You will discover how the USA emerged and how it changed during the formative years between 1776 and 1900. You will study in outline the major events, concepts and issues which shaped American culture in this period. You will examine the creation of the American political system and come to understand the crucial role of the Constitution which makes the United States distinctive. You will explore other themes such as the significance of the frontier and westward expansion, the roots of feminism, and the role of race and ethnicity (particularly the issue of slavery but also the fate of native Americans), and the causes and consequences of the American Civil War, You will consider the ways in which the United States was on the verge of superpower status by 1900. The module is taught by a combination of lectures and seminars. Teamwork and oral skills are promoted through group discussion during seminars, and this helps to prepare you for employment as it encourages interaction with colleagues. You will develop problem solving skills which will be transferable both to other modules and to future employment.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll gain an overview of the major social, political and religious changes that took place in Britain and Europe in early modern period. We'll analyse society and culture in the period and how it changed such as through consumption and family life. You'll look at the impact of the European religious revolution in Britain from the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I to the civil wars of the seventeenth century. You'll explore the political and scientific changes of the late Restoration period and the development of Enlightenment ideas, and at European expansion overseas in the same period, culminating in the outbreak of revolution in America and France.
View the full module definitionTV and radio news, the press and social media report daily on momentous concerns: the war in Ukraine, Covid-19, the climate crisis, Black Lives Matter, the pulling down of statues, Brexit, Northern Ireland, the abortion controversy and so on. But it is rare for the wider picture – the historical backdrop, the long view – to be given. These issues do not come from nowhere, nor are they ‘new’. Some have a long history, for example pandemics have been with us for centuries. You will examine the historical background to issues such as these by exploring their roots and precedents. It will enable you to understand these concerns more fully and thereby be able to engage more knowledgably in debates concerning these pressing issues of the day.
View the full module definitionn this module, you'll explore European history in the long nineteenth century, from Napoleon to the approach of the Great War in 1914. You'll analyse the sources of political and social change that shaped modern European history, including industrialisation, revolution, imperialism, race, war, nationalism and liberalism. By the end of the module, you'll understand some important aspects of how modern Europe came to be as well as the impact that Europe had on people around the globe. At the same time, you'll use the record of change in this period to understand the historian’s craft and build the skills that you will need to succeed at university-level history. This will include encountering both primary and secondary source material and exploring issues of historical interpretation. You'll thus develop the ability to work both individually and as part of a group in understanding the past. More importantly, you'll develop your identity as a historian, an identity you'll take with you into the wider world on finishing your degree. This is not just a description of somebody who writes and researches history for a living, but a way of thinking critically about the past and the present.
View the full module definitionEntering higher education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all our students to make the most of the opportunities higher education provides, reach your potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You'll be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you'll explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where you collect knowledge and complete mini tasks. You'll proceed at your own pace, though we you to have completed your Into ARU exploration by week 6. If for any reason you're unable to complete by that date, we'll signpost to existing services so that we can be confident that you are supported.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll explore the development of Victorian Britain. You'll examine changes in politics and social structure, focusing in particular on the development of the party political system as well as class, gender, sexuality and the economy. Key political and social figures such as Robert Peel, Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria and William Gladstone will be examined. There is an emphasis on the emergence of liberalism and on Victorian Britain as a liberal society. You'll develop communication and teamwork skills during seminars, which will enhance your employability. You'll also deepen your analytical skills by focusing on more complex arguments than at Level 4 and strengthen your ability for autonomous learning and problem solving, in preparation for Level 6.
View the full module definitionThis module introduces you to the development of Britain in the twentieth century. You'll examine changes in politics and social structure; in particular, you'll focus on the development of the party political system as well as class, gender, sexuality and the economy. Key political and social figures such as David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, the Beatles and Margaret Thatcher will be examined by you. You'll consider domestic policy issues, and Britain's global position - particularly as regards Europe. There is an emphasis on the way that the reform tradition came to embrace the welfare state. You'll also examine the impact of Total War on twentieth century society, as well as unemployment, consumerism and the changing roles of women. You'll find it useful for understanding many current social and political controversies as it explores how Britain today came into being. The module employs a combination of lectures and seminars. Teamwork and oral skills are promoted through group discussion during seminars, and this helps to prepare you for employment as it encourages interaction with colleagues. The module will deepen your analytical skills by focusing on more complex arguments than at Level 4. It will develop your ability to engage in autonomous learning and problem solving, thereby preparing you for Level 6.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll explore the key events, individuals, and ideologies, that shaped the ‘short twentieth century’ (1914-1991). You'll assess relations between the great powers before and after the First World War and consider the reasons why superpowers emerged after the Second World War. You'll examine the origins, course, and consequences of the First World War, and develop an understanding of the main issues in domestic and foreign policy in the interwar years, particularly focusing on the ideological challenges to liberal democracy. You'll assess how these influenced the Appeasement debate and international relations during the war and consider the consequences of the Nazis’ Final Solution. You'll examine the changes in global politics in the age of the superpowers and consider how the main flashpoints of the Cold War, including the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, shaped international history after 1945. You'll assess aspects of the global Cold War and examine why the Cold War came to an end when it did and in the way that it did. You'll develop the ability to critically understand the broad themes that shaped twentieth century world history, and you'll enhance your analytical skills and your ability to engage in autonomous learning and problem solving.
Ruskin Modules are a great opportunity to explore challenges and ideas outside your area of study. Working with students from a range of courses, you'll be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines, and apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, realise your potential and help you prepare for the world of work.
On this module, you'll look at the development of the British Empire from the end of the War of American Independence to the end of the Great War. You'll discover how Britain expanded its hold overseas and the developing nature of British Imperial rule, with a balance between looking at individual colonies (the British Caribbean, India, the Opium wars with China, the development of British rule in Canada, etc.) a consideration of general themes underpinning the imperial experience of the British and the peoples of their empire (conflicting theories about the Empire's economic benefits, and the development of imperial consciousness and culture in Britain and of nationalism in the colonies). You'll study the work of medical personnel, missionaries and engineers. You'll engage with different schools of thinking about imperial history, including both the more assertive apologia school and the 'Subaltern' postcolonialist school.
View the full module definitionOn this module, you'll study the development of the United States during the 20th century as it gained superpower status, investigating social and political change from the Progressive era through to Ronald Reagan's presidency. You'll consider such key figures as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Al Capone, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Richard Nixon, with topics including US foreign policy, imperialism, the New Deal, McCarthyism, the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War and Watergate. You'll evaluate themes such as the continuities and changes in foreign policy, the development of the reform tradition as well as the problems of race. This module builds on you work in 'The Growth of the USA,' teaching you to draw upon the history of the United States in order to understand the country's present status. You’ll attend a combination of lectures and seminars. Your teamwork and oral skills will be promoted through group discussion during seminars, helping to prepare you for employment by encouraging your interaction with colleagues. You’ll develop the ability to offer cogent written analysis and informed analysis under pressure. You can also tale this module by distance learning.
View the full module definitionCrime has been a problem for authorities since the dawn of time; however, what constituted a ‘crime’ and how people thought that criminals should be prosecuted has been everchanging. In this interdisciplinary module, you'll consider the history of crime, policing and punishment from the 1600s to present day. Through a range of primary and secondary sources, you'll explore how ideas of crime and attitudes to offences such as murder, rioting and drug use has changed and evolved throughout the centuries. You'll learn about how past societies detected and tried to prevent crime, as well as punished criminals such as through imprisonment, hanging, whipping and transportation. Case studies including Jack the Ripper, the Bloody Code and knife crime of the modern era will be brought in from week to week so that we can explore continuities and changes in crime across history to the present day.
View the full module definitionThis module gives you the opportunity to undertake valuable and rewarding learning and career development opportunity. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences Professional Placement module provides you with the chance to embark on a work placement, where you can gain important skills and experiences which will support your career planning and your personal development. This module supports you to explore your career aspirations and opportunities, immerse yourself in a work environment, and then critically reflecting on the experience. The module requires you to independently research, select, and secure a work placement where you can apply the knowledge and skills from your degree to-date. You'll commit to a regular schedule of work, and regularly reflecting on the experience through a Placement Diary. At the end of the placement, you'll reflect and evaluate your work experience, and your own career goals. You'll be supported throughout your work placement by academic staff, as well as guidance from the Placements/ Employability and Careers team. The Professional Placement module is a great opportunity to explore your graduate career options, enhance your CV, develop your career plans, and put your degree skills and knowledge to work.
On this module you’ll explore the history of Europe, from the French Revolution to the First World War, through the works of major historians. You’ll study the period and its major themes via a collection of classic works of history, some older, some more recent, by historians including Eric Hobsbawm, AJP Taylor, Jonathan Steinberg, Richard Evans, Margaret Macmillan and Christopher Clark. Through their work you will look at Europe in the age of the French Revolution and Napoleon; at conflict and rivalry between the European powers, from the Crimean War through the wars of Italian and German unification to the conflicts of the early twentieth century; at major individuals like Napoleon III and Bismarck; and at international rivalry within Europe and beyond, culminating in a study of the historical debate surrounding the outbreak of the First World War. Through discussion and debate your learning will focus on the differing interpretations put forward by different historians, with an emphasis on close reading and critical analysis. module is specifically designed to help you move from learning the events and factual details of a period, towards direct engagement with contrasting interpretations and debates. You’ll be actively engaged in discussions, working both individually and in small groups, and will subject the chosen texts to close, informed and critical analysis.
View the full module definitionFrom the music hall to reality TV, from Victorian melodrama to the soap opera, in this module you'll discover how popular culture has changed in Britain over a two hundred year period. In so doing, you'll be able to understand your favourite cultural forms in a historical context. We will look at the growth of media (online social media, newspapers, magazines, film, radio, television) and understand them as ways of interpreting culture. Arguments about popular culture as social control and the emergence of mass culture in Britain will be explored. We will discover the extent to which a popular culture (created by the common people) exists or has existed. This module might be of specific interest to those considering going into media related professions but would also suit those with a more general interest in popular culture. Employing complex forms of analysis, you'll apply cultural theory to historical situations. Teamwork and oral skills are promoted through group discussion and this helps to prepare students for employment as it encourages interaction with colleagues. Assessment will test out your ability to develop solve complex historical problems in a critical and analytical way.
View the full module definitionKnowledge of a foreign language can be a major asset both in your academic and professional life. The Anglia Language Programme offers you the opportunity to study a foreign language as part of your course.
The individual final Major Project module allows you to engage in a substantial piece of individual research, focused on a topic relevant to your specific discipline. Normally the topic will be agreed in consultation with academic staff and an appropriate supervisor will be appointed to supervise you in your chosen topic. The topic may also be drawn from a variety of sources including: Anglia Ruskin research groups, previous or current work experience, the company in which you are currently employed, or a professional subject of specific interest (if suitable supervision is available). The project topic will be assessed for suitability to ensure sufficient academic challenge and satisfactory supervision by an academic member of staff. The chosen topic will require you to identify and formulate problems and issues, conduct literature reviews, evaluate information, investigate and adopt suitable development methodologies, determine solutions, develop software and/or media artefacts as appropriate, process data, critically appraise and present your findings. Regular meetings with the project supervisor and or/group workshops should take place, so that the project is closely monitored and steered in the right direction. The assessment will normally include a substantial written report, including a bibliography.
View the full module definitionIn this interdisciplinary module, you'll learn about the evolution of the British welfare state from a social, cultural and political perspective over some five centuries of history (c. 1601-present). We'll consider how authorities have approached the ‘problem’ of poverty and used various forms of assistance to help people in need, from workhouses, to pillories and whipping, to the NHS, old age pensions and universal credit. We'll consider changes in welfare from multiple perspectives to include policymakers, social reformers, paupers, the sick and the unemployed. Through this, we ask: has our treatment of the needy become more or less compassionate over time? To what extent is today’s society fair or repeating the same mistakes of previous generations? What is the future of the welfare state?
View the full module definitionThis module explores the development of London in the nineteenth century when it became the largest city the world had ever known as well as the centre of the British Empire. You will explore the ways in which the city grew, employing insights from social, economic and urban history. The module examines suburbanisation as well as distinct areas within the metropolis such as the City, the West End and the East End. You'll discuss the challenges that city life posed in terms of access to housing and the workplace as well as issues around crime, sanitation and transport. In addition, you'll explore the way in which the urban environment produced new forms of culture and social life, including representations of the city in art and literature. You'll be encouraged to use digital resources where appropriate.
View the full module definitionWe live in a world dominated by media. Our first port of call when we want to know something is to Google it. Landmark books have shaped and influenced wide-ranging historical and contemporary issues such as the French Revolution, feminism and Black Lives Matter. Social media has played a central role in presidential elections, as well as been linked to a decline in people’s mental health. In this module you'll learn about the past, present and future of media and its role in society. Media is very broadly defined here to include the publishing industry, the internet, social media, TV, radio and many more. Each week, we will focus on one particular form of media and consider its history, before moving on to analyse its role in today’s society and its future. To do this, we will use a wide range of case studies relating to elections, referendums, conspiracies, celebrity culture, censorship, and many more. You'll develop a keen awareness of the importance of media from this and have a sound understanding of how the industries look today. This will put you one step ahead of many candidates on the job market as digital proficiency and understanding media is vital to many positions and businesses.
View the full module definitionOn this module you will consider and contrast the long term effects of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair on British politics since the 1970s. Firstly, you will study how Thatcher deviated from One Nation Conservatism of the 1950s and 1960s, the diagnosis she made of how a society (and government) should function, and the reasons for her electoral triumph in 1979. You will then go on to consider her time in office through the lens of both her core supporters on the one hand and the British left on the other. You will have the opportunity to analyse the effect of Thatcher’s policies on class relations in the UK, and the story of privatisation and reforms to the City of London. The popular platform of Right to Buy, share ownership and moving the low paid out of paying income tax will also be considered. You will then analyse how she has continued to shape British politics since her fall from office in 1990. In doing so, you will look at how she influenced politicians such as John Major, Gordon Brown and, principally, Tony Blair. You will consider how Blair not only learned from Thatcher, but looked across the Atlantic to Bill Clinton and the New Democrats, too. You will consider charges that Blair was a ‘Thatcherite,’ as well as arguments for and against the legacy of New Labour. Throughout, you will have the opportunity to access primary source material via the Margaret Thatcher Foundation online archive and the Reagan online archive.
View the full module definitionIn this module, you will examine Russia’s history from the revolutions in 1917 through to the World Cup in 2018. You will consider the Bolsheviks’ success during the revolutionary era and examine what the formation of the Soviet system and the growth of the Stalinist dictatorship meant for the Russian people. You will assess the era of developed socialism and the emergence of Soviet consumerism, Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms in the 1980s, and the collapse of the USSR. And you will focus on Russia’s troubled transition to a market-based democracy during the chaotic Yeltsin years and Vladimir Putin’s nationalist-authoritarian turn. You will build your knowledge of contemporary Russian history and develop the ability to critically examine Russia’s move from Tsarism to communism to a managed democracy with authoritarian characteristics. Through this module you will develop your analytical skills and your ability to engage in autonomous learning and problem solving.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll consider the tools politicians have used to communicate with the general public and, in turn, how celebrities and other voices have sought to use mass media to influence the political process. In doing so, you'll study the Third Reich itself and how other powers such as the United States sought to build the public relations case for action against Hitler. You'll consider the power of radio, cinema and celebrity in turn. In this module you'll analyse the evolution of such communications from the 1930s through to the twenty-first century, taking in radio, television, and cinema before turning to the world of social media. You'll have the opportunity not only to reflect on the past, but to discuss how contemporary politicians and political campaigners are utilising communication – and how they break from or mirror previous patterns.
View the full module definitionIn this module you'll examine the development of political systems and societies after the Second World. You'll assess different forms of governments across the globe and consider how citizens related to these systems. You'll consider the new political frameworks that emerged after the Second World War, including the UN and the EEC, focus on the emergence of new democracies after the war, and examine the political systems in Eastern Europe, China, and Africa. You'll then examine case studies of particular countries to explore systems that fall between democracy and dictatorship. The focus here is on theocratic Iran, apartheid South Africa and Russia in transition after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The module concludes with an assessment of the 1990s and the construction of the post-Cold War world. You'll build your knowledge of the political history and society of individual countries as well as their place in the world after 1945, and you'll develop the ability to critically examine how change in these countries developed. You'll develop your analytical skills and your ability to engage in autonomous learning and problem solving.
This module‘s focus will move chronologically but also thematically from 1880 to 2000. We'll open by examining late nineteenth-century concerns with the ‘new woman’, the male homosexual, and newly defined sexualities. We'll then move on to consider first-wave feminism, and the First World War in relation to issues of gender. A subsequent focus on the interwar period will cover the emergence of the ‘flapper’, anxieties about male effeminacy, male body building and the development of miscegenation fears – all fuelled by the ever-growing popular press. The effects of gender-differentiated (un)employment in this period will be analysed as well as the development of birth control, taking the work of Marie Stopes as a central focus. We'll examine the trial of The Well of Loneliness and the slow emergence of the idea of the lesbian. We'll investigate women’s role during the Second World War, including drawing on the reportage of Mass-Observation. For the post-war years, we'll consider relations between, and reaction to, British women and African-Caribbean men. The 1950s’ Wolfenden Report offers an opening to the discussion of male homosexuality and prostitution in this period and beyond. The so-called swinging ‘60s and sexual ‘permissiveness’ will be followed by an examination of the rise of the Women’s Liberation Movement and Gay Liberation in the 1970s. We'll look, too, at how feminism developed on from the 1970s up until the turn of the century. This overview of the history of gender and sexuality in modern Britain in the period 1880-2000 will allow you to appreciate how sexuality needs to be understood as socially constructed and regulated, as well as always historically specific. The module will also enable you to appreciate the shifts in the ways in which men and women have conceived of their appropriate ‘roles’, paying attention to differences of class, race, ethnicity, geographical location, sexuality and age. Analysis of certain primary sources will enrich this understanding. The module is taught through lectures and seminars, and is assessed by an oral history essay and the report of an in-class presentation.
View the full module definitionThis module will introduce you to key ideas, concepts and thinkers in the philosophy of education. It will ask you to think about the history of philosophical views about education (in thinkers such as Socrates, Confucius, Plato, Rousseau, and Dewey); the nature and purpose of education; different theories about teaching and learning; how education relates to wider issues such as citizenship, self-fulfilment, positive freedom, critical thinking, morality and authority; and how to think about the role of diversity in education, including multicultural education and justice and inclusion within special education.
Knowledge of a foreign language can be a major asset both in your academic and professional life. The Anglia Language Programme offers you the opportunity to study a foreign language as part of your course.