All History and joint History BA courses are also available as four-year degrees offering the opportunity for students to spend the third of their four years of study at a university abroad (more information).
What makes our courses different? In the first place, we offer the choice of four BA degrees in history as well as the opportunity to combine the subject with other disciplines in ten joint courses.
Currently most students opt to follow the BA in History which perhaps offers the greatest flexibility.
Many students are, however, attracted by the chance to focus on a region - BA American History; or on specific period - BA Modern History, covering the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; or finally on a particular approach to the discipline - BA Social and Cultural History.
In all our courses, we believe in the value of a comparative perspective. We do, of course, often study individual countries but many modules explore a single theme such as rebellion, revolution or crime in the context of several countries or regions of the world. This approach allows us to deepen our understanding of why things happened the way they did. How did family and gender relations change in different parts of the Western world between 1700 and 1900? Why did individual Southern African states develop in different ways during the twentieth century? What similarities were there in popular protest in seventeenth-century Britain, France and Spain - and how may we explain differences? A significant proportion of our modules are thematic and comparative and we encourage students to draw on these approaches throughout their studies. We also emphasize an integrated approach to historical study - bringing together social, political, cultural and economic history when analysing specific countries, regions or problems.
We concentrate on the modern and early modern periods. A high proportion of optional modules cover the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a good number are offered on the period between 1500 and 1800, but none before then. Whichever course you choose to follow, your studies therefore already have a defined focus.
Recognizing the importance of computer-related skills for humanities students, we provide training that will help you with the presentation of coursework and enable you to use electronic mail and the Internet for locating and assessing library and archival resources.
A broad geographical range is also a distinctive feature of the Department. We teach many topics in British and European history. However students also have the opportunity to explore the history of Latin America, the USA, Russia, China and Africa. Already in your first year, in addition to the main history module ‘Society, Culture and Politics in Europe 1500-1800’, you may take modules introducing you to American, Latin American, Russian or modern European history .
We offer opportunities to study in Europe. The BA in History and/with Modern Languages enables you to enhance your language skills and to experience life in another European country while continuing to study history. This is a four-year course, with your third year spent in a history department in a university in Belgium, France, Germany or Spain, depending on the intensive language modules which you have followed at Essex in your first and second years.
Alternatively you may spend one year, or one term during your third year, studying history modules at a wide range of European or international Universities. These opportunities are open to all final-year students following single or joint honours courses (see: studying abroad).
Having completed a scheme students will be expected to have acquired the following skills:
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