MA in History
The Open University old
Summary
- Tutor is available to students
Overview
This degree course is based around the study of British and Irish local and regional history between 1750 and 1950. Using our world-class collection of online primary source materials you will be encouraged to produce an independent research project on a topic of your choice. It will suit you if you have the appropriate entry qualifications, a passion for history and are looking for an intellectual challenge.
Description
This taught postgraduate programme in history will:
- build upon and develop your existing knowledge of, and interest in, history
- provide you with appropriate training in the techniques of postgraduate study in history
- enable you to develop your research and analytical skills and upgrade your qualifications.
The qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
When you have completed this degree you will have:
- a good understanding of the methodological approaches to local and regional history, and some practical experience of working within these methods and leading to a project or dissertation
- an understanding of the major themes in the discipline, taking account of traditional and more recent theoretical approaches
- a critical understanding of some of the issues involved in treating a range of historical sources appropriate to local and regional studies
- an awareness of strategies that can be applied to analysing and researching non-traditional sources, such as statistical data, maps, material culture, film, etc.
- a knowledge of the diversity of ways of presenting historical findings and writings and about audience reception and incorporating them into a dissertation.
When you have completed this degree you will have the ability to:
- analyse works of local and regional history
- analyse secondary texts for the purposes of documenting and analysing historical developments in localities
- appreciate the use of primary sources in writing local and regional history, and incorporating them into a dissertation
- comparatively evaluate different methods and approaches in assignments and a dissertation
- assess the relevance and persuasiveness of arguments and present them in assignments and a dissertation
- frame appropriate questions for historical investigation in a local or regional project.
When you have completed this degree you will be able to:
- locate books, documents and statistical data appropriate to local and regional history
- use ICT resources in support of independent inquiry
- use scholarly reference conventions effectively
- exercise powers of discrimination in theories and debates applied to local and regional history
- employ appropriate ethical standards in the use of historical sources and data, (e.g. late 20th Century oral testimony) both in coursework and research.
When you have completed this degree you will be able to:
- communicate ideas effectively in written form
- use ICT for the purpose of locating and retrieving resources
- learn how to apply methods and approaches in supported self-directed study in assignments and a project.
Knowledge and understanding are assessed during Part 1 of MA study by means of written TMAs and a final EMA. The TMAs for Part 1 will be structured so as to emphasise particular learning outcomes at appropriate stages. For example, TMA 01 will focus on key debates and the nature of the discipline, and will include an element testing information literacy; TMAs 02–04 encourage you to use investigative and analytical methods to consider historical case studies, particularly relating to your locality. Learning Outcomes 4–8 are assessed throughout Part 1 in preparation for your more extensive development in Part 2 of the MA History. In Part 2, work on a chosen topic within a specialist area is assessed by means of a TMA and a dissertation.
Cognitive skills are assessed in TMAs throughout Part 1 and in the final EMA. The ability to recognise a potential area for research becomes increasingly important for TMAs 02–04 and the final EMA, where Part 1 builds towards research for the dissertation in Part 2. An ability to recognise a potential area for research in History is therefore a skill developed and assessed over the two parts of the MA, and is especially important to the assessment of the final dissertation.
Through tuition and marking of assessment, ALs with subject and teaching expertise will guide you towards achieving skills of evaluation and analysis appropriate to MA level.
TMAs and the final EMA assess your ability to communicate your knowledge and understanding effectively. The TMAs during Part 1 place an increasing emphasis on the assessment of the ability to design a programme of independent research and writing, which will be crucial to the assessment of the final dissertation at the end of Part 2.
ALs feedback on your assessment through the qualification will support students in developing your skills of scholarly writing.
Practical and professional skills are assessed on a cumulative basis throughout the award. The EMA assesses ability of students to plan a more extended piece of research, write a substantial and scholarly essay, and use a range of research materials – skills that will be crucial for the more extended research component of Part 2 of this MA in the project and dissertation.
Through tuition and in response to your assessed work, ALs will provide guidance in activities that will develop your research skills and a critical understanding of local and regional history.
Who is this course for?
The course will contribute to enhancing your prospects in careers such as: teaching, libraries, archives, museums, heritage and tourism industries, as well as providing content relevant to the continuing professional development of employees in public-facing roles (e.g. police, education, social and health services etc.).
Requirements
You should have an undergraduate honours degree, which we strongly recommend should be in History or a closely related subject. OR, if you have a degree without honours you must also have successfully completed the collaborative course Advanced Diploma in Local History (COXR305). MA History Part 1 assumes that a candidate for a masters degree already has the skills and experience usually acquired by pursuing the subject of History at undergraduate level. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
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