Advice Needed for History Major

[MouthCorners]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me/give me some advice with choosing my major within the history department. I want to study both Medieval and Modern History (what a misfortune that my area of interest is on the fault line between these two periods), and I was wondering if someone who knows more about the department and requirements, or someone else in the same dilemma, could give me some pointers.

I take it that it is not possible for me to pursue a joint honours degree in Medieval and Modern History. Is that right? A similar option to that is the more broad general History Degree. Is this a good path to take if I don't have much interest in Scottish or Ancient history? And will this major allow me to specialize much?

My final question is about the Medieval Studies program. What are the typical modules taken by people in that major?

Sorry if this is too many questions. I would appreciate answers to any of them, or just general advice. Thanks.

[amore vincit omnia]

Hi MouthCorners! I can't help too much with your question about the Medieval History department, but hopefully I can give you some advice on the general History degree. Bear in mind, though, that the best thing you can do is speak to your advisor when you get here.

It's not necessary to study in all four History departments in order to complete the History degree - I've just finished my first year, when I studied Modern and Scottish, and this coming year I'll do Scottish and Medieval. This is enough to get me into Honours, at which time I'll be able to specialise in the areas I want to pursue. I think (although I may be corrected on this) that since Medieval and Modern cover different time periods, you can get away with just studying both of them for your subhonours years. I would recommend Scottish history though - not only is it a great course, but it overlaps with much of the content of both the Modern and Medieval courses. So not only will you find it interesting, but revision will be a lot easier!
As to your question about specialising - I'm not sure I can be much help here either, as I haven't reached honours yet myself. To the best extent of my knowledge, though, it is possible to pursue your area of interest - especially when it comes to you dissertation and Special Subject in fourth year - just as long as you stick to the course requirements.

Hope all of that was some help!

[hr]

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle

[Big X]

Quoting MouthCorners from 15:56, 11th Jun 2006
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me/give me some advice with choosing my major within the history department. I want to study both Medieval and Modern History (what a misfortune that my area of interest is on the fault line between these two periods), and I was wondering if someone who knows more about the department and requirements, or someone else in the same dilemma, could give me some pointers.

I take it that it is not possible for me to pursue a joint honours degree in Medieval and Modern History. Is that right? A similar option to that is the more broad general History Degree. Is this a good path to take if I don't have much interest in Scottish or Ancient history? And will this major allow me to specialize much?

My final question is about the Medieval Studies program. What are the typical modules taken by people in that major?

Sorry if this is too many questions. I would appreciate answers to any of them, or just general advice. Thanks.

hiya bro

i'm going into 4th year, and i'm doing the exact degree you seem to want to do. first 2 year i did a modern history and a medieval history module in each semester. all on an M.A. History course. you have set modules which you have to do in first and second year, no choice.

then in third year, first semester i did the crusades in mediaval hist. and britain from 1939-51 in modern hist. second semester in did medieval castles in medieval hist. and the evolution of british democracy in modern hist.

now going into 4th year, i'm doing all modern modules (plus a dissertation) but this still allows me to get a combined history degree.

you can specialise as much as you like in 3rd and 4th year, here are the modules you can do in 3rd and 4th year in mediaeval hist...

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~pvadvise/m ... ons1.shtml

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~pvadvise/m ... ons2.shtml

and modern hist....

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~pvadvise/m ... ons1.shtml

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~pvadvise/m ... ons2.shtml

hope this helps

[hr]

"Never apologise for showing feeling, in doing so you apologise for truth" Disraeli

[MouthCorners]

Thanks! It looks like I'm going to shoot for the History degree and do both. I'm up for taking a bit of Scottish history, thats okay, but I am afraid it will be confusing for me because I am not Scottish. Anyways, thanks for the answers. Think I've got it figured out.

[nighteyes]

Why will it be confusing because you are not Scottish?
Im not English but they teach us some English history, Neither am I German, American, Roman, Greek....you get my point.
History is simple. They tell you X happened in Y because A did this to B. Not complicated.

[hr]

i didnt say i was consistant, just right!

[amore vincit omnia]

Good choice I wouldn't worry about Scottish History - yes, it can be confusing at times, but trust me, being Scottish isn't much help! Anyway, the vast, majority of the Scottish History students here are American.
Good luck with whatever you end up doing!

[hr]

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle

[queen of scots]

Don't worry about not being Scottish and taking Scottish history...I had far more Americans in the classes I taught than all other countries combined! No prior knowledge is assumed for the first year modules and St Andrews is a fantastic place to learn about Scottish History.

[hr]

Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.

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[MouthCorners]

Oh, I just am afraid I would be in a class with people with much more background knowledge about Scottish history because of their heritage/nationality. I just learned who William Wallace was last year. Lots of catching up for me!

[box_of_delights]

At the end of second year I changed my degree intention from straight Modern History to the History degree. Having done Mediaeval History modules in second year, along with first and second year Modern History courses, I was eligible to take the History degree. Being set up the way it is would have allowed to me to study entirely all Modern modules, apart from one in third year, (the other would have to be a token Mediaeval, Scottish or Ancient module). Having enjoyed the Mediaeval stuff in second year I decided I would evenly split the module choices across both departments, and will continue to do so for my final year with my dissertation, ironically, being in Mediaeval!

The point I'm getting at is that in order to do the History degree you really only need to pick a very small proportion of the total module credits from a History department outwith the one you're most comfortable with, and I'm sure you don't have to study in one or two of them at all if you don't want to (but check this on the school's website because I only know of the regulations from third year onwards).

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[Octavian]

For the M.A History degree you have also got to make sure that you have taken at least 80 credits outside of ancient/mediaeval/modern/scottish history during your first two years. Oh and during third and fourth year you have to do at least 2 modules (60 credits) from two of the areas rather than the one mentioned above HOWEVER some scottish history stuff can be taken as either mediaeaval or modern