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Postgraduate Programme Specification

PgDip Public History

Academic Year 2022/23

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title PgDip Public History Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Postgraduate Diploma
Programme Code HIS-PD-PH UCAS Code HECoS Code 100302 - History - 100

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

--

Interview Required

--

Mode of Study Full Time
Type of Programme Postgraduate Length of Programme Full Time - 1 Academic Year
Total Credits for Programme 120
Exit Awards available No

Institute Information

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

History (2014)

Accreditations (PSRB)

No accreditations (PSRB) found.

Regulation Information

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

N/A

Programme Specific Regulations

N/A

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

Educational Aims Of Programme

Intellectual aims

This will give students the opportunity to:
- develop an advanced knowledge and understanding of the core theories, issues, concepts and scholarly debates in the field of Public History
- explore critically the range of ways in which history is presented to and experienced by public audiences, and how history is engaged with and used for a variety of purposes in the public realm
- understand a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives and intellectual contexts when considering the relationship between the past and public realm
- explore and understand issues relating to the exploration, presentation, and consumption of difficult or contested historic narratives in the public sphere in a number of comparative contexts.


Skills development aims

This will give students the opportunity to
- develop skills in presenting history to a range of public audiences for a variety of purposes using a range of methods ( including public presentation, media, photography, exhibition design, online curation, oral history collection).
- develop a range of academic and professional skills including the ability to engage in independent research
- work collaboratively with practitioners in the cultural and heritage sectors
- work independently and as part of a team in presenting aspects of history to a range of public audiences

Impact development aims
This will give students the opportunity to:
- understand how their learning, knowledge and understanding equips them to contribute to debates around the practice, purpose and understanding of history in the public realm
- contribute to academic impact by stimulating and shaping intellectual debates in Public History
- work with practitioners and academics to build capacity in the heritage and cultural sectors across Northern Ireland and beyond
- develop their own academic and professional impact across a wide range of developmental skills through training events, peer engagement, engagement with public audiences and heritage professionals, and an internship.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Recognise and use appropriate theories, concepts and principles from history and relevant cognate disciplines.
Understand and communicate complex ideas and concepts to both academic and public audiences
Critically evaluate the theory and practice of history in academic and public spheres

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, readings
Seminars, field work, practitioner workshops, internship
Seminars, field work, practitioner workshops, internship

Methods of Assessment

Essays
Essays, presentation, projects
Essays, presentation

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Critically evaluate the communication of historical knowledge and understanding by bodies outside the academy
Understand how the content and communication of knowledge can be adapted to meet the needs of a range of audiences
Understand the challenges presented in conveying contested historical narratives to public audiences
Understand the development of public history as an academic field
Understand common theories and methodologies utilised by historians
Utilise a range of methods to communicate ideas and historical narratives (eg. Exhibits, Digital Media, Published Text)

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, field work, practitioner workshops, internship
Seminars, field work, practitioner workshops, internship
Seminars, field work, practitioner workshops, internship
Seminars
Seminars
Seminars, workshops, projects

Methods of Assessment

Essays, projects, presentations
Essays, projects, presentations
Essays, projects, presentations
Essay
essay
Projects; blogs; portfolio

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Demonstrate an ability to use effectively relevant archives, finding aids and online resources in completing a major personal research project
Undertake a public history project in the workplace both individually and as part of a team and to reflect critically on their practice

Handle, catalogue, describe and organise historical sources and artefacts
Develop skills relating to the assessment and analysis of sources.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Seminars, calendaring project
Internship; fieldwork
Seminars; fieldwork; practitioner workshops
Seminars;

Methods of Assessment

Calendar/finding aid and introductory essay
Portfolio, presentation, and reflective essay
Essays; presentations
Calendaring project and interpretive essay;

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Communicate complex ideas effectively to a range of audiences
Manage time and resources and work effectively as part a team
Demonstrate an ability to conceptualise, plan and see through to completion a major personal research project to a high standard of historical professionalism
Demonstrate competency and a professional approach to undertaking research and the presentation of project work

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Archival visits; calendaring project; practitioner workshops; internship

practitioner workshops; field trips; internship

Seminars
Seminars, internship,

Methods of Assessment

Calendar and portfolio
Portfolio and reflective essay
Essays

Module Information

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Public History Internship(MA Public History pathway) MHY7091 7 40 -- YES 12 weeks N YES -- 80% 20% 0%
The Historian's Craft MHY7020 7 20 YES -- 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%
Case Studies in History MHY7089 7 20 -- YES 12 weeks N YES -- 80% 20% 0%
Individually Negotiated Topic in History MHY7011 7 20 YES -- 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%
History and its Audiences MHY7092 7 20 YES -- 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%

Notes

Students must take 120 credits - 6 MODULES (THREE in Semester 1 and THREE in Semester 2)
Students are required to take FIVE CORE modules (THREE in semester 1 and TWO in semester 2 (one of which is a double-weighted module).


“Students will be notified each academic year of the optional modules being offered in the following academic year. Students are advised that not all optional modules will necessarily be offered in each academic year. Also, the delivery of a module may be subject to a minimum number of enrolments as well as unforeseen circumstances (e.g. illness of a member of staff). The range and content of optional modules will change over time as degree programmes develop and students’ choice of optional modules may also be limited due to timetabling constraints.“