Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• The course elements: individuals, social groups, institutions, economic, cultural and ideological conditions, and events related to these
• Relationships and trends in the period covered by the course
• Methodology used in the analysis of topics
• How historical knowledge is established

Skills

The candidate has the ability to/knowledge of:

• Criticize, comment on, and edit texts and documents in accordance with the general rules of criticism used in historical studies
• Communicate orally on the subject using the correct terminology and techniques of the subject
• Critically analyse historical data, sources and literature, and draw independent conclusions on the basis of such materials
• Organize complex historical information in a logically consistent manner
• Information retrieval and search tools.

General competence

The candidate can/has:

• Communicate academic content, both orally and in writing
• Work independently with a given problem
• Analyse a topic from several angles
• An awareness of, and respect for, perspectives that have different national, cultural and historical origins
• A critical awareness of the relations between past and current events and processes.

Course Description

The course is research-based in that the teaching staff normally consists of active researchers. Research source material may be used by the subject teachers as examples in lectures or academic exercises.
The topics offered will vary from year to year, depending on resources and the number of students who enrol on the course.
The course will deal with the following themes:

• The French Revolution
• The outbreak of the First World War
• The Soviet Union 1917 – 1991
• The eruption of the Cold War
• The modern history of Israel and Palestine

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course contains three main components in addition to independent reading of the curriculum material:

1) Workshops with lectures at the beginning and end of the semester, usually of two days’ duration each (normally Friday afternoon and Saturday morning). Virtual lectures may also be offered.

2) E-learning tools are used for publishing course material online, including obligatory assignment questions. Audio files with academic lectures / studio discussions will also be published regularly. Other material, such as presentations, text summarization, links and non-obligatory assignments will be published intermittently.
3) Regular group talks will be held at scheduled times online. Other direct contact between teachers and students will be carried out by e-mail or on the phone. Students will also be given the opportunity to take part in academic discussions and group work online.

Assessment Methods

The assessment consists of:

• A submitted assignment which will be assessed on a pass/fail basis
• A final 3-hour written examination

The submitted assignment must achieve a passing mark before the student will be permitted to sit the final examination; students who are given a failing mark on their submitted assignment will be given the opportunity to resubmit the assignment.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean