Course overview
Explore history through the ages, from modern and contemporary European history to the ancient world. Dive into social and cultural history and choose topics that spark your interest and complement your career goals. If you are in full or part-time work and want to enter the field, or enhance your skills, this course is ideal for you.
Develop your understanding of historical investigation, interrogating the relationships between sources, theory and interpretation. Gain desirable transferrable skills to take with you into your career, including critical thinking, verbal and written communication, and research.
Top reasons to study this course:
- Expert teaching: our staff are internationally published, subject-matter experts with decades of experience across the sphere.
- Flexible learning: all your course materials are online and can be accessed at any time, so you choose how, when and where you study.
- Supportive environment: as a member of our online community, you are encouraged to find your voice. You gain support specific to your needs, from professional to personal supervision.
- North East Film Archive: gain access to the unique on campus North East Film Archive, dating back 130 years, this fascinating collection of material provides an insight into memorable events of the decades, people’s lives and communities. Showcased in In the Veins, a powerful short film produced in collaboration with the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive, this rich archive brings history to life capturing the enduring legacy of mining heritage in the region.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
America: From Watergate, Trump and Beyond
The US is more divided now than it has been for quite some time – or so goes a popular theory. Explore the factors that have led to the current political situation in the US, where republicans and democrats are embroiled in a political struggle and culture war that centres on issues surrounding women’s rights, immigration, healthcare, climate change and science, taxation, the media, the powers of congress, and the presidency. You examine the idea that the divisions among the political elite and most politically active, are mirrored within US society as a whole.
This is a 20-credit module.
Britain and Europe from 1870 to the Present
Gain an overview of Britain and Europe from 1870 to the present. Take a chronological approach, from the unification of Germany and Italy, through to two world wars, the Cold War and the European Union. Within the British political history strand of the module, you investigate colonialism, the impact of two world wars on British politics and society, the implications of the introduction of the welfare state and Keynesian economic policies during the consensus period, and the shift towards neo-liberal forms of governance and politics in the late twentieth century and beyond. Within the European political history strand of the module, the chronological approach is shared, but you investigate these years with a more international, European focus. Beginning with a study of the major unifications in 1870, the strand investigates, WW1, the emergence of authoritarian and totalitarian dictatorships in interwar Europe, WW2, the Cold War, and post-Cold war military and economic integration.
This is a 40-credit module.
France 1787-1804: Revolution to Napoleon
Study how history is shaped by a variety of forces – economic, political, ideological, cultural and more. The French Revolution is the most important event in modern political history and has shaped much of the political life of Europe and beyond. Explore modern ideas about democracy, nationalism, secularism, socialism, freedom, communism, conservatism, feminism and the concept of revolution.
History is made up of interpretations, debates, arguments and passion. It seeks to provide the most compelling and widely accepted explanation of why events happened as they did, and why other possible futures did not. Examine two case studies that form some of the most contested areas of historical debate, centred around the issue of Empire, and gain a deeper understanding into how the discipline of history works.
Year 2 core modules
Future Directions: Research, Careers and Development in the Humanities
Develop graduate skills in preparation for further study, employment or lifelong learning, through engagement with our Student Futures team and humanities practitioners. Gain insight into career pathways and explore the opportunities available to humanities graduates, including as educators, policy-makers, publishers, facilitators, communicators, and creatives. Work on an individual project, either work focused or academic focused.
This is a 20-credit module.
Investigate the history of the North East and Teesside, and gain a deeper understanding of the region, both past and present. Learn about the area’s history, culture, and society through topics such as its foundation, economic development, demographic history, social structure, and political outlook.
This is a 20-credit module.
Revolutionary Change: Mass Movements, Peoples and Cultures
Examine one of the key phenomena of the modern age - revolutionary change - and how this has shaped the modern world. The American Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Chinese Revolution, anti-colonial revolutions, Iranian Revolution and the counter-revolutions of 1989 - 1991 have been influential across the globe.
Investigate theoretical approaches to understanding the phenomenon of revolution, the political revolution and change. And research other types of revolutionary change in society such as those in the economic, technological, social and cultural fields. You explore counter-revolutionary resistance and attempts to reverse change as the counter-revolution has been, and remains, key to modern history and politics.
This is a 40-credit module.
War and Society: The First World War and Other Conflicts
Examine the impact of the First World War on the societies of the major combatants. Explore how the world’s first total war influenced social change, either by accelerating or preventing it, and whether any of the social changes that did occur due to the war had lasting effects.
Year 3 core modules
Engage in a piece of advanced research into politics or international relations, allowing you to follow a theme or particular interest under the guidance of a supervisor. You are prepared for the workplace, enabling you to apply the skills you have acquired and developed during the course.
This is a 40-credit module.
Through examining primary source material and current historiography, develop an understanding of significant gender-related themes in history. Become conversant in debates on the current status of gender history as an academic discipline and assess its influence in the wider culture. Explore how economic circumstances, work, sex, marriage, motherhood, fatherhood, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, politics and culture have shaped the human experience and what this tells us about the societies in which humanity has lived.
This is a 20-credit module.
Explore the political, economic, social and cultural development of Britain in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Develop your skills in using sources and on the capacity for critical engagement with historiography. Complete an in-depth study of Thatcher's Britain, centred on an increased focus and engagement with primary source material.
The Rise of the Nazis, the Third Reich and Beyond
Study the Third Reich from 1933 to 1945. Examine the social, cultural, political and economic characteristics of the Nazi racial state in peace and war. Topics include racial ideologies, the police state, racism as state policy, the propagation of the Volksgemeinschaft, racial policies towards men, women and youth, racial persecution of minorities, Nazi antisemitism, economic and foreign policy, racial extermination and Nazi Empire.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
This course is delivered completely online. You learn through lectures, seminars, guided discussion and assigned reading.
How you are assessed
You receive continuous feedback from tutors and peers through discussion forums.
You complete a range of informal and formal assessments. Formal assessment includes a dissertation project, primary source analyses, short independent research projects, essays and knowledge exchange projects.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
A typical offer is 96 -112 tariff points from at least two A-levels, a T level or equivalent, and GCSE grade 4 (grade C) in English.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
A variety of career paths are open to you, including law, accountancy, social work, librarianship, journalism, public relations, teaching, retail management and local government work.
Learning platform
Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is the platform you use to access your online course
Teesside University online learning courses are delivered through the Brightspace Learning Environment.
Here are some of the benefits.
- You can use it on your smartphone, tablet and computer.
- And you can use it anytime, so that you can plan your learning to fit your own schedule.
- It's easy to use and navigate.
- Modules are set out by topics and themes. You can use the progress bar to understand where you are in your modules, and appreciate your achievements.
- We support you to become familiar with your VLE, helping you to start learning quickly.
- You get feedback, help and guidance from tutors throughout your course through the VLE, and you can ask questions at any time.
- Our tutors use a live activity feed to keep you updated about your course.
- You can create a student profile, collaborate with other students and take part in online discussion forums.