Introduction: Why Study Historical Landscapes and Environments? (P02732)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : HCA-P-IWS

The course begins with the observation that for many people historical curiosity begins with looking at landscape. The emphasis will be on long run processes of change in the landscape. E learning units will seek to make connections between disciplines, and make extensive use of digital material, and the national collections located in Edinburgh and elsewhere. While this course, like others, will draw heavily on Scottish examples, where appropriate examples from other countries will be used. Concepts and interpretive frameworks of a comparative nature will also be incorporated.

This particular course, the first the students will encounter, explores the principal themes of the degree programme in relation to two specific sites: one urban and the other rural. In doing so, the continuities and change, the interactions between place and people, will be explored over different time periods. The course will introduce students to the political, spatial, environmental, cultural and cognate factors that have wrought change in specific locations.

Note. This distance learning course will serve a constituency which will have access to dedicated e learning material and to web based resources including those derived from the various subscriptions and purchases of the Edinburgh University Library. They will have access to a variety of local library and archives resources but not always to the metropolitan resources of Edinburgh. EUL’s scanning licence and subscriptions to a wide variety of electronic version of leading journals will enhance the resources of the e learning modules. Students will be expected to purchase a modest number of books.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

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

? Additional Class Information : Delivered by e-based distance learning.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

(a) Knowledge and understanding:
- understanding of how the programme will operate, how e learning will be delivered and assessed, and how interactions with Edinburgh staff will be conducted
- familiarisation with the major issues and themes of the programme

(b) Intellectual skills:
- ability to understand the distinction between academic history and local history
- ability to recognise alternative approaches and interpretations co-exist –

(c) Practical skills
- develop a familiarity with the structure of the e learning materials
- undertake an exercise that relates local, regional and national levels of analysis.