Economic and Social History

Description

What makes economies grow? Why are wealth and income unequally distributed? Are market economies or controlled economies more successful? What is the relationship between education, health and prosperity? How have ordinary people's lives been affected by changes in family size? Is it possible to maintain economic progress without a manufacturing sector? Economic and Social History explores questions like these.
Economic and Social History is taught within the Department of History, which has an outstanding international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The size and quality of the department enables us to offer students on this programme a wide range of options across the medieval and modern periods. We also recognise the value of social sciences to historical enquiry and encourage you to enhance your skills in this area to support your appreciation of the past.

Career opportunities

This programme equips you with a body of reasoning, communication and organisational skills appropriate for further study or employment in fields related to historical studies such as libraries, archives and museums. These skills are also readily transferable to a large number of graduate professions such as law, teaching, retail and business management, and financial and public services.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

First year

The first year represents a foundation year in which the core skills and the fundamental knowledge for the programme are established. 60 credits comprising Practising History (A): Skills in History and Practising History (B): Approaches to History (10 credits each), The Economic History of Modern Britain and The Social History of Modern Britain(each 20 credits). Students also study either Discovering the Middle Ages and Living in the Middle Ages, or, The Making of the Modern World 1500-1815 and The Making of the Contemporary World 1815-2000 (20 credits each) in order to establish a strong foundation in historical enquiry and understanding.

In order to enhance awareness of social science concepts relevant to the study of economic and social history, students are encouraged to study their Themes and Areas 1 module (20 credits) from a list of those on offer within the Social Sciences, although students are free to choose from other approved modules from a University wide list if this is more appropriate to their interests and aptitudes. Students must pass at least 100 credits in order to proceed to the second year of the programme.

Second year

In the second year, the core module Foundations of Modern Britain develops students’ understanding of industrialisation and its social impact within Britain, it also enhances students’ facility with the analysis and interpretation of primary source evidence, introduced in the first year. In addition, Group Research builds on collaborative and presentational skills introduced during the first year skills programme, as well as reinforcing research skills being developed elsewhere in the second year, and provides a further opportunity for students to engage directly with primary source evidence.

Research Methods (Dissertation Preparation) will give students first-hand experience of the work of a historian as they learn to identify and frame a valid, intellectually coherent research question for their dissertation. History in Theory and Practice addresses questions to do with the nature of history and historical knowledge. Its broad scope is designed to aid independent thinking and reflection by students.

Students will also study one optional 20-credit module, chosen from a list of modules in economic and social History for second year students within the Department of History and one from Themes and Areas 2. All modules studied in the second year contribute to final degree classification according to the regulations which apply throughout the University (the average of marks achieved at year two being weighted at 25% for finals classification).

Third year

In the final year students must take a Special Subject in Economic and Social History (20 + 20 credits). This provides an opportunity to focus more narrowly on a specific area of the discipline and develop a deep understanding of issues and debates in the secondary literature relevant to it; the Special Subject also requires students to work with primary sources at an advanced level.

It is also compulsory for students to complete an independent piece of research (theDissertation) within the field of Economic and Social History. This allows them to consolidate the skills gained throughout their programme and deepen their knowledge of an area of interest which is precisely defined. Students will chose from a range of specialised historical topics dealing with a spectrum of geographical, chronological, and thematic issues in Advanced Option A (Autumn) and Advanced Option B (Spring).

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

International Baccalaureate: 34 points

Additional information:

Other qualifications are considered

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.