MA Modern History

Program Overview

The MA Modern History program at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), United Kingdom, offers a sophisticated postgraduate degree that allows students to delve into the transformative period from the 18th century to the present day. Situated within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the program leverages the rich historical context of Canterbury while focusing on developing advanced professional and research skills crucial for an increasingly global and digitalized world. It is a research-led and student-inspired course, building on the success of the university's undergraduate history provision. The program encourages students to explore the profound role of social change, investigate intellectual, political, and cultural history, interrogate social memory, and learn about histories of emotion and sentiment. 1 Students have the flexibility to customize their degree, designing an individually negotiated topic and a substantial research dissertation, which are recognized achievements by employers. This degree provides pathways into the cultural and heritage sectors, and equips students with skills in public history, digital history, and heritage at an MA level. The course is suitable for graduates from relevant disciplines, and its rigorous yet accessible nature makes it appealing to those looking to specialize, change careers, or return to academic study.  

Curriculum: The curriculum of the MA Modern History is designed to provide a rigorous and engaging exploration of historical periods from the 18th century to the present day. While specific module titles may vary, the program emphasizes advanced historical methodologies and critical engagement with sources. Students explore a wide range of themes including the brutal slave trade, the growth and decline of empires, major global conflicts (such as the World Wars and the Cold War), struggles for national independence, and contemporary issues like terrorism, all to better understand how the modern world was shaped. The learning experience is primarily delivered through graduate-level seminars and workshops, where students are expected to prepare in advance for substantive class discussions on primary sources, key secondary literature, and various historical methods and approaches. The program culminates in a substantial 60-credit Dissertation, an independent research project that allows students to delve deeply into a topic of their choice. Assessments are entirely coursework-based and may include essays, annotated bibliographies, mock reports, consultancy papers, presentations, podcasts or other digital outputs, and independent research projects, with no exams.

Research Focus: Canterbury Christ Church University's School of Humanities and Education Studies, which hosts the MA Modern History program, maintains a vibrant research culture that directly informs teaching and learning. The program is research-led, with students being taught by experienced academic staff who are noted authors and specialists in their respective historical fields. The faculty's research and supervision areas within modern history encompass a broad range, including modern Irish and British History, and modern (North) American history, among others. The university's location offers convenient access to numerous archives in London and locally in Kent, providing students with opportunities to engage directly with original historical sources. The program's emphasis on the dissertation encourages students to develop their own advanced research skills, enabling them to contribute to scholarly debates and explore areas of historical inquiry in depth. The History and Archaeology unit at CCCU had 90% of its research and outputs graded at 4* ('World-Leading') or 3* ('Internationally Excellent') in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, indicating a strong commitment to impactful research.

Industry Engagement: The MA Modern History program at Canterbury Christ Church University actively prepares students for professional careers, particularly within the cultural and heritage sectors. The curriculum is designed to develop skills and knowledge through involvement in public history, digital history, and heritage at the Master's level. Students develop highly sought-after transferable skills such as empirical research, critical thinking, and clear writing, which are valued across a spectrum of professions. The university emphasizes its long-standing heritage of working with public sector organizations, businesses, and industries to develop postgraduate courses that deliver the skills and knowledge employers need. While specific formal placements for this MA are not explicitly detailed, the program's focus on practical outputs such as mock reports, consultancy papers, podcasts, and other digital outputs, rooted in original research, mirrors professional practices. Furthermore, the university's extensive outreach and engagement programs with schools, charities, community groups, businesses, and industry specialists in Kent and Medway may provide networking opportunities.

Global Perspective: The MA Modern History program at Canterbury Christ Church University inherently embraces a profound global perspective, recognizing that the modern period (from the 18th century to the present day) witnessed rapid progress in globalization, conflict, and the expansion of human rights. The curriculum enables students to study significant global events and themes, such as the brutal slave trade, the growth and decline of empires, major wars between Great Powers, Cold War superpower confrontation, struggles for national independence, and the terrorism of 9/11. By exploring these pivotal moments, students experience the clash of ideas, cultures, and politics, fostering a deeper understanding of how the contemporary world was made. The program equips students to thrive in an increasingly globalized and digitalized world, preparing them to be "truly global citizens" by analyzing complex evidence, tracing connections between culture, society, politics, and economics across various regions and time periods, and understanding global change.