MA Public History Programme Specification 2023-24

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2023-24
3	Revised February 2023
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6	Programme Title			MA Public History
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8	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			September 2023			Award type			MA
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10	What level is this qualification?			7			Length of programme			12 Months
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12	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			PT and FT
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14	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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16	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			History
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18	Lead department			History			Other contributing departments
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20	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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22	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus
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24	Partner organisations
25	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
26	A variety of York-based heritage organisations contribute ad hoc teaching - such as one seminar - on one of the option modules for the programme: Public History in Practice (as convened by the convenor of the programme). The core public history placement module is enabled by relationships with heritage and creative sector partners in York, Yorkshire and nationally, including the British Library, the Black Cultural Archives, National Museums Scotland, and the Science Museum Group, who work with us to design projects and support students. These partnerships are of long-standing and mutual benefit.
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29	Reference points
30	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).
31	The standard UoY and QAA reference points have been consulted.
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34	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
35	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
36	No.
37	No.
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39	Exceptions to Regulations
40	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.
41	None.
42	None.
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44	Internal Transfers
45	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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47		Transfers in:	Yes: with the only restrictions based on entry criteria and capacity.				Transfers out:	Yes.
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50	Statement of Purpose
51	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.
52	The MA in Public History, which evolved due to on-going innovative research conducted by the department of History’s Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past, explores how the dynamic ways in which ideas about history and uses of history engage diverse public audiences. We investigate how narratives of the past function in our society and how identities are constructed in the present, using the past. On graduating from the MA in Public History you will have developed an in depth understanding of the theoretical issues pertaining to the study and practice of public history across multiple fields and contexts, enabling you to challenge conventional thinking. Your ability to read extensively—to discern what matters from a mass of data—will be advanced. Your ability to read intensively will become sophisticated, enabling you to highlight the provenance and purpose behind a particular source or part thereof. You will be exposed to interdisciplinary and cutting-edge approaches to historical scholarship. You will develop high-level manual and digital search skills, and to reflect deeply on your chosen analytical method. You will be exposed to a diverse range of textual and non-textual sources, and will be able to discuss them in a convincing and credible way. You will develop your ability to write effectively, particularly in extended formats. You will also have gained significant practice-based work experience in the field of public history through a placement module with an external host organisation. We work closely with local heritage sites and organisations, such as museums, charities and community groups, as well as national partners such as media companies, to offer students access to leading practitioners, exciting placement opportunities and experience of working on innovative projects. As well as being taught by experts within the university you will have seminars and workshops with external tutors who work in television, in publishing, in museums, in digital technologies and game design. The MA will therefore extend your theoretical knowledge of public history as well as your practical experience of developing public histories, opening up possibilities for further professional development or progression to a research degree.
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63	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).
64	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
65	Postgraduate Certificate in Public History			exit award only					any 60 credits
66	Postgraduate Diploma in Public History			exit award only					any 120 credits including 'Research Project'
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68	Programme Learning Outcomes
69	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...'
70	1	Deploy an in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of cutting edge scholarship to interpret and account for the many ways in which the public engages with the past, understands the past and generates new histories of the past.
71	2	Construct innovative research questions and defend robust agruments.
72	3	Employ advanced research skills, including how to locate supporting evidence an d data using manual and digital techniques, and match and manipulate raw materials using carefully chosen and clearly articulated methodologies drawn where appropriate from other disciplines to advance historical scholarship.
73	4	Undertake interdisciplinary research, demonstrating a high capacity for independent thought and action, take responsibility in challenging situations, and make decisions in the face of complexity and uncertainty.
74	5	Communicate research findings imaginatively, lucidly and succinctly using a variety of media forms including short reports, oral presentations and extended pieces of writing.
75	6	Understand the ethical and practical issues that arise during advanced historical research, particularly those that involve the presentation of difficult and traumatic histories or working with a wider public either as an intended audience or as participants in surveys and projects.
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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	The core module caters for students with a diverse background in History, the teaching of which varies across HEI in the UK, and overseas. All modules have formative essays which are revised for the summative work supported by tutors all of whom have twice weekly office hours. The Research Training module provide generic training in project design, finding sources, in ethics and in academic writing (ie how to construct an argument) and is undertaken before students commence their ISM.
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84	Inclusion
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86	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.
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88	Employability
89	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.
90	The programme provides an opportunity for learning advanced transferrable skills in project management—via especially the independent study module, a nine-month sets of activities to be planned and executed; in lucid and succinct report writing to a deadline; in collecting information from a diverse range of sources; in storing and analysing qualitative and quantitative data; in working collaboratively and inclusively with colleagues to debate contestable claims; in thinking critically about the advantages and disadvantages of group think (confirmation bias) which all organisations are prone to; in preparing detailed pre-meeting briefs; in conducting inclusive discussions; and in communicating in person clearly and confidently—both in one-to-one situations and in front of a large group of people.
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96	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
97	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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99	Year abroad					Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?
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