History, BA (Hons)

Course summary

History is a relevant, dynamic, fascinating, and important field of study which, at Goldsmiths, is approached in creative, innovative, and exciting ways.History - the study, analysis and understanding of the past - is as important today as it has ever been and it continues to make vital contributions to how we comprehend and interact with the world around us.Understanding past societies fosters emotional intelligence and allows us to appreciate the diversity and adaptability of human life. Understanding our pasts can help us to shape our futures and, crucially, help us shape those futures intelligently, insightfully, fairly, and with compassion. History is here and now as well as being there and then.Students studying History at Goldsmiths have a great deal of choice over what to study, beginning with options in Year One. Our geographic scope covers Europe (including significant British expertise), the Americas, Asia and Africa. Chronologically, we have a strong focus on early modern and modern history, while also covering earlier periods.We are pioneers in Black British History, Queer History and histories of sexualities, non-traditional military history, the history of emotions and senses, medical humanities and histories of medicine, histories of religion and dissent, histories of politics and power and histories of peoples and places.The way we approach the study of History extends beyond the textual, with material culture, visual culture, oral history, and spatiality informing our research and our research-led teaching.As part of the wider University of London, our students can take some subjects in their second and third years at other colleges including Birkbeck; King’s College London; Queen Mary; Royal Holloway; University College London. This means that History students at Goldsmiths have all the benefits of being in a department which is small enough to get to know them as individuals, while also having the opportunity to take options from a vast range of options.Why study BA History at Goldsmiths- We are exciting and challenging: our innovative interdisciplinary approaches to the subject encourage our students to approach and explore the past thematically rather than chronologically and we venture into issues, areas and topics that are often overlooked.- We are global: our international body of staff research and deliver modules covering a wide geographical range including Asia, Africa, the Americas, the British Isles, Eastern and Western Europe, and the Middle East.- We excel in what we do: our academic staff are nationally and internationally recognised award-winning experts in their fields, they are at the forefront of research excellence and research-led teaching.- We put you first: our students are always our top priority and our staff are excellent educators who foster independent and progressive thinking in challenging but supportive environments.- We broaden minds: history stimulates critical and analytical thinking and, at Goldsmiths, we also encourage creative and imaginative thinking that takes our students beyond the traditional boundaries of the subject.- We think about your future: alongside intellectual and personal development we equip our students with the skills and experience they need to progress into a rewarding career. This might be through our History in Practice work-placement module or through other career-orientated opportunities and forms of assessment.

Year 1 You take the following compulsory modules in across the autumn and spring terms. In the spring term, you will also choose two 10-week option modules from a list approved annually by the Department of History. Global Connections: the violence and exchanges that shaped the modern world Historical Controversies Reading and Writing History Historical Perspectives Year 2 You have a free choice of modules from a list approved annually by the Department of History. Some modules, worth 30 credits, run for 20 weeks across the autumn and spring terms and other modules, worth 15 credits, run for 10 weeks, some running in the autumn term and others in the spring term. Up to 30 credits can be a ‘related studies’ module taken in another Goldsmiths department and up to 30 credits can be a University of London Intercollegiate Group II module from a list approved annually by our partner institutions. Partners include: Birkbeck; King’s College London; Queen Mary; Royal Holloway; University College London. Year 3 You undertake a Special Subject module, worth 60 credits, that includes a dissertation and runs for 20 weeks across the autumn and spring terms. You can choose to undertake your Special Subject module at Goldsmiths or you can choose a University of London Intercollegiate Group III Special Subject module from a list approved annually by our partner institutions. Partners include: Birkbeck, King’s College London, Queen Mary, Royal Holloway, University College London. You also have a free choice of modules to the value of 60 credits which can include both 30-credit and 15-credit modules. Up to 30 credits can be a ‘related studies’ module taken in another Goldsmiths department. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.