University of Manchester

BA in History and Sociology

The History and Sociology degree is designed to give students unique training in two academic disciplines.

By combining the skills and insights of History and Sociology, students achieve a thorough induction into studying the past alongside the approaches and theoretical frameworks relating to the study of society.

This Joint Honours degree is designed to develop students knowledge of both disciplines, especially through core modules such as History in Practice, which equips students with the key intellectual tools for historical study at the university level and Researching Culture and Society, which develops student's understandings of a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Taught by faculty members, who are both dedicated teachers and world-leading experts in their fields, and with whom students interact daily in lectures, seminars and one-to-one meetings, the course aims to develop a range of essential and transferable skills.

By writing essays, projects and dissertations on both subjects, students learn how to develop their ability to write, present and discuss complex ideas and arguments.

By engaging with an exciting and demanding course, students also develop habits of self-management, independence and collaborative work.

History and Sociology students can develop further their interests by joining a wide range of student-led societies, including the Sociology and History Societies, as well as many others focused on politics, media or sport.

Course content for year 1

Designed to assist students with the intellectual transition to university study, level 1 modules focus on introducing students to key conceptual and methodological issues in relation to History and Sociology.

All students take History in Practice, in which students learn important skills in research and writing to equip them for historical study at the university level and Researching Culture and Society that introduces students to the core issues of sociological methods and research.

Course content for year 2

Modules become increasingly specialist and the programme offers significant choice and flexibility.

Students get to choose between a History or a Sociology Independent Research Project, which is an extended piece of coursework supervised on a one-to-one basis on a topic of the student's choice.

Course content for year 3

Students may specialise in the periods and subjects that they have found most interesting.

Students get to choose between a History or a Sociology Dissertation, which is an extended piece of coursework based on independent research and supervised on a one-to-one basis on a topic of the student's choice, which our students generally find to be the most enjoyable and fulfilling part of their studies.

Study History at Manchester and you will come away with a degree that is well-regarded by employers for the outstanding analysis and critical thinking skills you will develop.

The University of Manchester is the most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2019).

Our graduates enjoy success in a wide range of careers, reflecting the high regard in which employers hold a History degree from Manchester, including the BBC - with whom we have well-established links - as well as KPMG, Deloitte, Marks and Spencer, Aviva, Accenture and Barclays. Typical professions for History graduates include:

• teaching and academia;
• heritage and museums;
• the Civil Service;
• policy and thinktanks;
• creative industries;
• media and journalism;
• marketing and public relations;
• law and accountancy;
• finance;
• NGOs.

Many of our graduates go on to undertake further study such as master's and PhD degrees, PGCEs or law conversion courses before taking up their careers.