Course summary

The course draws on the Department of History and Welsh History’s longstanding research strengths in modern British, continental European and American history, and its recent investment in Southeast Asian history, to enable you to develop your own research interests in the field of modern history. In Semester 1 you’ll follow a core module that addresses the concept of political culture (addressing such issues as the public sphere, community and participation, the role of the media, etc.) in the modern era. This is followed by a wide range of options in Semester 2 on topics ranging from science and the Victorians to popular memory and the Second World War, from inter-war international diplomacy to policymaking and the American public. Alongside this study, you will benefit from specialist research training tailored to your own particular research interests: for instance, the use of public opinion data or private correspondence, visual and sound media, newspapers and broadcast sources, oral history, etc. You will also have the opportunity to study a modern European language at either beginners or advanced level. There are also classes to help you research and write your MA dissertation, an original research project (15,000 words) undertaken by you and written over the course of the year under the close supervision of a specialist within the Department.