Modern History and Politics (BSc Econ)
- LV21
3 years (Full-time) / n/a (Part-time) / n/a (Distance / E-Learning)
This course provides a well established combination of the subjects of political science and of modern history which are generally recognised as complementing each other. As part of this integrated degree, you will benefit from a generous choice of optional modules on those historical and political themes which are central to an understanding of public life in the modern world. This degree is taught jointly by the School of European Languages, Translation and Politics, and the School of History, Archaeology and Religion.
Key Facts
| UCAS Code | LV21 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| How to apply | www.cardiff.ac.uk/howtoapply |
| Accreditation | |
| Typical places available | The School of History, Archaeology and Religion admits around 260 students each year to its undergraduate degree programmes. The School of European Languages, Translation and Politics admists around 230 students each year to its undergraduate degree programmes. |
| Typical applications received | 1,300 |
| Scholarships & Bursaries | www.cardiff.ac.uk/scholarships |
| Fees | www.cardiff.ac.uk/fees |
| Typical A-level offer | AAB (including History) |
| Admissions Tutors | Dr Christian Bueger History – Mrs Lisa Watkins |
| Tel Number | 029 2087 4564 / 029 0824 History – 029 208 74313 |
| Email address | EUROP-UG-Admissions@cardiff.ac.uk History – jointhonoursugadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk |
| School website | www.cardiff.ac.uk/europ www.cardiff.ac.uk/share |
This is a three year long degree programme comprising of core modules as well as optional modules for you to select from in order to tailor your degree to meet your interests.
The First Year provides a graduated transition to studying history and politics at degree level, and offers instruction in the skills, techniques and arguments that you will use in your other courses. You can take further courses in the humanities and social sciences thereby developing the range of skills and knowledge required of the historian, and providing a broad based first year which equips you with a range of skills and knowledge.
Year Two optional modules – history
- Approaches to History
- History and ICT
- The Dynamics of Witchcraft 1450 – 1750
- The British Civil Wars and Revolution, c1683 – 49
- Migrant Wales
- From King Coal to Cool Cymru: Society and Culture in Wales, 1939 – 2000
- India and the Raj 1857 – 1947
- France 1870 – 1968
- Medicine and Society in Europe
- Europe East and West 1945 – 1995
- A Great Leap Forward: China Transformed 1840 – present
- Managing the Mind: Psychiatry, Psychology and British Culture, 1800 – 2000
- Into the Vortex: Britain and the First World War
- British Expansion Overseas 1870 – 1945
Year Two optional modules – Politics
- Western European Politics and Society
- Politics and Policies of the EU
- British Politics since 1945
- Theory and Practice in Comparative Politics
- Democracy in Crisis?
- Justice and Politics
- Political Thought from Machiavelli to Rousseau
- Political Thought from Marx to Nietzsche
- Conducting Political Research
- Global Justice
- Transatlantic Security Relations
- International Law in a Changing World
- International Security
Year Three optional modules – History
- Crime in England and Europe 1550-1800
- Identity and the British State: Wales 1485-1660
- Germany’s New Order in Europe 1933-1945
- Joseph Goebbels and National Socialism
- German for Historians
- Conflict, Coercion and Mass Mobilisation in Republican China 1911 – 1945
- Fascism and Anti-Fascism in France
- War, Liberation and Reconstruction: Europe 1939-51
- Socialism, Society and Politics in Britain 1880-1918
- Britain and the Integration of Europe 1940-1975
- Culture, Society and Identity in Wales 1847-1914
- Class, Protest and Politics: South Wales 1918-39
- British Social History 1918-1951
- Britain and Empire
- Race, Sex and Empire: India 1757-1929
- Women, Health and Medicine in Britain 1870-1980
- The Dangerous City? Urban Society and Culture 1800-1914
Year Three optional modules – Politics
- Public Policy in Britain
- Modern Welsh Politics
- Influencing Public Policy
- French Politics and Society
- Managing a difficult democracy
- Personality and power
- Elections in the UK
- Global Climate Politics
- Global International Organisations in World Politics
- Justice and the Politics and International Law
- Conflict, Security and Development
- EU Security
- The European Mid in the 20th Century
- Dissertation
Lectures provide a broad structure for each subject, introduce key concepts, and convey relevant up-to-date information. These are outlined in course syllabi.
Seminars provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss key ideas in a small group environment. Their purpose is to assist you to integrate the information and ideas you receive from lectures and readings and to explore issues critically and in depth. Seminars are kept small and usually average between 12-15 students. This is designed to give you ample opportunity to participate and to provide close contact between you and members of the academic staff.
Different seminar formats are used. Set questions and readings form the basis for discussion by directing your attention to relevant aspects of the subject matter and to various types of sources of information. Giving presentations develops your capacity to gather, organise and synthesise relevant information and ideas and to communicate these in a logical and concise manner. Tutor-led and student-led discussion hones logical skills and gives you practice in applying different concepts, theories and methods to the subject-matter at hand. It also exposes you to different interpretations of political ideas and events. Group problem-solving helps to develop collaborative skills.
Essays and examinations are used not only for assessment purposes but also as a means of developing your capacities to gather, organise, evaluate and deploy relevant information and ideas from a variety of sources in reasoned arguments. Prior advice and written feedback (for essays) are used to help you understand what is required.
Dissertation
The optional final-year dissertation provides you with the opportunity to investigate a specific topic of interest to you in depth and thereby develop your capacities to apply different concepts, theories and methods to the analysis of political questions; acquire detailed knowledge about a particular area of politics; use your initiative in the collection and presentation of material; and present a clear, cogent argument and draw appropriate conclusions.
Pastoral Care
You will be allocated a personal tutor for the entire period you are at the University. Personal tutors are members of the academic staff who are available to students seeking advice, guidance and help.
Politics at Cardiff School of European Languages, Translation and Politics
received excellent ratings for both teaching outcomes and teaching delivery
in the National Audit of University Teaching Quality.
Welsh language teaching
The department provides significant opportunities for learning and teaching through the medium of Welsh. Subject to staff availability, seminar teaching in Welsh is available on some or all of the major core courses, and at least one Welsh language option is offered in Years Two and Three. Welsh language supervision is also available for long essays (Exploring Historical Debate) and dissertations, and students may elect to write all or some of their assessed work and examinations in Welsh.
| Typical A-level Offer | AAB including History. (General Studies is not accepted) |
|---|---|
| Typical WBQ Offer | A pass in the core plus AA at A-level, including History |
| Typical Int Bacc Offer | Considered on individual merit |
| Other | Applications from those offering alternative qualifications are welcome. Please see detailed admissions and selection criteria for more information. |
A list of commonly accepted alternative entry qualifications and admissions and selection criteria for this degree programme can be read here.
A Politics degree provides an excellent springboard for careers in a wide range of fields. These include journalism, broadcasting, local government, management, publishing, law, accountancy, education, the European Union, the voluntary sector, policy research and consultancy, and the civil service. Business firms are also interested in recruiting Politics graduates due to the fact that they inevitably have frequent dealings with government.
For employers a Politics and History degree means that you have an excellent understanding of politics and government that will be of use whether you work in government or in the private or voluntary sectors. It also demonstrates that you possess highly developed intellectual skills, such as the ability accurately to assess ideas and arguments on the basis of logic and evidence. You will also learn to construct your own answers to complex questions by developing logical arguments based on well-validated evidence. And you will develop good communication skills and use information and communications technologies - all vital in today’s information economy.
What this means is that graduates with a good Politics degree are valued by a wide range of employers. Among the employers of recent Cardiff Politics graduates are political parties, local government, private companies and non-governmental organisations. Graduates also often go on to Masters degrees. The latest statistics show that within 6 months of graduating, around 95 per cent of our graduates either have a job or are engaged in further study.
The links that the School has with many outside bodies including the United Nations means that students have the opportunity to engage with politics on a number of levels.Politics graduates go on to a wide range of careers in national and international contexts including the Welsh Assembly, UK government, European Commission and NGO’s such as the United Nations. They also pursue careers in business, law and finance. Many continue with their studies taking Masters.
Next intake: September each year
School Contact
Name: Mrs Lisa Watkins
Telephone: +44 (0)29 208 74313
Fax:
Email: jointhonoursugadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk
School Website:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/share
School Contact
Name: Dr Christian Bueger (Politics)
Telephone: 029 2087 4564 / 029 2087 0824
Fax:
