BA (Hons) History and Politics
- UCAS code: VL12
- 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 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
Studying History and Politics alongside each other will allow you to think about the possible connections between contemporary political activity and its wider historical context. As you study, we will encourage you to have a hands-on approach to researching and writing. You will engage with primary sources and the general research process, and specialise in particular historical and political controversies. You must have an enquiring mind, and be willing to question both historical and contemporary source material. You should have a keen interest in social history and politics and international relations.
This degree is designed to develop your critical awareness and offers you the opportunity to acquire a core body of knowledge in both History and Politics. It also aims to foster your ability to work in an interdisciplinary context or broader academic field. We place a strong emphasis on social and cultural history, while politics focuses on a wide range of contemporary political issues. In the course of your degree, you might study European Economic Integration, the International politics of the Middle East, or US Government and Politics; you might investigate the importance of empire in nineteenth century Europe, protest movements in post-war Britain, or the French Revolution.
The course facilitates the development of both independent study and collaborative work. With numerous options to choose from, it also offers you real choices in what you are able to study.
Some of the option modules and Special subjects that are on offer across History and Politics include:
- Rum, Sodomy and the Lash: Outlaws at Sea, 1600-1850
- The First World War: A Social and Gender History
- Students and Youth in Post-War Britain
- Magic and Modernity: Witchcraft and the Occult, c.1800-1920
- Comparing Extremism in Europe;
- International Politics of the Middle East
- Politics and Economics in Development
- Politics of Democratisation in Latin America
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 a strong commitment to scholarship and publication, which informs all our teaching and provides an up-to-date education in an active learning environment. In addition, all 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
- Introduction to Political Thought
- Introduction to Governance and Politics
- History Skills Foundation
- Global Issues
Year Two
- Modernity and the Masses, 1750-1914
- Comparative Politics
- Options including:
- Colonialism & End of Empire: France & Algeria
- Colonialism and End of Empire: France & West Africa
- Comparing Extremism in European Liberal Democracies
- Culture and Ideas in Twentieth Century Europe
- Democratisation in Latin America
- Empire and Identities 1750 - 1914
- Europes Maritime Empire 1600-1800
- Filming the Past: The Early Modern Period on Screen
- From Revolution to Dictatorship - Russia and the Soviet Union 1917-1941
- German Unity and Its Consequences
- Global Environmental Issues and Concerns
- Governing the European Union
- History Workplace Experience
- In Darkest England: Culture and Conflict in the City (1790-1860)
- International Politics
- International Politics of the Middle East
- Introduction to Historical Research
- Key Issues in Development
- Policy and Politics - Analysing Public Policy
- Race, Slavery and Emancipation in the Americas
- Rum, Sodomy & the Lash: Outlaws at Sea 1600-1800
- Russian and Eurasian Politics
- The First World War: A Social & Gender History
- Transnational European Union (History)
- US Government and Politics
- Languages (University Wide Option)
- Learning from Experience (Faculty Wide Option)
Year Three
- Dissertation: an independent research project, in either History or Politics
- Modern Political Ideologies
- EITHER Democracy & Democratisation
OR Strategic and Security Studies - History Special Subject I & 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 include:
- 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
- Magic and Modernity: Witchcraft and the Occult, c.1800-1920
- Conflict, Conspiracy, Consensus: Religious Identities in Elizabethan England
- Students and Youth in Post-War Britain
- The Making of the German Nation
- History as Heritage
Please note that not all options or special subjects will be available at any given time.
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.
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 Politics graduates because they know that they bring a wide range of highly developed and useful skills to the job. As a graduate from Portsmouth, you will have skills that are easily transferable to the workplace, such as the ability to analyse and manage large quantities of information, to 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 Politics 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.