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History
A Level History
About A Level History
Entry Requirements: A minimum grade 6 at GCSE History, if taken, or a grade 6 in English Language if not.
Course Content and Assessment:
Module 1- Tsarist and Communist Russia, 1855-1964 (40% of A Level)
In this module, you will learn how and why Russia transformed from a gigantic yet ‘backwards’ autocratic Empire, through revolution and civil war, to the dictatorship of Josef Stalin in the 20th century. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was undoubtedly one of the most significant events of the 20th century; we will consider why it happened, looking at the roles of key players from Nicholas II to Vladimir Lenin to the ‘mad monk’ Rasputin. We will analyse the consequences of the revolution for the Russian people and see how far they really did, in the words of Marx, have ‘nothing to lose but their chains.’
Module 2- The English Revolution, 1625-1660 (40% of A Level)
Within the space of a few years in the seventeenth century, Britain was ripped apart by a rebellion in which people believed the world was being ‘turn’d upside down.’ As King Charles I and his opponents grappled over the right to rule, there was an eruption of radical ideas among the people: voting rights, equality, freedom of religion, all advocated centuries before they became enshrined in law. We will study the complex characters of this time period. Was Charles a ‘martyr’, or the ‘man of blood’ who wreaked death and destruction on his people? We also study the deeply controversial Oliver Cromwell, whose reputation is still explosive even to this day.
Coursework- The Civil Rights Movement in the USA, 1860-1970 (20% of A Level)
For your coursework, you will look at the issue of civil rights in the USA during the century from the emancipation of the enslaved Africans to the assassination of Martin Luther King. How far were African-Americans able to rebel against the powerful forces of segregation and injustice? How far do the felled heroes of the movement - King and John F. Kennedy - really deserve their golden reputations? Did Malcolm X really achieve ‘nothing’? We also consider the often-forgotten role of women in the movement as we seek to uncover how (and how far) African-Americans finally won their rights as citizens.
Higher Educations and Careers:
Study for a History degree and you’ll gain a wealth of skills like critical reasoning, research and analytical thinking. It’s a challenging academic subject, and employers regularly see a lot of value in it.
Gaining such a flexible degree will open opportunities in the arts and heritage sector like curatorial or archivist roles. But it doesn’t end there. Such a highly sort after and academically rigorous degree opens you up to career paths in law, medicine, education, government, media, policy, marketing or business, to name but a few. History graduates are valued by a wide range of employers and organisations including heritage organisations, museums and libraries. Other typical employers include banks, accountancy firms, charities, publishing companies, television and radio broadcasters.
