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FHEQ level

This course is set at Level 6 in the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

Course Aims

A degree in Contemporary History and Politics has as its principal desired goals:
a) To develop knowledge and understanding of the recent human past.
b) To foster awareness and understanding of historical processes which have a direct or indirect bearing on the present.
c) To encourage respect for historical context and evidence
d) To reflect critically on differing interpretations of the recent past
e) To impart particular skills and qualities of mind relevant to the discipline of history
f) to satisfy key criteria of historical knowledge and method, including:
i) an awareness of span and change over time;
ii) understanding of geographical range (focussing particularly on Britain, Europe, Africa, India);
iii)engagement with primary as well as secondary sources;
iv)an ability to reflect on the theoretical underpinnings of the historical discipline;
v) to foster an appreciation of the diversity of historical specialisms (including social, economic, cultural, political, intellectual, gender, oral, and environmental history)
g) to satisfy progression requirements by teaching
i) survey history,
ii) particular historical topics or short periods,
iii) comparative and thematic history,
iv) historiography,
v) documentary-based special subjects.
h) To enable students to understand the importance of Politics in the contemporary world.
i) To ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in appropriate areas of theory and analysis
j)To enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches and methods of the disciplines and develop an understanding of the contested nature and problematic character of inquiry in the disciplines
k)Develop students capacities to analyse critically events, ideas, institutions and practices.
l)To provide students with opportunities to develop their intellectual, personal and interpersonal skills so as to enable them to participate meaningfully in their societies
m)To provide a curriculum supported by scholarship, staff development and a research culture that promotes breadth and depth of intellectual enquiry and debate
n)Provide students with a supportive and receptive learning environment.

To develop knowledge and understanding of the human past
To foster awareness and understanding of historical processes which have a direct or indirect bearing on the present
To encourage respect for historical context and evidence
To reflect critically on differing interpretations of the medium and distant past
To impart particular skills and qualities of mind relevant to the discipline of history
To satisfy key criteria of historical knowledge and method, including an awareness of span and change over time across geographical range
Engage with primary as well as secondary sources
Reflect on the theoretical underpinnings of the historical discipline
Foster an appreciation of the diversity of historical specialisms (including social, economic, cultural, political, intellectual, gender, oral, and environmental history)
Satisfy progression requirements by conducting i) survey history, ii) particular historical topics or short periods, iii) comparative and thematic history, iv) historiography, v) documentary-based special subjects

Course learning outcomes

Identify and describe and illustrate key approaches to the study of politics and understand the contested nature of knowledge and understanding

Identify and understand the key normative ideas and concepts which serve as the foundations of politics

Describe and illustrate the structure and operation of different political systems

Describe and illustrate the key explanatory concepts and theories used in the study of politics

Develop a familiarity with major methods of data collection in politics, and their appropriate uses

Develop a knowledge of British politics and the key concepts and approaches used to explain British politics

Critically evaluate the nature of political change in a political system or with regard to a political issue

Ability to understand and critique political philosophical arguments made by political theorists

An ability to compare different political systems in order to develop a general understanding of the functioning of politics

Plan and carry out a research project relating to a political topic which sustains a line of argument and draws on a body of academic literature

Have developed the historians skills and qualities of mind

Have developed an awareness of continuity and change over an extended time span (Time Depth)

Have understood historical process over an extended period

Have a broad and comparative understanding of the history of more than one society, culture or state (Geographical Range)

Have undertaken close work on primary source material and carry out intensive critical work on such source material (Contemporary Sources)

Reflect critically on the nature of the discipline, its social rationale, its theoretical underpinnings and its intellectual standing (Critical Awareness)

Critically engage with a variety of approaches to history and critically engage with the concepts and methodologies of other disciplines where appropriate (Diversity of Spacialisms)

Formulate, execute, and complete an extended piece of writing under appropriate supervision (Extended Writing)

Have acquired a range of core and personal attributes, cognitive, research, practical, and transferable skills (HAHP Core Transferable Skills)

For information on the composition of this course please see either the on-line Undergraduate prospectus for undergraduate related courses or the on-line Postgraduate prospectus for postgraduate related courses.

More detailed information on the course structure and modules within this degree will be available on this page shortly.

Course convenors

Iain McDaniel
Associate Professor In Intellectual History

Aleks Szczerbiak
Professor of Politics
Poland, Euroscepticism, political parties, religion

Christopher Warne
Associate Professor

About your joint honours course

Sussex has always promoted interdisciplinary study by encouraging students to combine different subjects and different approaches to learning. Joint-honours courses are an ideal option if you want to study more than one subject in depth. A key idea behind joint-honours is to experience the range of ways that different academic disciplines use to teach, learn and research. Those differences are stimulating and challenging, but they can also be confusing, so you will find some useful information below to help you get the most out of your course.

• To find information about the individual modules that make up your course, go to the school that teaches the module. Each module is assessed by the school that teaches it, so on their website you will find (under “student information”) information about the assessment criteria being used, the referencing style you need to use for your work, contact times for your tutors, information about the student reps scheme and lots of other useful information.
• To find general information about joint honours, use the Frequently Asked Questions list
• For information about the rules and regulations that govern all Sussex students, start with the general student handbook
• For help in improving your study skills, using the library and with careers, try the Skills Hub.

And if you have any other questions, contact the convenors for your course; they are here to help you.

Useful links

• Frequently asked questions
• General student handbook
• Skills Hub