Module HIST55930: The British Colonial Rule I

Department: History

HIST55930: The British Colonial Rule I

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To enable students to study at an advanced level the history of government in the British empire which will enable students to acquire specific learning outcomes of the programme as whole including:
• a specialist knowledge of imperial history
• bibliography skills
• an understanding of historical debates
• advanced skills in writing history
• general skills of the historian

Content

• The module will cover selected aspects of the history of the British Empire in relation to colonial government, reflecting current debate on the subject, and the particular interests of the student. Topics may include the formation of the colonial state, involving the Colonial Office, the colonial administration, non-governmental interest groups, legislative councils and (in some cases) white settlers. Other topics may include the co-option of indigenous authority figures and specific case studies of these processes in particular colonial territories.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be build up a critical understanding of the history of this aspect of imperial rule and should become aware of the boundaries of current knowledge relating to the subject.
• Students should be acquire detailed knowledge and critical understanding of one topic chosen in conjunction with the supervisor.

• Students should be able to undertake a programme of intensive reading directed at a number of topics.
• Students should be able to participate in regular discussion of issues arising from the reading with their supervisor.
• Students should then be able to produce an extensive piece of writing on this agreed subject.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Discussion of work in progress. Written or oral comments on any other agreed written assignment, such as a book review or exploratory essay. In addition, supervisors will normally read and provide written comments on not more than one draft of work being prepared for summative assessment.