, field trips, work placements, role play or scenario activities, laboratory and workshop practical, demonstrations, guest lectures, discussions and debates all contribute to the learning experience to support the acquisition of subject specific skills and knowledge and the development of transferable and employment related skills.

You should typically expect to have around 15 contact hours per week if you are studying full time.

In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor.  

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.  The team could include senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, demonstrators and technical officers.  You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Timetables

We endeavour to make timetables available one month before you start your course.  Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week.  Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week. 

Overall Workload

You overall workload consists of class contact hours, around 15 hours of independent learning and assessment activity and any field trips which may take place.

Academic Support

We have a dedicated Student Engagement Team who will be able to provide support in the following areas;

• Study Skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
• Written English
• Academic Writing (including referencing)
• Research Skills

Employers like the Joint Honours degrees - for the reason that graduates come out with a range of skills from the different subjects they have studied. The degree will help you develop transferrable skills such as presentation skills, synthesizing and analytical skills - and the ability to develop arguments for example. These are all skills that employers look for in graduates. The breadth of careers that you could move into is immense & this could include for example work in local government, civil service, work within the leisure industry, Politics, teaching via a PGCE, marketing, junior management roles and more. Postgraduate study will also be encouraged and students have progressed onto a variety of Masters programmes.

Download the Programme Specification. The Programme Specification will give you further information about the course structure, learning outcomes and detailed information about the assessment you can expect during the course.

If you choose to study this course in September 2022, your timetable will consist of the following days of study at our University Centre.

The days that have been set for this course, for the first year intake only, are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

You will be required to undertake work in your own time and also undertake private study. This will be in addition to your taught hours in class. You may also be required to undertake a work placement/work-based learning. This is in addition to the taught timetabled classes, please bear this in mind with your planning. 

The University Centre reserves the right to change timetables for the year ahead and this information is provided to you as a guide. The days of study in subsequent years of the course may vary.