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BA History and Comparative Literature

Programme description

You will divide your time equally between the two subjects. Comparative Literature makes connections between literary texts of different times, places and traditions and between literature and film, music, the visual arts and popular culture, while History complements the study of literature enabling you to gain an understanding of the intellectual, political and social context in which literature is conceived. The history programme covers all the main themes in medieval, modern and contemporary history, ranging from British to European and American topics. Advanced module options in the second and final years permit you to concentrate on the areas of literature and history that interest you most.

Programme outline

Year 1

Comparative Literature core modules:

• Introduction to Literature
• Introduction to Comparison
• The Scene of Teaching

Options include:

• Brief Encounters: Short Stories and Tall Tales 

History core module:

• History in Practice

Options include:

• Europe in a Global Context Since 1800
• The Foundations of Modern Thought: Introduction to Intellectual History

Year 2

Comparative Literature core module:

• The Scene of Reading

Options include:

• Approaches to Fairy Tales
• Photography and Narrative
• European Tragedy: Renaissance to Twentieth-Century

 History options include:

• Making the Modern City, 1789-1914
• Race in the United States: Slavery to Civil Rights
• Art since 165: From the Rejection of Modernism to Post-Modernism

Year 3

Core modules:

• The Scene of Writing
• History Special Subject

Options include:

• Comparative Literature Research Project
• Touch and Read: The Five Senses in Literary Modernism

Assessment

Assessment is typically by a mixture of examination and coursework, but some modules are assessed entirely on coursework. Coursework may take the form of essays, diaries, case-studies or book reviews. Some modules, such as Architecture in London, and British Horror use screen or slide tests as part of their assessment. Oral presentations may also contribute to the overall mark. You will be provided with feedback to help you improve your performance and understanding of the subject.

In the final year you will have the opportunity to work on a History Research Dissertation or Special Subject. These modules are worth twice as much as standard modules and allow you to work closely on primary source material and carry out your own research in a specialised area which particularly interests you.

Career opportunities

The employment prospects for graduates of History and Comparative Literature look very bright indeed. The skills that students on these programmes acquire are highly transferable to the professional market place. Graduates from this programme are particularly well-equipped for careers in publishing, the arts, journalism and the broadcast media.

Entry requirements