Modern and Contemporary History BA (Hons)

About This Course

This course provides the opportunity to study British, European and American history from the modern period to the present day. Through the topics studied you will learn how to examine contemporary issues in their historical context, exploring the development of modern society and politics. You will delve deeper into more specialised topics, such as Nazi Germany or the Cold War. The essential skills of analysis, argument and communication acquired are highly valued by employers.

This course aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of human History, concentrating on the period after 1750. It encourages you to take an analytical approach to the modern and contemporary eras, so that you can understand and contribute to historical controversies, and can understand ways in which the past is at least partly constructed in the present. It therefore hopes to train you intellectually so you can explain the relevance of the past in the present, understand the problems of interpreting written and other evidence, and gain skills of research, analysis, problem-solving, construction of argument and communication.

History is one of the most inspiring, dynamic and relevant subjects that can be studied at degree level, and so it is no surprise that History remains one of the most popular degree subjects in the UK. It has an established range of concerns, but it is always expanding and changing as it responds to new themes or ideas raised by other disciplines. It is also a very practical subject, and during your degree you will develop various transferable skills that employers value highly. Surveys consistently indicate that History graduates obtain employment more rapidly than graduates in many apparently more 'vocational' subjects.

Why choose Bangor for this course?

• Teaching led by an international team of lecturers who are experts in their fields.
• Fantastic opportunities for local field trips to renowned historic sites, including and the house where David Lloyd George was born and the great country houses, Plas Newydd and Penrhyn Castle.
• A local area steeped in history (including UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and provides a resource for fieldwork and a superb location for study.
• A dedication to small-group teaching and one-to-one support.
• A focus on modern and contemporary history will enable an in-depth grasp of period-specific approaches, themes and concepts.