Joint Honours: History

As a Joint Honours Subject, history can be combined with

African Studies German Studies Media Studies
American and Canadian Studies Hispanic Studies Music
Ancient History and Archaeology Political Science Philosophy
Classical Literature and Civilisation History of Art Portuguese
English Italian Russian
French Studies Latin Theology
Geography

Introduction Our History programme concentrates on medieval and modern Britain and Europe but
also offers considerable scope to range beyond European boundaries. The programme gives you the
chance to examine familiar and unfamiliar issues and themes from the Middle Ages to the present day and
to question some of the prevailing myths, preconceptions and prejudices which surround the writing of
History. Students studying History as a joint degree will have the opportunity to study the full range of
periods and areas taught by the Department of History.
How long does the degree course last? The BA Joint Honours degree programme lasts for three years
unless you combine History with a modern foreign language, or opt for the four-year programme with
American Studies. In these instances you will spend the third year in full-time study at a University abroad.
The advantages of choosing a Joint Honours degree Joint Honours degrees allow breadth as well as
depth. The study of History can enhance your understanding of other disciplines, which will, in turn,
deepen your appreciation of historical topics. A wide range of optional modules allows you to build bridges
between your two courses.
How will the course be taught and assessed? You will be taught alongside Single Honours History
students, on equal terms. Lectures are an integral part of the course, but a substantial amount of your
experience of teaching will be in small groups of between four and fifteen students. There is a considerable
amount of one-to-one tuition for essay work, which we regard as a particularly valuable part of our
teaching. In addition to in-depth subject knowledge we seek to develop a wide and balanced range of
graduate skills and our module assessments are therefore varied. Our assessments include essays, unseen
examinations, source commentaries, group presentations, and takeaway exams.
How many contact hours will I have per week? This will vary significantly from year to year and from
module to module. All our programmes are designed to enable a student to progress quickly from being a
dependent to an independent learner. Hence, first year students can expect to have more contact time than
third year students. Furthermore, each of our modules has its own learning outcomes and these can
involve very different teaching methods. For example, as a first year student on a core module such as
Reformation, Rebellion and Revolution: the Making of the Modern World , 1500-1800 you will spend a
good deal of time in small seminar groups as well as large lectures, and will receive individual tuition on
essay-writing.
What can I do with a degree in History? This programme produces high quality graduates with a deep
understanding of the past and sophisticated skills in analysis, research, reasoning, time management and
oral and written communication. This makes them very eligible for careers in the law, the armed services,
teaching, management and the media. It also equips them for postgraduate study in History and related
disciplines.

Structure of the degree You will take 60 credits in each year in History, and 60 credits in your other
subject. (This is exactly half the number of credits in History taken by Single Honours Students).
First Year/Level C
x Practising History A: Skills in History/Practising History (B): Approaches to History (20 credits)
2,500 word essay term 1, 3000 word essay term 2, plagiarism exercise

x EITHER Medieval History, c. 500-1050 OR Reformation, Rebellion and Revolution: the Making
of the Modern World , 1500-1800 (20 credits) 2,000 word essay and a two-hour exam
x EITHER Medieval History, c. 1050-1500 OR The Making of the Contemporary World, 1800-2000
(20 credits) 2,000 word essay and a two-hour exam
Second Year/Level I
x Option 1 (20 Credits) essay (word limit to be confirmed) and two-hour exam
x Option 2 (20 Credits) essay (word limit to be confirmed) and two-hour exam
x Group Research (20 Credits) 25 minute group presentation and individual 2,000 word essay
Third Year/Level H
x Special Subject (40 credits) 2x three-hour exams
x Historical Reflections (20 credits) Takeaway exam, 2-3000 words

We are happy to answer any questions about History and Joint Honours at Birmingham. Please address your
enquiries to Mrs Heather Cullen, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, BT15 2TT,
United Kingdom, or Tel. 0121 414 5752, or email: historycultures-ug@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Further details about the programme, including module outlines and admissions advice can be found at
http://www.historycultures.bham.ac.uk/undergrad/joint.

Please remember that this pamphlet is produced as an informal guide to the Joint Honours with History programme.
Details are subject to change and the information it contains is liable to alter without notice. In particular the range
of choices for options and special subjects may vary in the light of staff changes from year to year.

October 2009