BA History (part time)
Length: 5-7 years
Summary of programme aims
The single subject part-time degree in History, as its full-time equivalent, offers insights into the richness and variety of human experience. Throughout this process of discovery, students encounter a wide range of subjects and approaches, while having the opportunity to pursue their own enthusiasms and to benefit from the research expertise and activities of staff. We aim to familiarise students with a broad chronological range, whilst providing them with the opportunity of specialisation in particular periods and topics of British, European and American history. The course also enables students to pursue their own interests through an independent study and a dissertation. Subject-based and transferable skills are developed in a course which encourages a scholarly, committed and enthusiastic engagement with the study of the past.
History is a discipline which lends itself to critical judgment and problem-solving, both through personal engagement with issues and through dialogue and group discussion. Also integral is the collection, collation and analysis of substantial quantities of material and its communication and presentation. History also prompts an awareness of numeracy through chronology, periodisation, and basic quantification. In addition, the development of powerful tools of research, analysis and presentation associated with information technology is reflected in several ways, such as in the location and retrieval of bibliographic and source material, the production and presentation of student work, and, where appropriate, the use of more sophisticated databases and exploitation of the internet.
Course content
Part-time degree courses, like full-time courses, are made up of study elements called modules. The size of a module is measured in terms of credits; a credit entails a notional 10 hours of study. For a full-time course, each year contains modules totalling 120 credits. Most modules are 20 credits in size but some are 10 credits and others are multiples of 20 credits (for example dissertations are often 40 credits in size). Modules are offered at one of three levels. In ascending order these are: Certificate (C) level; Intermediate (I) level; Honours (H) level.
All part-time degree courses entail study of modules totalling a minimum of 360 credits. Students must take the compulsory and optional modules required for their degree course, the following minimum number of credits being required at the levels indicated:
- Certificate level (C ) 100 credits minimum
- Intermediate level (I) 100 credits minimum
- Honours level (H) 100 credits minimum
For a full description of this degree course with the required compulsory and optional modules, please download the programme specification. Please note that you are advised to check that this course is running for the next academic year.
http://www.info.reading.ac.uk/progspecs/prog-index.asp
Career prospects
History graduates are trained in clear thinking, research skills, diligence, independence, adaptability and the ability to understand people and situations in the world at large. As such, they are eagerly sought after by employers. In addition they are given specific vocational training and orientation through a Career Management Scheme run by the School in conjunction with the Careers Advisory Service. This is of particular value to those returning to study who wish to explore career possibilities, but special arrangements are made for mature students who have already followed a career and who are taking the course for leisure. Past graduates have used their degree as a springboard for various areas of employment such as accountancy, banking and commerce, law, publishing, information science, museum work, teaching and social work. Many also enter the business world through management training schemes operated by national companies in retailing, marketing, sales, computing, while others go into the civil service and local government. Several graduates also go on to postgraduate study in History, both at MA and PhD level, at Reading and elsewhere.
Opportunities for study abroad
Students in History have the opportunity to spend a period of study abroad (normally in Part 2) as part of the Socrates scheme, or in conjunction with the American Studies courses's exchange.