Historiography and Theory of Social and Cultural History (P01721)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : HCL-P-HiThSCHis

This course provides an advanced analysis of the historiography and theory of social and cultural history, and is the core course for the new taught masters programme in 'Social and Cultural History'. The course, which is team-taught, covers key themes in the contemporary scholarly practice of social and cultural history, addressed through a focus on historiographical development, theoretical frameworks for analysis and methodological approaches (where these are distinct to a theme). It will explore such issues as definitions and the explanatory utility of concepts relative to specific case examples. It is designed as an in-depth preparation for other areas of subject-specific teaching in the taught programme and for dissertation research. Teaching is based on set reading and seminar discussion directed by one or more staff.
The course will explore the following key themes:
Gender: Ethnicity: Popular Culture: Oral History and Memory: Class: Religion and Identity: Consumer Behaviour: Civil Society: Demography: Bodies and Medicine

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of History and Classics), (School of History and Classics, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have an advanced knowledge and critical understanding of the historiography and theory of key themes in social and cultural history, along with knowledge of some of the distinct methodological problems of the field. In particular the course seeks:
- to provide an awareness of the diversity of approaches to social and cultural history.
- to provide an introduction to the primary debates and seminal texts that have shaped the field of social and cultural history as that field has evolved through time..
- to encourage an enhanced understanding of the processes of scholarly debate in historical research.
- to provide an opportunity for small group discussion based on key texts and thereby develop the verbal skills of students.
- to develop library and IT skills through the use of books, journal articles and web-resources.
- to provide an opportunity for a sustained piece of critical writing on a theme arising from the course that is also of relevance to the intended dissertation topic.