M.A. in History Student Handbook 2011-2012

HIST452: Researching Modern History
Module Convenor: Professor Aristotle Kallis
6:3 Pathway only
Taught: Summer Term
This module is designed to give a thematic overview to the key problems and
debates in modern history. The seminal debates and controversies in modern history will be covered,
particularly in Britain, Continental Europe, and North America. Themes to be covered include the
changing status of the human agent in historical writing, ‘history from below’, the cultural/linguistic
turn in historical studies, interdisciplinarity, political, industrial, cultural and scientific ‘revolutions’
and the meaning of ‘modernity’. Specific content will be adapted to the research interests and
requirements of students taking the module.
Assessment: 5,000 word essay (100%) at the end of the module.
HIST491: Historical Consultancy Project
This module may be taken in place of a taught module, subject to identification of an appropriate
‘client’. It should provide the experience of designing and executing a small-scale historical research
project in conjunction with this client. The client could be an organisation outside or inside the
University (e.g a national newspaper, a local library, the University Library or Peter Scott Gallery).
Undertaking the Consultancy Project will add evidence of the ability to apply historical skills to a
‘real world’ problem, to a student’s portfolio of achievements.
Creative interaction with a client will widen students' awareness of employment opportunities for
those with History qualifications, and will help to prepare you for newly emerging work and
employment patterns. You will receive supervision from an appropriate member of the History
Department, who will help you to negotiate a manageable project with the client. The supervisor will
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