UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORDSchool of Social and International Studies
Division of Peace Studies
Programmetitle:BA (Hons) History and Politics
Awarding and teaching institution: / University of BradfordFinal and interim award(s): / BA (Honours)
[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 6]
Ordinary Degree
[Framework for Higher Education qualifications level 6]
Diploma of Higher Education
[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 5]
Certificate of Higher Education
[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 4]
Programme title: / History and Politics
Programme approved / accredited by: / N/A
Duration: / 3 years full-time
UCAS code: / LV21
Subject benchmark statement(s):
FHEQ Level: / History, Politics
4-6
Date produced: / May 2003
Last updated : / July 2014
Introduction
History is a very popular subject for undergraduate study. It provides access to the collective memory of humankind, which is being continuously amended, refined and supplemented by the process of historical research, making history a dynamic discipline, a constantly evolving debate about the nature and meaning of the past. The main focus of our teaching and research is modern European history from the eighteenth century to the late twentieth century. Our particular interests include the history of the leading European states, together with the key themes of European diplomacy, war and Europe’s relations with the wider world.
Politics is taught by the Division ofPeace Studies, the world’s largestuniversity centre for the study of peaceand conflict. Politics is an excitingsubject, concerned with developing aknowledge and understanding ofgovernment and society, sometimesdefined as 'who gets what, when, how,why and where'. This discipline coversmany elements, including politicaltheory, institutions and governance,international relations and area studies.
Because of their relevance and accessibility, History and Politics are suitable subjects for students of all backgrounds and ages. Obviously school leavers with a History or Politics A level will form a substantial part of each year’s cohort, but History and Politics at Bradford have always welcomed students with non-conventional qualifications as long as the admissions tutors are satisfied by their commitment to the subject and basic research and essay-writing skills. History and Politics at Bradford have always welcomed mature students, and in recent years some of our best students have been those who have left school, gone into employment for three to five years, and decided to enter higher education after this point.
All our programmes open up a very wide range of career options. Our graduates have also found employment, for example, in international organisations, the Civil Service; in library work and information services, industrial and commercial management, banking, the media, advertising, marketing, and education.
The distinctive approach of our programme means that you develop a range of vital skills including your ability to argue, reason and analyse from a particular set of facts, both orally and in writing. Studying History will complement this knowledge, giving you a clearer understanding of how past events in Europe and the collective memory of these events continue to impact on contemporary European society and culture.
The History programme team is a relatively small number of internationally recognised researchers, who are able to get to know the students on the History programmes very well, while you gain from their expertise. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 80% of our research was recognised as of international quality, with 5% being world-leading.
The Division of Peace Studies has an excellent international reputation in research across the range of discipline areas in which it offers BA degree awards. The Division was chosen from more than 100 universities worldwide to be one of six Rotary International Peace and Conflict Resolution Centres of teaching excellence. The programme began in 2002 with ten scholarship students at the postgraduate level.
Programme Aims
The programme is intended to:
A1.Develop your understanding of history as an academic discipline.
A2.Develop your understanding of politics as a theoretical and practical discipline, emphasizing its links both with history and the contemporary world.
A3.Develop your understanding of the broad trends in the modern history of Europe taking the modern period to begin with the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.
A4.Develop your knowledge of the history of key European states, nations and regions, especially France, Germany, Britain, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe.
A5.Develop your skills and competence in the methodological and argumentative techniques intrinsic to scholarship in historical studies.
A6.Develop your understanding of the key concepts, approaches and theories within political science.
A7.Develop your abilities and skills in evaluating different explanations of events and issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
A8.Enable you to apply your knowledge using a critical, independent and scholarly approach to the study of history and politics.
A9.Provide you with a range of different learning opportunities and resources, and to assist you in developing the skills you need to become an autonomous learner.
A10.Develop your range of vital skills, including the ability to argue, reason and analyse from a particular set of facts, both orally and in writing.
A11.Provide an environment in which you will be stimulated by the acquisition of knowledge, and motivated to use this as a basis for autonomous, life-long learning.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Certificate of Higher Education
When you have successfully completed Level 4 of the programme you will be able to:
LO1 Understand basic theories and concepts of history and politics and their application to a European and wider context
LO2 Understand and apply core methodological techniques and argumentative skills intrinsic to scholarship in historical and political studies
LO3 Gather, organise and analyse relevant primary and secondary evidence or data so as to present coherent and clearly reasoned arguments which address specific problems
LO4 Communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing, use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information, and work independently
LO5 Use your initiative, organisational and time-management skills and the ability to collaborate with others to achieve common goals.
Diploma of Higher Education
When you have successfully completed Level 5 of the programme you will be able to:
LO6 Consolidate and refine your grasp of a wider range of theories and concepts of history and politics and their application to a European and global context
LO7 Deepen your knowledge of and apply more broadly methodological techniques and argumentative skills intrinsic to scholarship in historical and political studies, through written coursework and seminar presentations.
BA Honours*
When you have successfully completed Level 6 of the programme you will be able to:
LO8Apply a knowledge and understanding of modern European history and politicsto a detailed study of the history and politics of a number of major European states and regions through specific modules.
LO9Apply your knowledge and grasp of research techniques, especially in the assembling and analysis of primary and secondary evidence, to produce a substantial piece of original research in the form of a final year dissertation.
*Students attaining a BA (Ordinary) degree will meet the same learning outcomes, but on the basis of a smaller number of credits.
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of 360 credits, made up of core and optional modules. You will take 120 credits at each stage.
Stage 1[Level 4]
In Stage 1, you will study 120 credits of core modules.
For History, stage 1 is designed to introduce you to the three broad areas around which the programme is constructed: the history of international relations, the history of modern warfare and the history of Europe’s relations with the wider world. The modules that cover these are respectively: Roots of Contemporary Europe, War and Society in Modern Europe, European Empires.
For Politics, stage 1 introduces you to the main concepts in the fields of Politics and their application to contemporary issues, and gives you an understanding of the emergence, nature and significance of Politics as a distinct field of academic enquiry. The modules that cover these are Introduction to International Relations and Political Systems, Theories and Ideologies.
By the end of this stage you will have acquired (with reference to the benchmark statements for both subjects) basic skills in both criticism and analysis of problems, and in marshalling and argument and bringing it to a conclusion, structure, coherence and clarity of written expression, of the nature of politics and the variety of processes and institutions through which power is exercised, an ability to evaluate different explanations of political processes and institutions, and a solid grasp of the broad trends of European international relations, warfare and interaction with the wider world from the French Revolution to the late 20th century.
Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study periodSP-4002D / Study Skills for Political Science and Peace Studies / Core / 20 / 4 / Semester 1
SP-4004D / Introduction to International Relations / Core / 20 / 4 / Semester 1
SP-4008L / European Empires: From Zenith to Collapse / Core / 20 / 4 / Semester 1 and 2
SP-4014L / Roots of Contemporary Europe / Core / 20 / 4 / Semester 1 and 2
SP-4006D / Political Systems, Theories and Ideologies / Core / 20 / 4 / Semester 2
SP-4013D / War and Society in Modern Europe / Core / 20 / 4 / Semester 2
Students who have achieved at least 120 credit points at Level 4 may exit the programme and are eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education.
Stage 2 [Level 5]
In Stages 2 and 3 you study 240 credits in total, including at least 80 history credits and 80 politics credits.
For History, you continue with some of the broad themes introduced in stage 1, especially the history of warfare with The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. You also move from more general to more detailed country-specific topics, from revolutionary France to 20th-century Britain and 20th-century Central and Eastern Europe.
By the end of this stage you will have acquired (with reference for the benchmark statements for both subjects) a widening of geographical range and a deepened knowledge of particular countries and areas of History, and a significant extension in grasp of key areas of Politics.
Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study periodSP-5010D / War, Democracy and Consensus: Britain, 1914 to the present / Core / 20 / 5 / Semester 1
SP-5001D / Political Philosophy / Core / 20 / 5 / Semester 2
SP-5007D
Or
SP-5023D / Conflict Research Skills (Politics)
Research Skills (History) / Core / 20 / 5 / Semester 2
SP-5006D / Global Governance / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 1
SP-5014D / Central and Eastern Europe / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 1
SP-5026D / Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 1
SP-5002D / Regional Politics / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 1
SP-5011D / International Politics of the Cold War 1945 - 1991 / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 1
SP-5012D / Understanding Violence / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 2
SP-5013D / Diplomacy and Statecraft / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 2
SP-5009D / Security: Theories and Concepts / Option / 20 / 5 / Semester 2
Students who have achieved at least 120 credit points at Level 5 may exit the programme and are eligible for the award of Diploma of Higher Education.
Stage 3 [Level 6]
In this stage, the focus is on the dissertation in either History or Politics that all students will undertake. (If you undertake the History dissertation you must have studied the History Research Skills module in semester 2 of stage 2 or for Politics, the Conflict Research Skills module).The dissertation is designed to test your ability to undertake and complete a significant piece of research in either History or Politics, individually and independently but under careful supervision. The optional modules taken continue the general themes of the programme.
By the end of this stage, you will (with reference to the benchmark statements for both subjects) significantly have increased your self-discipline, self-direction, independence of mind and initiative, especially in relation to the completion of an extended piece of written work, all of which are highly transferable from university to the workplace, and reinforce the skills demanded of a high quality arts and social sciences graduate.
Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study periodSP-6017B
Or
SP-6003B / Researching History: Dissertation
Dissertation (Politics) / Core / 60 / 6 / Semester 1 and 2
SP-6012D / Britain, Germany and Central Europe / Core / 20 / 6 / Semester 1
SP-6005D / Democracy and Authoritarianism / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 1
SP-6010D / The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 1
SP-6020D / Security: Threats and Security Analysis / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 1
SP-6007D / The Politics of International Trafficking / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 2
SP-6013D / The Turbulent Century: France, 1814-1914 / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 2
SP-6004D / Human Rights / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 2
SP-6008D / US Power and International Security / Option / 20 / 6 / Semester 2
The curriculum may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures.
Teaching and Assessment Strategies
Lectures, seminars and group discussion are used for teaching in both History and Politics. In addition, oral presentations, and simulated academic conferences are used for modules in History. Guided and independent study also forms an integral part of your learning experience, supported by the J B Priestley Library, University IT provision and the Academic Skills Advice Service..
Lectures, particularly in stage 1, are essential for imparting the main themes of the programme to you. In conjunction with this, seminars involving oral presentations and group discussion enable you to work with each other, construct and deliver orally arguments backed by evidence, and sharpen your critical skills. For both History and Politics, the final year dissertation tests your ability to work individually on a research project of significant length, motivate and discipline yourself with the aid of regular supervision from a tutor, and work with printed and if possible manuscript primary sources.
Assessment takes a number of forms as appropriate to the knowledge and skills being tested, including examinations, essays, book reviews, projects (individual and group), dissertation, coursework and oral presentations (individual and group). The principal form of assessment is the coursework essay, which tests your ability to research among secondary sources, derive from these a broad thematic and analytical understanding of the topic and apply this to answering the question fully. In accordance with the benchmark statements for each subject, however, a variety of assessment methods are used in addition to essays. These include written examinations to test your ability to marshal evidence and argument to answer a question under time constraints, oral presentations to test verbal skills in presenting an argument backed by evidence, and group projects to reinforce skills in collaborative work. Please see the appendix for further details.
Personal development planning is principally structured around the personal tutorial system, in which you meet with your personal tutor three times per semester in your first semester, and twice a semester thereafter. In this context you begin and add to your student development file, which will contain regular updates from both yourself and your tutor on your progress in your studies and their associated transferable skills, and which will provide the basis for your reference once you have graduated. The personal tutorial system also forms the basis for supporting you with particular needs. In these cases, you can discuss your particular issues with your personal tutor, so that the Department is made aware of them and arrangements can if necessary be made with the Disabilities Office and the Academic Skills Advice Service. Since both the History and Politics Subject Groups have a relatively small staff-student ratio, more individual attention can be given to students with particular needs than is sometimes the case, and tutors are always willing to see them more regularly than the number of times prescribed in the student handbook.
Assessment Regulations
This Programme conforms to the standard University Regulations which are available at the following link:
Admission Requirements
The University welcomes applications from all potential students regardless of their previous academic experience; offers are made following detailed consideration of each individual application. Most important in the decision to offer a place is our assessment of a candidate’s potential to benefit from their studies and of their ability to succeed on this particular programme. Entrance requirements for each programme will vary but consideration of your application will be based on a combination of your formal academic qualifications and other relevant experience.
If you have prior certificated learning or professional experience which may be equivalent to parts of this programme, the University has procedures to evaluate this learning in order to provide you with exemptions from specified modules contained within the curriculum. Please talk to us if you do not fit the standard pattern of entry qualifications.
The University of Bradford has always welcomed applications from disabled students, and these will be considered on the same academic grounds as are applied to all applicants. We are continually reviewing and developing our practices and policies to make the University more inclusive, but if you are disabled we may need to make some adjustments to make sure that you are not disadvantaged. We would advise you to contact theprogramme leader before you apply to discuss these.
A typical offer to someone seeking entry through the UCAS scheme would be 240 points. Ideallystudents will also have studies a social science subject at A Level. Applicants will need to show competence in English to a high level, for example GCSE English Grade C or above, or IELTS with an overall band score of 6.0.
However, applications are welcome from mature students (those over 21 years of age on entry) and candidates with non-standard qualifications or who, lacking academic qualifications, have significant relevant experience. On completion of a UCAS form you will be invited to the School for an Open Day when you will have the opportunity to meet staff, view the facilities and discuss “the Bradford experience” with current students.
Learning Resources
The JB Priestley Library on the city campus and our specialist library in the School of Management provide a wide range of printed and electronic resources to support your studies. We offer quiet study space if you want to work on your own, and group study areas for the times when you need to discuss work with fellow students. Subject librarians for each School provide training sessions and individual guidance in finding the information you need for your assignment, and will help you organise your references properly.