Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year
MRes Economic and Social History
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MRes Economic and Social History | Programme code | PTR1HPSHPS10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time Part Time |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The MRes Economic and Social History will provide you with the generic social science and history-specific research training necessary to go on to doctoral research or to pursue a career as professional researchers. It includes modules on the philosophy of the social sciences, quantitative and qualitative techniques, modes of historical explanation, in the theory and practice of history and a module on a substantive area of economic and social history taught by one of Exeter’s economic and social historians. As one of the largest departments in the UK, we offer a huge depth of expertise clustered around a number of research centres: Medieval Studies; Early Modern Studies; War, State and Society; Imperial and Global History; Medical History; and Maritime Historical Studies. Within these centres, we have expertise covering Britain, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. These taught modules inform the dissertation on a topic in economic and social history. The MRes degree is recognised by the UK Economic and Social History Research Council as part of a ‘1+3’ programme.
Advice and guidance on your programme can be sought from your personal tutor and programme director. All staff offer regular office hours that you can drop into without a prior appointment for this purpose.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims:
- To enable you to develop a broad-based and relevant knowledge of and competence in the use of research methods in the social sciences.
- To set the core training in social scientific philosophy and methodology within a contemporary historical context, thereby allowing you to apply the wider concepts and skills introduced in the broader social scientific setting to specific topics of historical inquiry.
- To provide you with a sophisticated understanding of the discipline of History, together with the opportunity to study in depth those aspects which particularly appeal to them.
- To produce graduates who will be useful, productive and questioning members of society; who have an advanced conception of the main themes of the discipline and who understand the methods which historians use to study the past; and who can conduct advanced analysis of past societies.
- To combine an advanced training for postgraduate research in history with the development of your particular historical interests.
- To provide research-led teaching, primarily through seminar-based learning.
- To assess your abilities and achievements through a wide variety of methods, from essays and a dissertation to book reviews and presentations.
- To produce graduates who are highly competent in subject-specific, core academic, personal and professional skills, capable of continuing to an advanced research degree in the subject or entering other professions, and, especially, to offer you a specialised training in economic and social history and social science research methods as a direct means of enhancing your employment skills.
- To encourage specific skills through activities such as student presentations or work placements that will enable you to stand out from those graduating from other institutions.
4. Programme Structure
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/humanities/studying/postgraduatetaught/modules/
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Subject to approval by the Programme Director, you may take elective modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Stage 1
All students taken HISM016
135-165 credits of compulsory modules, 15-45 credits of optional modules
Subject to selecting 180 credits overall you must:
a select one of the two Dissertation modules, HISM400 or HISM403 (you cannot select both modules).
b in order for your degree programme to be funded by the ESRC, select one each of the following modules (if you take only the 15-credit versions of the above modules, you will be required to select the additional 15-credit HISM185 Supervised Independent Study in the Humanities module):
- POLM063 or POLM140 (you cannot select both modules)
- POLM086 or POLM809 (you cannot select both modules)
- SOCM002A or SOCM002B (you cannot select both modules)
c select 0-30 credits from this list of optional modules.
d select 0-30 credits from HISM185 or HISM186 (you cannot select both modules).
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HISM016 | Advanced Historical Research Skills | 30 | Yes |
| HISM400 | Dissertation in History [See note a above] | 60 | No |
| HISM403 | Dissertation in History [See note a above] | 90 | No |
| POLM063 | Qualitative Methods in Social Research [See note b above] | 15 | No |
| POLM140 | Qualitative Methods in Social Research [See note b above] | 30 | No |
| POLM086 | Quantitative Data Analysis [See note b above] | 30 | No |
| POLM809 | Applied Quantitative Data Analysis [See note b above] | 15 | No |
| SOCM002A | Philosophy of the Social Sciences 1 [See note b above] | 15 | No |
| SOCM002B | Philosophy of the Social Sciences [See note b above] | 30 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HISS MRes Economic and Social History optional modules 2023-4 [See note c above] | |||
| HISM001 | Critical Approaches to Early Modern History | 30 | No |
| HISM002 | Critical Approaches to Maritime and Naval History | 30 | No |
| HISM003 | Critical Approaches to Imperial and Global History | 30 | No |
| HISM036 | Gender, Society and Culture in Early Modern Europe | 30 | No |
| HISM038 | Navy and Nation: The Royal Navy in the Long Eighteenth Century, 1688-1815 | 30 | No |
| HISM039 | History in Public: A Workplace Project | 30 | No |
| HISM040 | Introduction to Digital Humanities | 30 | No |
| HISM041 | Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective | 30 | No |
| HISM042 | Working with Medieval Manuscripts and Documents | 30 | No |
| HISM043 | Critical Approaches to the History of Violence and Conflict | 30 | No |
| HISM045 | Medieval Masterclass | 30 | No |
| HISM046 | Global Governance for Peace, Security, Cooperation and Development, 1914 to the present | 30 | No |
| HISM183 | Interpreting the Middle Ages | 30 | No |
| HISM479 | Sexual Discoveries: the Reception, Interpretation and Purpose of Queer History | 30 | No |
| HISM482 | Empire and Globalisation | 30 | No |
| HISM483 | European Empires and Proto-Globalisation 1200-1800 | 30 | No |
| HISM048 | Critical Approaches to the Medical Humanities: Health and Disease in the Past | 30 | No |
| HISM185 | Supervised Independent Study in the Humanities [See note d above] | 15 | No |
| HISM186 | Supervised Independent Study in the Humanities [See note d above] | 30 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Integrate concepts and analyses in the field of history and its sub disciplines. | The programme uses a variety of learning and teaching methods. The precise method of teaching varies according to module. At MA level seminar discussion is the primary method, supported by web and IT resources through the University’s virtual learning platform, ELE. In seminars your contribution is essential and you must prepare for class by reading the recommended texts. There is also opportunity for feedback on draft materials before work is assessed. You are expected to meet regular deadlines and to produce well-presented work for each seminar. Many modules include group or individual presentations as part of the assessment. You will undertake research training to support you in work for the dissertation. Specifically, 5 is developed through the seminar discussion, practical exercises and essay assignments on the 6-8 are developed through essay and seminar work on all modules, and particularly in the compulsory dissertation. 9 is developed through the optional modules. | 1-5 are assessed through assignments on the Advanced Historical Skills module and the option modules. 6-8 form part of the criteria of assessment for all modules, but particularly that of the compulsory dissertation. 9 is assessed in the essay work and seminar presentations on the optional modules. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
10. Demonstrate comprehension of the relationships between theory and practice in history and the social sciences. | See above. Specifically, 10-20 are specially developed through the Advanced Historical Research Skills module; the Philosophy of Social Science, Qualitative Methods in Social Research and Applied Quantitative Data Analysis modules; and the optional modules. 11-20 are developed further in the dissertation. | All these skills are assessed informally through seminar preparation for both compulsory and optional modules, and formally through assessed assignments and the dissertation. Specifically, 11-20 are developed further in the dissertation. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
21. Think independently at an advanced level. | See above. Specifically, 25 is developed through seminar and group work on the taught modules. | 21-26 are assessed in all modules by all work. 21-24, 26 are also assessed by the dissertation. 25 is reflected in seminar work and presentations. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
All students in History have a personal tutor for their entire programme of study and who are available at advertised ‘office hours’ (staff changes are likely due to Research Leave etc.). There are induction sessions to orientate you at the start of your programme. A personal tutoring system will operate with regular communication throughout the programme. Academic support will be also be provided by module leaders. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
Programme handbooks and other useful information can be accessed via the student intranet: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/humanities/studying/taughthandbook/.
Other useful information and student resources can be accessed via the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE): http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/login/index.php , which has specific information on library skills, essay writing and research skills.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MRes Economic and Social History
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 01/06/2005 |
Date of last revision | 13/12/2021 |
|---|
