MA History (Modern and Contemporary History)

Program Overview

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The MA History program at Birmingham University immerses students in global modern and contemporary history, focusing on critical issues shaping society today, with optional modules in specialized subjects. Through research seminars, tutorials, and a dissertation, the program empowers students with historical knowledge, analytical abilities, and transferable skills relevant to diverse career paths both inside and outside academia.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The MA History (Modern and Contemporary History) is a postgraduate taught program offered by the University of Birmingham. It is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time program. The program focuses on the period from the start of the Twentieth Century, exploring the dramatic changes across the world during this time. It aims to immerse students in the debates about these developments and their implications for society today.

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Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Provide students with a comprehensive understanding of modern and contemporary history through issues and problems of vital importance, including environmental politics, information technology, post-colonial migration, internationalism, and empire.
• Explore the twentieth century and up to the present day across a range of global locations.
• Develop both empirical and conceptual knowledge of the recent past.
• Equip students with the research skills to read and assess relevant primary sources, carry out independent research, and write up their research.
• Prepare students for further research, including a PhD.

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Outline:

The program consists of three core modules and optional modules. Students must choose at least 20 credits from the Modern and Contemporary History or Special Subject lists.

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Core Modules:

• Historical Approaches: This module provides an advanced introduction to the ways historians have approached prominent themes within the modern historical discipline, such as religion, gender, race, class, community, and conflict.
It emphasizes historiographical development and theoretical, methodological, and interdisciplinary influences. Assessment: 3,000-word assignment (100%).
• Research Preparation: This module focuses on key research skills in the historical discipline, including defining a topic, reviewing secondary literature, identifying and accessing appropriate primary sources, and developing research design.
It also includes seminars on specialist sub-disciplinary skills and one-to-one supervisions with an academic advisor. Assessment: 2,000-word literature review (75%), 10-minute oral presentation (25%).
• Critical Histories of the Present: This module examines aspects of global history over the past century, focusing on globalization as a key feature of the contemporary world.
It explores key processes that have shaped the contemporary world, including the rise of mass culture, mass politics, and consumerism; totalitarian ideology and liberal democracy; decolonization and development; environmentalism, the Civil Rights movement, and various forms of activism; the rise and fall of the Cold War; the Arab Spring; neoliberalism; and the rise of new authoritarianism in the age of Post-Truth. Assessment: 3,000-word assignment (100%).

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Optional Modules:

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Modern and Contemporary History:

• New Directions in Modern British Studies
• ‘A Holiday from Reality’: A History of Drugs and Drug Use in the Modern Era
• America at War
• Bread, Wine and Barricades: Freedom, Ecology and the Nature of Modern France
• Britain and her Soldiers
• Britain’s Wars of Colonisation and Decolonisation
• Conflict in the Modern Middle East
• China in Revolution: China under Mao (1949-1976)
• Feeling Politics in 20th Century Britain: Emotions and Politics in Britain From the Stiff Upper Lip to :)
• From the OSS to Snowden: A History of American Intelligence Agencies since 1945
• Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage?
Gender and Sexual Minorities 1885 to the Present
• Gender and the Making of Modern Britain
• History of Technology
• Indigenous and Settler Histories
• Land, Law and Violence in the American West
• Life After Death: Culture, Politics and Memory in Post-War Europe, 1945-1973
• The Making of the British Raj: Gender, Conquest and Race in early colonial India,c.1757-1885
• Reason and Romance
• Revolution, Regicide, & Republic: The British Civil Wars, 1642-1660
• Terrorism in the USA: From the Klan to Al Qaeda to White Power
• The Young Ones: Youth, Popular Culture, and Social Change in Twentieth Century Britain
• Queer and Trans Histories

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Special Subjects:

• Global Cities and Urban Lives, 1690-1914 (Masters) A
• Global Cities and Urban Lives, 1690-1914 (Masters) B
• Empire Comes Home: India in the Making of Britain (Masters) A
• Empire Comes Home: India in the Making of Britain (Masters) B
• After Hitler: Politics and Society in (West) Germany during the Adenauer Era, 1945-1965 A
• After Hitler: Politics and Society in (West) Germany during the Adenauer Era, 1945-1965 B
• Beauty, Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Body in Britain, c1680-1820: A
• Beauty, Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Body in Britain, c1680-1820: B
• Britain and the First World War: A
• Britain and the First World War: B
• British Women and Internationalism since 1850: A
• British Women and Internationalism since 1850: B
• Dossers: Homelessness in Modern Britain, 1900 to Present A
• Dossers: Homelessness in Modern Britain, 1900 to Present B
• Conflict, nationalism and genocide in East Central Europe, ca.
1880 – 1953 (Masters): A
• Conflict, nationalism and genocide in East Central Europe, ca.
1880 – 1953 (Masters): B
• Egypt in Revolution.
Modernity, Masculinity and Revolution in 20th Century Egypt A
• Egypt in Revolution.
Modernity, Masculinity and Revolution in 20th Century Egypt B
• Facing the Fuhrer, the Duce and the Emperor: British Foreign and Defence Policies, 1931-1942 A
• Facing the Fuhrer, the Duce and the Emperor: British Foreign and Defence Policies, 1931-1942 B
• Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage: Gender and Sexual Minorities in the British World A
• Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage: Gender and Sexual Minorities in the British World B
• Fighting Over Freedom: American Political Ideas from Revolution to Civil War (Masters) A
• Fighting Over Freedom: American Political Ideas from Revolution to Civil War (Masters) B
• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich A
• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich B
• The Revolting Right: Conservative Activism in Late Twentieth Century Britain A
• The Revolting Right: Conservative Activism in Late Twentieth Century Britain B
• People of the Aftermath: British Culture in the 1920s and 1930s A
• People of the Aftermath: British Culture in the 1920s and 1930s B
• Terrorising History: Terrorist Motivations, Methods, and Mayhem A
• Terrorising History: Terrorist Motivations, Methods, and Mayhem B
• Where there is Discord: Making Thatcher’s Britain A
• Where there is Discord: Making Thatcher’s Britain B
• Women and Social Movements in Brazil A
• Women and Social Movements in Brazil B

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Dissertation:

In addition to the taught modules, students will conduct a piece of independent research with the support of a supervisor, culminating in a 12,000-word dissertation. The dissertation must be on a topic within the pathway area of specialism.

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Assessment:

The program is assessed through a combination of coursework and a dissertation.

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Coursework:

• Each core module is assessed through a 3,000-word assignment.
• The Research Preparation module is assessed through a 2,000-word literature review and a 10-minute oral presentation.
• Optional modules are assessed according to the specific requirements of each module.

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Dissertation:

• The dissertation is assessed based on its originality, research methodology, analysis, and presentation.

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Teaching:

The program is taught through a combination of seminars, tutorials, and independent research.

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Seminars:

• Seminars provide a forum for students to discuss key themes and historiographical debates with their peers and faculty.

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Tutorials:

• Tutorials offer one-to-one guidance from faculty members on students' research and writing.

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Independent Research:

• Students are encouraged to conduct independent research on primary sources, which is essential for their dissertation.

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Faculty:

The program is taught by members of the Birmingham Centre for Modern and Contemporary History (BCMCH), which draws together the expertise of the School of History and Cultures, the Modern Languages Department, American and Canadian Studies, and the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES).

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Careers:

The MA History (Modern and Contemporary History) provides excellent preparation for a range of careers, both within and outside of academia.

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Potential Career Paths:

• Heritage
• Museums
• Finance
• Marketing
• Teaching
• Publishing

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Opportunities:

• The University of Birmingham's Careers Network provides expert guidance and activities for postgraduates.
• The College of Arts and Law has a dedicated careers and employability team.
• Students can attend careers fairs, skills workshops, and conferences.

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Outcomes:

• Graduates develop a broad range of transferable skills, including research methods, information management, critical thinking, analytical ability, writing skills, and communication skills.

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Other:

• The BCMCH supports a research seminar series of invited speakers throughout the academic year, an annual lecture series, and various informal reading groups.
• The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits.
• International students can access support for English Language development and skills through the Birmingham International Academy (BIA).

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Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows: UK: £10,530 full-time; £5,265 part-time International: £23,310 full-time

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Paying your fees

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.