This taught course is a pathway within the MA in History. For further details of the M.A. in History, please see the Cardiff University Postgraduate Prospectus.
Course convenor: Professor Peter Edbury. This course runs under the auspices of the Cardiff Centre for the Crusades.
The course consists of two parts. The pass mark for all courses is 50; the standard to be attained must be at least equivalent to upper-second or first class for a first degree. Candidates must achieve this standard in both parts of the course, and must reach the required standard in Part One before they may proceed to Part Two.
Part One of the course covers two semesters and comprises both taught courses and guided study.
1. Students must take one of:
This course forms the theory element of the M.A. in History. It does not directly cover the history of the Crusades but introduces students to the theoretical bases which underlie the scholarly study of history. The course is taught through fortnightly two-hour seminars, informal lectures, and a series of practical workshops; it is examined through a 4,000-word essay and a two-hour, unseen written examination. It has three components:
Or:
An alternative to HST644, where historical theory, methods and research approaches are taught with a focus entirely upon research on medieval Britain. This course is more suitable for those students who wish to specialise in primary research into medieval history. It is taught by one two-hour class per fortnight across the autumn and spring semesters. Assessment is by one 4,000-word essay.
A ten-week compulsory module, taught over ten weeks in the autumn semester. Assessment is by a portfolio of work.
Two courses of specific skills training, tailored to the needs of each student in the light of their dissertation topic, such as language skills (students will normally be expected to attend classes in Latin (HST022 Postgraduate Latin 1 for beginners, or HST904 Reading Medieval Latin for those who already have some knowledge of Latin) and may also attend the course HST806 Reading Old French) and HST822 Medieval Palaeography. The method of assessment varies between modules, but is normally by a portfolio of work.
In these two guided study modules, candidates will write two 2,000-word historiographical essays, one on each of their two crusade courses. Students who take a 20-credit Latin course, HST022 or HST904, need take only one of these two Historiographical Studies modules.
Students take TWO courses on the history of the crusades.
There are ten contact hours, in the autumn semester. This course may be taught through weekly one-hour seminars or fortnightly two-hour seminars. It is assessed by one essay of 4,000 words, based on primary and secondary material, on a topic agreed with the tutor.
Students choose to specialise in one aspect of the subject. Possible fields include:
Not all options will be available every year.
There are ten contact hours, in the spring semester. This course may be taught through weekly one-hour seminars
or fortnightly two-hour seminars. It is assessed by one essay of 4,000 words, based on
primary and secondary material, on a topic agreed with the tutor.
For full-time candidates (taking the M.A. over one year) the essays for these courses will be required by the end of the Easter break in the second semester of study, and examinations will be taken in the spring examination period.
For part-time candidates (taking the M.A. over two years) the essays for these courses will be required by the end of the third semester of study. Examinations will be taken in the spring examination period at the end of the second semester of study. Part-time candidates may arrange with tutors to spread their option courses over three semesters or may take all their option courses in the first two semesters, although this may depend on the availability of courses.
Exemptions to the deadlines for the submission of assessed work will be granted
only if
the appropriate medical evidence or evidence of special circumstances is submitted.
Candidates who obtain 120 credits in Part One will be
permitted to proceed to a project leading to a dissertation of not more than 20,000 words.
Dissertations will be due on a date in mid-September laid down by the University
regulations currently in force. Full-time students will submit the dissertation not later
than twelve months after beginning the course; part-time students will submit the
dissertation not later than two years after beginning the course.
For further information on the M.A. in the History of the Crusades, please contact Prof Peter Edbury (E-mail: Edbury@cardiff.ac.uk) or Dr Helen Nicholson (E-mail: NicholsonHJ@cardiff.ac.uk).
Applications for this M.A. course and for other options available within the M.A. in History and Welsh History should be addressed to: The Postgraduate Admissions Office, The Registry, Cardiff University, 30-36 Newport Road, CF24 0DE, Wales, U.K. Please see the University postgraduate application information. In order to facilitate timetabling arrangements for the MA in History, candidates for the Crusades courses are asked to apply as soon as possible in the academic year preceding their intended date of entry, preferably before 1 February and in any case not after 31 July.
Return to the SHARE History and Welsh History Homepage or to the MA in History
This page is maintained by Dr Helen Nicholson. Last updated 19 August 2010 and valid until 1 September 2011.