Programme Specification

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		MA Public History			Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)					Master of Arts
Programme Code		HIS-MA-PH		UCAS Code			HECoS Code				100302 - History - 100

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Mode of Study

Part Time or Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

Part Time - 3 Academic Years Full Time - 1 Academic Year

Total Credits for Programme

180

Exit Awards available

No

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.

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: 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, dissertation. Essays, dissertation, 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; dissertation. Methods of Assessment Calendar/finding aid and introductory essay. Portfolio, presentation, and reflective essay. Essays; presentations. Calendaring project and interpretive essay; dissertation.
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, dissertation. Seminars, internship. Methods of Assessment Calendar and portfolio. Portfolio and reflective essay. Dissertation. Essays and dissertation.

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	Y	YES	--	80%	20%	0%
History and its Audiences	MHY7092	7	20	YES	--	12 weeks	N	YES	--	100%	0%	0%
Belfast: Place, Identity and Memory in a Contested City	IRS7011	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%
The Historian's Craft	MHY7020	7	20	YES	--	12 weeks	N	YES	--	100%	0%	0%
Individually Negotiated Topic in History	MHY7011	7	20	YES	--	12 weeks	N	--	YES	100%	0%	0%
Dissertation	MHY7010	7	60	YES	YES	12 weeks	N	YES	--	100%	0%	0%

Notes

Students must take 180 credits - 6 MODULES (THREE in Semester 1 and THREE in Semester 2) PLUS the MA Dissertation (60 credits).
Students are required to take FIVE CORE modules (TWO in semester 1 and TWO in semester 2 PLUS the double-weighted MA Dissertation) PLUS ONE OPTIONAL module in semester 1.

Students should normally have passed all taught modules prior to progression to the dissertation.

“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.“