German / History BA

Program Overview

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Aberystwyth University's Joint Honours degree in German and History combines language proficiency with a deep understanding of historical periods. Students immerse themselves in German language, literature, and culture while exploring diverse historical perspectives. With a mandatory year abroad, graduates develop fluency, cultural awareness, and career-ready skills in research, analysis, and communication.

Program Outline

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Aberystwyth University - German / History RV21 BA

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Degree Overview:

Studying for a Joint Honours degree in German and History at Aberystwyth University will allow you to pursue your interest in German history, language and culture. You will combine two valuable subjects. You will immerse yourself in a broad range of historical periods, and gain an understanding of how and why the world has evolved the way it has. This course is student-focused and you will be able to build on your existing knowledge of history while pursuing what fundamentally interests you. Our History graduates are sought by employers for their highly-developed research, analysis, teamwork and communications abilities. This degree will also provide you with a thorough understanding of the German language, and a deep understanding of the literature and culture. You will benefit from the experience and enthusiasm of the expert staff in both departments. You will emerge with real-world capabilities, enabling you to shape your future and develop the career you deserve.

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Outline:

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Year 1

• Core Modules:
• Introduction to History (HY12120) - 20 credits
• Beginners German 1 (GE11120) - 20 credits
• Beginners German 2 (GE11020) - 20 credits
• German Language Advanced (GE19930) - 30 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Europe and the World, 1000-2000 (HY12420) - 20 credits
• Medieval and Early Modern Britain and Europe, 1000-1800 (HY11420) - 20 credits
• People, Power and Identity: Wales 1200-1999 (WH11720) - 20 credits
• The Modern World, 1789 to the present (HY11820) - 20 credits
• 'Hands on' History: Sources and their Historians (HY10420) - 20 credits
• Brazilian Portuguese (Basic) (EL10720) - 20 credits
• Introduction to European Film (EL10520) - 20 credits
• Language, Culture, and Identity in Europe (EL10820) - 20 credits
• Exploring German Cultural Identity (GE10810) - 10 credits

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Year 2

• Core Modules:
• Making History (HY20120) - 20 credits
• German Language (GE20130) - 30 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Between Revolution and Reform: China since 1800 (HY28520) - 20 credits
• Culture, Society and the Victorians (HY29320) - 20 credits
• Environmental History of the Neotropics (Latin America and the Caribbean) in the Capitalocene (HY29120) - 20 credits
• Famine in Medieval England (HY25520) - 20 credits
• From Poor Law to Welfare State: Poverty and Welfare in Modern Britain, 1815-1948 (HY29220) - 20 credits
• Medieval England and Germany, c. 1050-1250 (HY25620) - 20 credits
• Roads to Modernity: Germany and Japan in the Age of Empires, 1860s-1930s (HY28920) - 20 credits
• The British Isles in the Long Eighteenth Century (HY22020) - 20 credits
• The European Reformation (HY26520) - 20 credits
• The Nazi Dictatorship: Regime and Society in Germany 1933-1945 (HY29420) - 20 credits
• Wales and the Kings of Britain: Conflict, Power and Identities in the British Isles 1039-1417 (WH20120) - 20 credits
• Wales under the Tudors (WH23520) - 20 credits
• War, Politics and People: England in Context in the Fourteenth Century (HY26720) - 20 credits
• History as myth-Making: the 'Myth of the Blitz' (HY23420) - 20 credits
• Interdisciplinary and decolonial history (HY24320) - 20 credits
• Reading a Building (HY23120) - 20 credits
• Recounting Racism: Oral History and Modern American Race Relations.
(HY25020) - 20 credits
• Seals in Their Context in Medieval England and Wales (HY24420) - 20 credits
• Victorian Visions: Exploring Nineteenth-Century Exhibitions (HY24620) - 20 credits
• Brazilian / Portuguese Language II (EL20720) - 20 credits
• Children's Literature in German (GE22820) - 20 credits
• Extended Essay Module (EL20510) - 10 credits
• German-speaking Refugees from National Socialism in the UK (GE27220) - 20 credits
• Short Prose in German (GE27110) - 10 credits

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Year 3

• Year Abroad: Students are required to spend their third year in a German-speaking country, either studying at a partner university or undertaking a paid or unpaid work experience.

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Year 4

• Core Modules:
• German Language (GE30130) - 30 credits
• Optional Modules:
• Between Revolution and Reform: China since 1800 (HY38520) - 20 credits
• Culture, Society and the Victorians (HY39320) - 20 credits
• Environmental History of the Neotropics (Latin America and the Caribbean) in the Capitalocene (HY39120) - 20 credits
• Famine in Medieval England (HY35520) - 20 credits
• From Poor Law to Welfare State: Poverty and Welfare in Modern Britain, 1815-1948 (HY39220) - 20 credits
• Medieval England and Germany, c. 1050-1250 (HY35620) - 20 credits
• Roads to Modernity: Germany and Japan in the Age of Empires, 1860s-1930s (HY38920) - 20 credits
• The British Isles in the Long Eighteenth Century (HY30120) - 20 credits
• The European Reformation (HY36520) - 20 credits
• The Nazi Dictatorship: Regime and Society in Germany 1933-1945 (HY39420) - 20 credits
• Wales and the Kings of Britain: Conflict, Power and Identities in the British Isles 1039-1417 (WH30120) - 20 credits
• Wales under the Tudors (WH33520) - 20 credits
• War, Politics and People: England in Context in the Fourteenth Century (HY36720) - 20 credits
• Brazilian / Portuguese Language III (EL30720) - 20 credits
• Children's Literature in German (GE32820) - 20 credits
• Contemporary German Politics (GE31110) - 10 credits
• Dissertation (EL30120) - 20 credits
• Extended Essay Module (EL30510) - 10 credits
• German-speaking Refugees from National Socialism in the UK (GE37220) - 20 credits

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Assessment:

The assessment methods for each module vary. Students will be assessed through a combination of:

• Oral presentations
• Listening tests
• Written reports
• Translations
• Oral and written exams
• Essays
• Research projects
• Dissertations

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Teaching:

• A variety of teaching formats are used in class, including lectures and seminars.
• Lectures introduce students to topics, while seminars encourage active participation and discussion.
• The Department of Modern Languages employs highly qualified and experienced language tutors and native speakers to ensure high-quality learning and provide constant support.
• Most modules and classes are taught through the target language, providing students with extensive exposure to the language they are learning.

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Careers:

• Many graduates go on to teach German or work in administrative and managerial roles.
• A degree in German and History opens doors to various professions in Britain, including the civil service, tourism, social work, librarianship, publishing, and broadcasting.
• History graduates find employment in fields such as archive, heritage, or museum management, as well as related and non-related professional roles like librarianship, records management, journalism, media, advertising, the legal profession, local government, business and finance, and more.
• The research and analytical skills developed during the degree provide a strong foundation for postgraduate study and a career in academia.
• The year abroad sets graduates apart, demonstrating their ability to live and work in a foreign environment and immerse themselves in a different culture.
• The university offers various initiatives to improve employability skills, including paid work and work experience opportunities.
• The Careers Advisory Service provides assistance with career planning, CV writing, and job searching.

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Other:

• The Department of History and Welsh History is the most established and foremost in Britain, with teaching dating back to 1872.
• The department's teaching is innovative, research-based, and designed to develop transferable skills in areas such as analysis, interpretation, and communication.
• The university attracts students from all corners of the world, with many staff being native German speakers.
• The university offers a Personal Development Portfolio, which allows students to record and reflect on their academic studies, skill development, and future plans.
• The degree equips students with a range of transferable skills highly valued by employers, including communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, organization, self-motivation, teamwork, and research skills.