Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2007-2008 (archived)

Module HIST56030: The British Colonial Rule II

Department: History

HIST56030: The British Colonial Rule II

Type Open Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2007/08
Tied to

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • HIST50130, HIST55930

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To further study the nature of administration in the British empire and the engagement between structures of authority in the colonial context, normally leading to a dissertation in this field and which will enable students to acquire specific learning outcomes of the programe as whole including:
  • a specialist knowledge of imperial history
  • bibliographic 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 additional selected aspects of the nature of British colonial rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, reflecting current debate on the subject, and the particular interests of the student. Topics may include the study of protectorates of various kinds, to colonies, to mandates, contrasting case studies, the circumstances which created these very differing systems, and the way such structures were associated with real differences in the nature of governance.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students should build up a critical understanding of the history of this aspect of imperial rule and should become aware of other boundaries of current knowledge relating to the subject.
  • Students should acquire detailed knowledge and critical understanding of one topic chosen in conjunction with the supervisor.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • 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.
Key Skills:

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

    Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

    Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
    Tutorials 5 Fortnightly 1.5 7.5
    Other: Unscheduled meetings as requested by the student. Variable Variable Up to a total of 2.5 hrs 2.5
    Preparation & Reading 290
    Total 300

    Summative Assessment

    Component: Essay Component Weighting: 100%
    Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
    Essay 5000 words 100%

    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.


    Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University