Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 360 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
With this degree course you will develop and deepen your knowledge of different periods of history from antiquity to the twentieth century. Engaging with a range of exciting and challenging topics such as imperialism, politics, social relations, medicine, warfare and religion in different periods, you will learn the skills of the historian in studying the materials of the past. You will also examine some of the critical approaches taken by historians to their subject matter. We offer a number of alternative routes through the BA (Hons) History with different combinations of modules, allowing you to align your studies with your own particular historical interests. Studying within a broad framework designed to meet high national standards for single-subject history degrees, you will develop a range of skills in knowledge management, oral and written communication, critical reasoning, research, and information and communications technologies, all of which are highly valued in the modern workplace.
By studying for this degree you will be conversant with various historical methodologies and you will have:
- knowledge and understanding of the discipline of history and some of its sub-disciplines
- learned to recognise and use primary and secondary historical sources
- learned to write history essays of an acceptable standard and, in so doing, to present coherent, rational and logical argument
- been introduced to the approaches and methodologies of other arts disciplines, such as literature, art history and philosophy
- had practical experience of writing an extended piece of work demanding independent learning
- worked with information and communications technology (ICT) in a context of historical study, and have had opportunities to develop this work at a more advanced level.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you’re new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start with a module at Level 1. For this degree that would mean starting with The arts past and present (AA100). If you complete that module successfully you’ll have a firm foundation for future studies as well as 60 credits to count towards this degree.
As you approach the final stages of AA100, we suggest you seek advice from one of our study advisers about choosing your next module. You might well be advised to complete a further 60 credits at Level 1.
AA100 counts towards the Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities (C98) and the Diploma of Higher Education in Humanities (E64), which you can claim on your way to the BA (Hons) History if you select appropriate modules. Please see the full descriptions of the certificate and diploma of higher education to find out which other modules count towards it.
You are advised to study Level 1 modules first, followed by Level 2 modules and to complete your degree with Level 3 modules.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 120 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you (with the exception of an undergraduate-level qualification of less than 120 credits). If you have graduated with an OU BA degree without honours and are continuing your studies on to honours, this minimum requirement is reduced to 60 credits. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications on the way to your OU honours degree, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your degree.
Career relevance and employability
Study of the arts and humanities requires an understanding of human activities in diverse cultural environments and in very different historical circumstances. The breadth of study and the range of cultural texts and objects analysed, combined with training in clear thinking and communication, make the BA (Hons) History relevant to a wide variety of careers, including:
- public administration, local government, the civil service, art institutions, and social services
- advertising, journalism, publishing, creative industries and public relations
- education
- legal work
- business, banking and retail
- human resources
- charities and campaigning.
Employers greatly value the high-level skills acquired by studying a history degree – which may be broadly summarised as critical thinking, analysis, and communication. You’ll sharpen your IT, writing, and independent thinking skills, and develop the ability to assimilate and evaluate relevant information in constructing an argument. These are key skills in complex organisations, greatly sought after in the world beyond study – whether you’re already working, volunteering or changing career.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
60 credits from the following compulsory module:
Level 1 compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- The arts past and present (AA100)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A102, A103, AZX103
And 60 credits from the following compulsory module:
Level 2 compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- The British Isles and the modern world, 1789–1914 (A225)
|
60 |
|
Or from the discontinued modules A200, A220 and A221
And 60 credits from the following optional history modules:
Level 3 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Empire 1492–1975 (A326)
|
60 |
|
- Europe 1914–1989: war, peace and modernity (A327)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A318, AA312, AA319
And 120 credits, including at least 60 credits at Level 3, from the following optional modules:
Level 2 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900 (A200)***
|
60 |
|
- Exploring the classical world (A219)
|
60 |
|
- Early modern Europe: society and culture c.1500-1789 (A223)
|
60 |
|
Level 3 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Crime and justice (DD301)
|
60 |
|
- Empire: 1492-1975 (A326)**
|
60 |
|
- Europe 1914–1989: war, peace and modernity (A327)
|
60 |
|
- Living political ideas (DD306)
|
60 |
|
- Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds (A330)
|
60 |
|
- Renaissance art reconsidered (AA315)
|
60 |
|
- The making of Welsh history (A329)
|
60 |
|
- The Roman empire (A340)
|
60 |
|
- Why is religion controversial? (A332)
|
60 |
|
- Medieval and early modern Scotland (CDDR320) Collaborative course, Dundee University*
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued modules A207, A209, A218, A220***, A221***, A231, A251, AD281, AS208, AS283, AT272, COXR205, COXR206 and at Level 3 the discontinued modules A353, A354, AA303, AA307, AA309, AA310, AA311, AA312**, AA313, AA319, AAXR312, AXR312, A420, A422, A424, A425, A426, A427, A428, A433, AT308, CDDR300, CDDR310, CDDR311, COXR305
* For further information about these courses, please visit the collaborative schemes website. You may count up to 120 credits of transferred credit towards this degree and collaborative courses count as part of this 120 credit maximum. If you include any collaborative courses, you will need to deduct the value of the collaborative courses you have completed from the 120 credit maximum in order to calculate the amount of other transferred credit you can still count.
** Only if not studied as the optional history module above.
*** If not studied as the compulsory Level 2 component of this degree.
And a maximum of 60 credits of free choice from any OU modules to bring your total number of credits to 360. Within the total, you must ensure that you have at least the required minimum number of credits at each level and no more than 30 from 10- or 15-credit modules.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) History degree. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by your performance in a minimum of 120 and up to 240 credits from your best grades on specified OU (or specified collaborative scheme) history modules and interdisciplinary humanities modules at Level 2 or higher. At least 120 of those credits must come from modules at Level 3 and your best 120 credits at Level 3 will be given twice the weight of other modules used in the calculation of your classification. You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification