BA (Hons) English and History
- UCAS code: VQ13
- Mode of study: Full time
- Duration: 3 years
- Entry requirements 2013: 240-300 points from 3 A levels or equivalent, to include 100 points from A level English and 100 points from A level History.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8299
Email: humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Course overview
History and English, as text-based subjects, are complementary and closely allied. This degree aims to provide a broad understanding of the main approaches to analysing historical and literary phenomena, as well as the opportunity to focus on areas in each discipline that particularly interest you. You will study prose, poetry and drama in relation to its cultural and historical background, as well as undertake focused and critical analysis across a range of historical periods. In the course of your degree, you might consider Victorian literature, postmodern fiction or seventeenth century poetry; you might investigate the importance of empire in nineteenth century Europe, protest movements in post-war Britain, or the French Revolution.
You will also develop and apply a range of theoretical perspectives to evaluate historical evidence and analyse literary texts. This will provide you with an understanding of contemporary theoretical debates and how they relate to critical practice.The course facilitates the development of both independent study and collaborative work. It offers you the ability make real choices in how your study is balanced through our option units and dissertation.
Some of the option units and Special subjects that are on offer across English and History include:
- Rum, Sodomy and the Lash: Outlaws at Sea, 1600-1850
- The First World War: A Social and Gender History
- The Terror: The French Revolution and Society
- Students and Youth in Post-War Britain
- Magic and Modernity: Witchcraft and the Occult, c.1800-1920
- Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama
- Victorian Literature and Visual Culture
- Twentieth Century Avant-Garde Fiction
- Holocaust Literatures
- Tracing Borders: Women and Writing, 1890-1940
Placements
This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option, which lets you earn credits toward your degree for work / research placements, volunteer roles or internships undertaken alongside your studies. The option gives you the opportunity to enhance your employability skills, to reflect on the ways in which you've done so, and to learn to express this to potential employers.
Why study at Portsmouth?
We are located in the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies, which offers a friendly and supportive learning environment that promotes the potential of each and every student. We are particularly proud of our well-developed research culture and strong commitment to scholarship and publication, which informs our teaching and provides up-to-date education in an active learning environment. In addition, our courses are underpinned by a commitment to quality, choice and equal opportunities.
We welcome applicants with many different sorts of qualifications who can demonstrate evidence of competence to succeed on our programmes. We particularly welcome applications from mature students over the age of 21 and/or applicants who have an Access qualification or equivalent.
For further information and advice about this course, please contact our Admissions Centre (details above).
Visit our School pages (SSHLS) for more details about our undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees, members of academic staff and their publications.
Course content
Year one
- Historical Methods
- Society and Culture in Twentieth Century Europe
- Literary History 1
- Literary Theory
- History Skills Foundation
- Introduction to Poetry
Year Two
- Modernity and the Masses, 1750-1914
- Literary History 2
- Option including:
- Eighteenth Century and Romantic Literature
- Early Modern Drama
- American Literature
- Nation and Travel
- Victorian Literature and Visual Culture
- Empires and Identities 1750 - 1914
- Introduction to Historical Research
- Languages (University Wide Option)
- Learning from Experience (Faculty Wide Option)
Year Three
- Dissertation: an independent research project, in either English or History
- History Special Subjects I and II:
These units will allow you to conduct an in-depth study on a specific topic, using both primary and secondary sources. Special Subject strands may include:- Magic and Modernity: Witchcraft and the Occult, c.1800-1920
- The French Revolution, 1789-1799: Regeneration, War, Terror and the Birth of Modernity
- Gender, Sexuality and War 1918-1982
- Cinema-going in Wartime Britain 1939-1945
- Hampshire and the Sea 1700-1850
- The Devil’s Decade: British Society in the 1930s
- Conflict, Conspiracy, Consensus: Religious Identities in Elizabethan England
- Students and Youth in Post-War Britain
- The Making of the German Nation
- History as Heritage
- 2 English Options, which may include:
- Early Modern Literature and the Bible
- Enlightenment: Literature, Culture & Modernity
- Magical Realism
- Postmodern Historical Fiction
- War and Fascism
- Tracing Borders: Women & Writing 1890-1940
- Twentieth Century Avant-Garde Fiction
- Friendship, Community & Identity in 17th Century Poetry
- Charles Dickens
- European Literary Decadence
- Consuming Fictions: Food & Appetite in Victorian Culture
- Holocaust Literatures
- US Masculinities
- (Re) writing Revenge on the Early Modern Stage
- Learning from Experience (Faculty Wide Option)
Teaching and Assessment
Our teaching approach involves lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. You will be expected to participate fully in group discussions and projects, as well as develop and apply word processing skills.
You will be allocated a personal tutor who will guide you through study skills, research management and dissertation work during your three years of study.
We use a range of assessment methods including essays, close textual analysis, presentations and a dissertation. There is a clear emphasis on working with your peers to discuss ideas, and to work collaboratively to produce group presentations.
The final classification of your degree award is determined by your overall performance in the second and third year.
Career prospects
This degree course extends over three years, building a foundation for higher degrees, postgraduate and professional qualifications.
Employers value History and English graduates because they know that they bring a wide range of highly developed and useful skills to the job. As a Portsmouth graduate in History and English, you will have skills that are easily transferable to the workplace such as the ability to analyse and manage large quantities of information, research in groups or independently and write in a concise and informative fashion. You will also leave with excellent communications skills, qualities that are essential for the modern graduate.
During your time at Portsmouth, there are plenty of opportunities to gain paid and unpaid work experience alongside your studies. For example, the School of Social Historical and Literary Studies offers a number of internships: students can gain valuable experience in a range of local organizations during their degree course. Current internships include placements at the National Museum of the Royal Navy; the New Theatre Royal, and the office of a local MP.
Recent graduates have gone on to pursue a range of careers such as journalism, law, teaching, university administration, archive and museum work. This degree also offers a firm foundation for those who want to study either subject at Masters or PhD level. The History and English teams also run MA courses, which recruit well from amongst our own students.
Facilities and features
Over the last four years, the University has invested substantially in its teaching facilities. Our teaching rooms at Milldam are equipped with multimedia and audio-visual facilities. In addition, we provide quiet rooms, a dedicated IT teaching room and IT facilities.
The School has a large archive of documentary films in its multimedia resources area and the University library is currently undergoing significant investment and expansion to further enhance the range of resources available to you there.