COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA (Hons) English Literature and History degree provides a comprehensive exploration of the interplay between historical events and literary expression over three years. In the first year, students develop foundational skills and knowledge through modules such as Researching and Presenting the Past, Introduction to Literary Studies 1 and 2, Global York: A Social and Cultural History of the City, Writing, Research and Literature, People and Nature: An Environmental History, and United States: Empire of Liberty? These modules introduce students to historical research methods, literary analysis, and the contextual understanding of texts and events. The second year expands students’ knowledge with a diverse range of modules covering both literature and history, including Literature at Work, History, Community and Culture, Making History, Tudor Women: Agency and Authority, Victorian Grubs: Food, Science and Society, Reds! The Rise and Fall of Soviet Communism, From Slavery to Freedom, and a wide selection of literary studies such as Shakespeare: Perspectives, Adaptations, Literary Theory, and creative writing modules. This combination of study encourages critical thinking, analytical skills, and engagement with cultural and historical contexts. In the final year, students consolidate their learning through specialized History and English Literature modules, including the Dissertation or Research Project, Literary Legacies, Hunger, Rebellion, and Rage: The Victorians, and Contemporary Writing modules. Graduates gain research, analytical, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in education, heritage, publishing, cultural industries, or further academic study, with a nuanced understanding of the relationship between literature and history.