Module HIST42130: Issues in African History

Department: History

HIST42130: Issues in African History

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To gain an advanced understanding of aspects of the theoretical and conceptual approaches to African history

Content

• This course introduces students to key debates and issues in African History. It covers the pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial history of Africa since c. 1800 and allows students to focus on particular countries or regions of interest or to adopt a comparative approach. It will also address the problems faced by historians in using various kinds of sources to write African history. The thematic areas of study may include states and ‘stateless’ societies; government; land and labour; environment and development; war; colonialism; nationalism; ethnicity; religion and gender. Students will be able to focus intensively on one of these topics in their coursework, but will be expected to engage with the full range through oral presentations and discussion.

Learning Outcomes

• advanced knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and conceptual approaches relevant to African history

• http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/PGModuleProformaMap/

• http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/PGModuleProformaMap/

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

• Student learning is facilitated by a range of teaching methods.
• Seminars and Group Discussion require students to reflect on and discuss: their prior knowledge and experience; set reading of secondary and, where appropriate, primary readings; information provided during the session. They provide a forum in which to assess and comment critically on the findings of others, defend their conclusions in a reasoned setting, and advance their knowledge and understanding of history.
• Structured reading requires students to focus on set materials integral to the knowledge and understanding of the module. It specifically enables the acquisition of detailed knowledge and skills which will be discussed in other areas of the teaching and learning experience.
• Assessment is by means of a 5000 word essay which requires the acquisition and application of advanced knowledge and understanding of an aspect of the conceptual and theoretical approaches to African history. Essays require a sustained and coherent argument in defence of a hypothesis, and must be presented in a clearly written and structured form, and with appropriate apparatus.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One or more short assignments delivered orally and discussed in a group context

■ 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