COURSE CURRICULUM

This interdisciplinary course blends historical and literary studies to explore the development of modern Europe through a range of political, cultural, and social lenses. In the first year, you will study the emergence of modern Europe by examining key themes such as the Enlightenment, revolutions, industrialization, shifting class and gender dynamics, and Europe's encounters with the wider world. These themes help create a foundational timeline and conceptual understanding for further exploration. Alongside this, the short stories module introduces literary analysis, encouraging you to examine narrative structure, perspective, genre, and other essential concepts. Shakespearean drama allows you to explore literature within its historical context, emphasizing how texts both reflect and influence their time. Migration and cultural encounters examines the movements and exchanges that have shaped societies, offering insights into exploration, colonization, and 20th-century conflict. The century of conflict module focuses on Europe from 1914 to 2000, addressing the impact of global wars, totalitarian regimes, and peace processes, while encouraging a comparative approach to historical interpretation. The novel module involves a close reading of a single long-form text, allowing you to apply critical theory and deepen your understanding of form and content. In the second year, the theory and practice module introduces you to the different methodologies historians use to study the past and guides you through the process of developing a dissertation proposal. This preparation equips you for independent research and analytical thinking. In the final year, you will undertake a dissertation, where you apply your accumulated skills to explore a self-selected research topic in depth. Alongside this, you will complete the working with the past major project, an independent study that may involve digital or public history outputs. This final project is designed to showcase your research, creativity, and practical skills, preparing you for careers in heritage, education, media, or cultural sectors.