(BA) Bachelor of Arts
History and Sociology
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
History
Sociology
BA LV31
19/03/2014
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A-levels: ABB-BBB
IB: 32-30 points
Entry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on units studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis. The standard required is generally at Distinction level.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. (Different requirements apply for second year entry.)
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Mark Stephen Rowe Jenner
Dr
The University of York
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
P1 Enable students to study a range of historical topics, providing both an outline of the principal developments and a focused study on a range of specific themes.
P2 Enable students to examine historical events and changes in cross-national, thematic, and comparative perspective, with an understanding of social, cultural, political and economic contexts
P3 Enable students to understand the distinctive character of sociological thinking
P4 Familiarise students with models of historical analysis and the main theoretical traditions of sociology
P5 Develop students' understandings of the relationship between the past and the present
P6 Enable students to design and conduct an independent study on a specialist topic of their choice in the field of history and/or sociology
P7 Develop skills of critical enquiry, independent learning, research, analysis and argument that are valuable for a wide range of future careers, further study, and lifetime learning
P8 The outcomes listed below represent the minimum that might be expected of a graduate of the Departments of History and Sociology of the University of Essex; it is the intention of the Departments that the vast majority of graduates will achieve significantly more
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of European history c 1500-1750 and/or of the making of the modern world 1789-1989
A2: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of thematic historical topic and/or of key sociological concepts and theories
A3: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specialised historical topics in greater depth
A4: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles of historical and/or sociological analysis, such as concepts of continuity, change and comparative analysis and of social diversity and culture
A5: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sources available for historical research and/or the epistemological, ethical and political dimensions of sociological research
A6: Demonstrate a knowledge of the intellectual foundations of sociology
A7: Demonstrate a knowledge of key sociological concepts and theories
Learning methods
The structure of the degree is based on progression from foundational work in the first year (A1, A6) to more specialised courses (A2 and A3) in the second and third year.
In sociology there is a strong emphasis on developing students' theoretical understanding of sociological work through the progressive structuring of material in the first, second and third year compulsory core courses (A6-A7).
Knowledge of A1-A4, A6-A7 is acquired through lectures, seminars, independent reading and coursework.
A4 is developed in particular in the second-year course 'Making Histories: concepts, themes and sources'.
A5 is the focus of the third-year independent dissertation.
Assessment methods
Knowledge and understanding of A1-A4, A6-A7 is continuously assessed through coursework and examination.
Essays are the principal form of coursework assessment for history and sociology, supplemented by a range of other assessments which may include document analyses, reviews, and other shorter assignments; assessed presentations/seminar participation and oral contributions, in-class tests and self-reflexive journals.
The independent dissertation tests knowledge of A5 in particular through a 12,000 word dissertation.
The ability to produce, under set time conditions and without access to notes, cogent arguments demonstrating the interconnectedness of themes, concepts and issues covered in the course components is assessed by the first-year examination of the History pre-requisite module for the course.
History and Sociology examinations are principally unseen, essay based, of two or three hour duration, for which revision classes are provided.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Assemble, analyse and synthesise primary and secondary data
B2: Formulate and answer historical and/or sociological questions, with use of historical evidence and sociological tools
B3: Evaluate and compare competing historical and/or and sociological theories and interpretations
B4: Explain historical events, contexts and change with reference to social, political, economic and cultural forces and factors
B5: Reconstruct the mentalities of past societies
B6: Formulate and present reasoned and effective historical and/or sociological arguments
B7: Understand, summarise and critically assess sociological and/or historical work
Learning methods
Skills 1-7 are introduced and developed through seminar discussions, essays, and other written and oral assignments.
The teaching environment of seminars and classes, which emphasises student-focused discussion, enables students to develop all eight skills through discussion and practice, and to receive feedback from peers and tutors.
Assessment methods
All skills are assessed through the usual means of coursework and examination: a variety of types of coursework across the history and sociology curricula assess skills specifically.
The ability to understand questions and produce answers under set time conditions and without access to notes is assessed by the first-year examination of the History pre-requisite module for the course.
C: Practical skills
C1: Retrieve relevant sociological and historical evidence using bibliographies and web searches
C2: Critically read and evaluate secondary and/or primary historical sources
C3: Summarise, report and evaluate sociological arguments, sociological texts and sociological findings
C4: Work in groups to consider a question or clarify a topic
Learning methods
Participation in seminar discussion, focusing on prepared readings or set questions; preparation of written and oral presentations in history and sociology courses develop skills C1-C3.
Methods develop the abililty to abstract and synthesize relevant information from a range of primary and secondary sources, using printed, electronic and, where appropriate, archival sources; the methods produce the ability to write or present an analysis assimilating complex arguments and significant level of data and to express oneself clearly and with cogency.
The final-year dissertation enables students to take skills C1-C3 to a higher level, demonstrating an ability to frame a research proposal and to identify and apply appropriate research methods.
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their dissertations with members of academic staff but are required to conduct their own bibliographic research and formulate their own lines of investigation.
Assessment methods
All skills Coursework consists of essays, self-reflexive journals (SC111, HR211) and textual analysis, all of which are graded, and students are provided with written and oral feedback.
The practical skill of working under pressure and without notes to produce cogent arguments in written work is assessed by the first-year examination in the History pre-requisite course for the scheme.
D: Key skills
D1: Communicate ideas effectively using oral and written means including essays, other written work, oral presentations or contributions, and discussion
D2: Use of relevant information technology to research and present work
D4: Analyse and explain historical and/or sociological data, understand and produce answers to essay questions, and manage work timetables
D5: Participate effectively as a member of a group to the benefit of oneself and others
D6: Use feedback from tutors to improve written and oral work and reflect on progress
Learning methods
Information technology is taught through independent learning supported by the University's online key skills package and the Computing Service.
Students are encouraged to use the University's key skills online package.
They are expected to make routine use of word processing packages, bibliographic and web searches, internet discipline-based resources, and e-mail as part of effective course participation.
The use of electronic library catalogues and other relevant electronic bibliographic resources and the use and interpretation of relevant material via the internet is introduced in the first year.
Students build on these skills in subsequent years.
Where relevant, students are encouraged to use, present or evaluate information provided in numerical or statistical form.
Numeracy skills are assessed in the assignments for SC101, which includes a statistics test.
Problem-solving, communication, working with others and improving own learning and performance are implicit throughout the degree.
Assessment methods
Key skills are assessed through continuous coursework, including evaluation of seminar performance and/or presentations, the independent research project and unseen written examinations.
Management of work timetables is assessed by the requirement that students meet coursework deadlines and deadlines in the preparation and submission of their final-year dissertation.
The self-reflexive coursework journal for HR211 requires students to reflect on their progress.
Outcomes are reinforced through the processes of planning, researching and writing a substantial independent study in the dissertation.