MA in Historical Studies Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MA Historical Studies
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			September 2024		Award type			MA
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9	What level is this qualification?			7		Length of programme			1 year full time; 2 years part-time.
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full and part-time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			n/a
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15	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			History
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17	Lead department			History		Other contributing departments			none
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19	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			campus
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
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28	Reference points
29	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
30	The University's Frameworks for Programme Design.
31	The University's Frameworks for Programme Design.
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33	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
34	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
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38	Exceptions to Regulations
39	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
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43	Internal Transfers
44	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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46		Transfers in:	We anticipate that there may be some movement between this programme and the other History MA programmes (except MA in Medieval History). Transfers in don't present issues as this MA does not have a bespoke core module.			Transfers out:	Some students may wish to transfer out onto another History MA programme (except MA in Medieval History). As long as they have chosen the destination MA's Core module as one of their option modules this should be straightfoward.
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49	Statement of Purpose
50	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
51	The MA in Historical Studies offers the opportunity for students to design their own programme of study drawing on the range of history modules we offer at MA level. The programme allows students to specialise in particular themes, approaches, and/or geographical specialisms but also has the flexibility to allow students to bring together a diverse set of modules that aren’t commonly studied together. The course provides a chance to pursue interests developed at undergraduate level as well as develop new ones and provides a foundation for further study as well as offering transferable skills for the workplace. Students will be taught by leading experts in their fields and will be exposed to innovative approaches and cutting-edge research. The programme centres on skills of independent learning: for every module you will, with the guidance of your tutors, establish your own research agenda and find ways to address the questions you wish to answer. You will critically reflect upon and further enhance the intrinsic skills of historians: these include an ability to read extensively and intensively. You will navigate the abundant materials available to historians at York (including the rich holdings of the Borthwick Institute for Archives) to contextualise your findings and develop arguments. Your presentation skills will improve considerably via practice at seminars and workshops, and by the writing of research-led essays and a dissertation. You will be welcomed into a vibrant post-graduate culture at York and invited to attend research seminars and other events held at York’s Humanities Research Centre.
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62	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
63	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
64	PG Certificate in Historical Studies.			Exit award only	They will have gained some competency in PLOs 1-4.			any 60 credits
65	PG Diploma in Historical Studies.			Exit award only	They will be competent in all PLOs 1-6 and substantial part of PLO 7 as they will be writing a short piece based on their independent research.			any 120 credits
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67	Programme Learning Outcomes
68	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
69	1	Deploy an in-depth and thorough knowledge of cutting edge scholarship in the field of history.
70	2	Engage critically with historical scholarship and select relevant scholarly contexts in which to situate research findings.
71	3	Design and pursue high quality research questions for essays and a dissertation, demonstrating a capacity for independent design and action.
72	4	Formulate and defend historical arguments grounded in the interpretation of sources.
73	5	Reflect critically on how historians handle a wide variety of sources for the study of the past and choose appropriate sources and methods for independent research.
74	6	Respond responsibly and resourcefully to the ethical and practical issues that arise during advanced historical research, including disciplinary differences between historical methods and those deployed by cognate disciplines and be alert to the value of working across these boundaries.
75	7	Communicate research findings imaginatively, lucidly and succinctly using a variety of media forms including short reports, oral presentations and extended pieces of writing.
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77	Diverse entry routes
78	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
79	Tailored support is offered by tutors in student hours. The Writing Centre also supports MA students in developing their academic writing skills.
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88	Inclusion
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90	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.									TRUE
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92	Employability
93	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
94	Transferable skills: Students on this programme develop critical thinking at an advanced level: reading and analysing data and scholarly arguments; selecting what's relevant and important for developing their own lines of argument. Project management: planning, desiging and executing short and long indepedent research and writing projects. Developing advanced writing skills. Subject specific skills: historical knowledge and specific historical skills (eg palaeography). This course supports students wanted to work in history-related fields as well as equipping them with transferable skills for many workplaces. It also supports students who wish to go on to further study.
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