BA History and Philosophy

Compulsory modules

Perspectives in History 

Gain a geographically and chronologically broad study of history, discovering the potential pathways available to you throughout your degree. You’ll not only examine specific historical contexts, but also the historiographies, methodologies and theories that have shaped historians’ perspectives.  

Making History and You: Practices and Possibilities

Embark on your own research project to refine the transferable skills required for studying, and producing, history at university level. You’ll be guided through the process of effective reading, understanding historiographical debate, and how to write in a concise and convincing manner.  

Reason and Argument 

Explore arguments in different contexts such as newspaper opinions, social media spats and philosophical treaties. You’ll develop critical thinking and logic to evaluate claims and arguments. 

Great Works in Philosophy 

You’ll delve into the most important philosophical works, considering the significance of each text and analysing the arguments within them to sharpen your critical skills. 

Optional modules

Arriving in Britain: A History of Immigration, 1685–2004  

Examine the experiences of migrant groups in Britain from the early modern period to the early twenty-first century. Consider the different reasons for migration, forms of persecution and economic motivations, the positive and negative reception to migrants, and how migrants have shaped Britain.  

Doomsday Dystopias: Nuclear Disaster in the Cold war Imagination 

Examine four real Cold War nuclear episodes and the impacts these events had on fictional imagination of disaster: the 1945 Hiroshima/Nagasaki A-bombings which ushered in civil defence in 1950s America; 1962’s Cuban Missile Crisis; 1983’s ‘Able Archer’ NATO exercise that almost triggered war, and 1986’s Chernobyl disaster in the USSR.  

Rape in the United States: From Colonisation to Civil Rights 

Become familiarised with the changing social and legal understandings of rape in the US. Apply your skills to reflect critically upon the historical basis of contemporary ideas surrounding sexual violence, gender and race.  

Warfare in Early Modern Europe, c.1500-1715

Consider the relationship between warfare, and its ‘badges, battles and buttons’, with the wider social, economic and political contexts. You’ll be introduced to war and warfare in early modern Europe and study the consequences of war and the historical basis of our contemporary ideas on war.  

Merlin the Magician

Explore the rise and transformations of the figure of Merlin and its influence upon ideas of magic, prophecy, natural philosophy and power. Examine a period stretching from the twelfth to the twentieth century to develop an understanding of long-term patterns of historical change.  

Everyday Life in a Medieval Town: Reading, 1100-1500 

Explore medieval Reading as a case study to learn more about everyday life in medieval England, drawing on a range of primary materials and developing your analytical skills.  

US Environmental Diplomacy from Nixon to Obama

Explore the evolution of US foreign policy on environmental issues from the Nixon administration to the Obama administration. You’ll be introduced to key ideas and debates on the role of the environment in US foreign policy and learn to reflect critically upon the historical basis of contemporary ideas about global environmental change.

After Malthus: Sex, Society, Sustainability and the Politics of Population in the Long Nineteenth Century

Discover the legacy of Thomas Malthus’ ‘population principle’ in shaping a series of debates across the long nineteenth century and its influence upon ideas of birth control, natural selection, ‘Social Darwinism’, and environmental sustainability.

Radical Philosophy 

Question your assumptions and beliefs by exploring radical philosophical claims. You’ll compare and contrast different ways of doing philosophy, such as phenomenology and deconstruction. 

The Meaning of Life 

Seek answers to the most important philosophical question. You’ll explore different perspectives on the matter to develop and explain your own judgement and defend your position.

Optional Language or University Wide Modules 

Study a module from outside your Department to enhance your understanding of history and culture. Alternatively, you can learn one of ten languages offered by the University at a level appropriate for you. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Optional modules

Going Public: Presenting the Past, Planning the Future 

Explore public interpretations of the past and how history has been presented in the world outside of academia. You’ll work collaboratively with external partners on a group project which will challenge you to deal with ‘difficult’ history and conflicting narratives as you engage with wider audiences.

Preparing for your Dissertation 

Prepare for your dissertation under the supervision of a member of the History Department. As well as key elements in research design, you’ll begin to think about how you select and engage with primary source material. 

People, Power and Revolution: political culture in seventeenth-century England 

Explore the turbulence of the political landscape in the seventeenth century as you study events such as Charles I’s execution and Oliver Cromwell’s rise to power. You’ll consider the extent ordinary people knew of, or were involved in, politics, what events led to revolution, and how politics compared from the beginning to the end of the century.  

Kingship and Crisis in England, c.1154–1330 

Examine continuity and change in English politics from the last twelfth to the early fourteenth century. You’ll learn of the concepts and expectations of kingship (and queenship) and issues, exploring seven reigns spanning the period. 

‘The brightest jewel in the British crown’: The Making of Modern South Asia, 1757-1947 

Discover the role of South Asia in international politics and globalisation, exploring key themes in the making of modern South Asia during the period of British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent and its impact on the wider imperial world.  

Europe in the Twentieth Century 

Explore the geopolitical dynamics of modern European history from the formation of the German nation state in 1971 to the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. You'll consider why twentieth-century Europe was so violent, how warfare has evolved, and how Europe’s role has changed in a contemporary sense.  

Revolutionary Cities 

Study the themes of hope, idealism and enthusiasm that have fuelled revolutionary moments through a range of times and spaces. With a particular focus on urban revolution, you’ll take a comparative approach to assess similarities and identify continuities and changes among cities such as Florence in 1484 and Petrograd in 1917.  

American Century: United States history since 1898 

Investigate the impact that US foreign policy has had on the development of the modern American state and society since the Spanish-American war of 1898.  

Black Britain: Race and Migration in Post-war United Kingdom

Explore case studies of British radicalism and protest movements such as the suffragettes, chartism, environmentalism, LGBT activism and more. You’ll consider the tactics used by radicals and the historical context behind the emergence of these movements. 

Women and Medieval History 

Explore the role of women throughout the centuries with a particular focus on Western Europe. Learn how social status, cultural revolution, and other social and economic dynamics impacted how these women engaged with, and contributed to, the world around them.  

The Colonial Experience: Africa since 1879

Survey the history of British – and also German, Belgian, and French – colonialism with an outlook into its legacy in Africa, South of the Sahara, 1879. Reflect on how the colonial experience relates to gender, age, social status and initiative. 

Hollywood Histories: Film and Past 

Tackle film aesthetics and off-camera censorship and reception as you study historical films evoking a different past from the present in which they were made. Ranging from silence to epic, to television to slow-burn docudramas, you’ll question how films reflect or shape popular notions of the past.  

Rebel Girls: The Influence of Radical Women 1792-1919 

Explore the changing perceptions of Victorian womanhood and the influence of women who defied their social gender expectations and challenged the Victorian double standard. Examine social attitudes to gender, the development of feminism and female politics, and the influence of public women.  

Reform and Revolt in the Modern Middle East: Egypt from Ataturk to the ‘Arab Spring’  

Examine the key events, individuals and themes that shaped the Middle East in the 20th century, with a particular focus on Egypt. You’ll explore the origins and impact of Arab nationalism, outline the key Arab-Israeli wars and their consequences, and critically appraise the presidencies of Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak.  

Encountering the Atlantic World, 1450-1850 

Become introduced to the Atlantic World, discovering the impactful connections made between the 14th and 18th century and their turbulent influence on culture, economies and political structures. Explore how these connections have left an important and, at times, unsettling legacy in the modern world.  

Being British, Representations of the People: Democracy and Society in Britain 1838-1928 

Explore the changing and contested representations of the British people in the period between the birth of Chartism in 1838 and the achievement of an equal franchise between men and women ninety years later. Analyse the changing understanding of masculinity and femininity, class and race and the impact of the ‘crisis of faith’.  

Noise Annoys: British Youth Culture, Popular Music and Social Change, 1950s-90s

Trace shifts in youth culture and popular music that drove social and political change in the post-war period. You’ll consider whether youth cultures sparked progress or decay, and if pop music provides a historical soundtrack or cultural gloss. 

'Apocalittici e integrati': Intellectuals and Society in Twentieth Century Italy

Gain insight into the conflicts between the intellectual class and state in Fascist and Republican Italy. Exploring case studies will reveal the relationships between key Italian intellectuals and institutions such as the state, universities, media, and the Mafia. 

The Crusades, 1095-1291 

Survey the golden age of crusading, considering the historical context and how historians understand crusading. You’ll develop a sophisticated understanding of the reasons for the crusades and appreciation of the historiography of crusading. 

Medieval Medicine

Study classical medical theories through to the plague in the fourteenth century. You'll explore religious concepts, the early Middle Ages, transmission of medical knowledge and medical schools, hospitals and charity, diagnosis and prognosis, women’s health and more. 

Ethical Argument 

Develop your knowledge and skills by considering arguments in moral philosophy and contribute to debate by learning how to argue in a charitable but critical way.  

Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 

Explore the concerns of society by asking questions within contemporary political philosophy. You’ll enhance your ability to think reflectively and critically about the role of fairness in society. 

Meaning and the Mind 

Consider questions such as How can there be minds in a physical world? How does a mental state (like a memory or a perceptual experience) come to represent the world? What role does consciousness play in the mind? Discuss and analyse some of the core arguments in philosophy of mind, including with historical reference to the figures who originally formulated those arguments.

Global Philosophies 

Participate in cross-cultural conversations about global issues such as gender, race, social identities, and death. You will be introduced to and taught how to analyse a range of concepts, including Buddhist, Jain, and African American critical theories, performative theories, and phenomenological theories. 

Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 

Investigate the concept of knowledge and analyse and evaluate some of the core arguments in contemporary epistemology. You will learn about the different theories of knowledge and explore famous works from Ernest Sosa, Alvin Goldman, David Lewis, Edward Craig, and Miranda Fricker.

Optional Language or University Wide Modules 

Study a module from outside your Department to enhance your understanding of history and culture. Alternatively, you can learn one of ten languages offered by the University at a level appropriate for you. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Students study one of the following:

Dissertation in History

Develop powers of synthesis and analysis and refine your knowledge on your chosen dissertation topic. You'll develop vital research skills as you explore specialised literature and primary sources and articulate a well-versed argument. 

Dissertation in Philosophy

Engage in original and independent research to produce an extended essay that focuses on a philosophical topic of your choice. You’ll also submit an assessed research proposal and give a presentation. 

Independent Learning Module 

Choose a philosophical topic that fascinates you to form the basis of an extended essay. This will enhance your independent learning skills, self-awareness and ability to reflect on your progress and strengths.

Optional modules

Anarchy in the UK: Punk, Politics and Youth Culture in Britain, 1976-84  

Examine and evaluate primary sources as you survey the history of punk and the 1970s-80s UK punk scene. Reflect on how culture relates to wider political and socio-economic contexts as you use punk culture as a lens into British history.  

Becoming a Revolutionary: the Old Regime and the French Revolution, 1787-1794  

Explore the historiographical debates raised by the French Revolution that ended the Old Regime and the long-term origins and immediate causes of it. In particular, explore how the French became revolutionised and how the process of building a new society promoted a new genre of revolutionaries associated with a new political culture, radicalism and rule of terror. 

Eugenics from 1865 to the Present Day 

Survey the history of eugenics from 1865 to the present day as you reflect on the way eugenic ideas have been expressed in differing historical contexts and the ways the history of eugenics has been understood.  

Heretics and Popes: Heresy and Persecution in the Medieval World  

Gain hands-on experience as you analyse a wide range of primary sources from medieval heresy and heretics. Reflect on the phenomenon of medieval heresy and dissent while considering the ways in which the historiography of medieval heresy has evolved.  

Slavery in America  

Survey the history of slavery in America and reflect on the different perspectives and representations surrounding it. You'll consider the changing ways in which the history of slavery has been understand as you examine a range of primary sources that show it in its wider historical context.  

History Education 

Gain and reflect on practical work experience as you develop your interest in a career in education. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills and share your knowledge in schools as you’re introduced to lesson-observation skills, secondary-level teaching strategies, and pedagogy characteristics of initial Teacher Education.  

Discovering Archives and Collections

Develop your interest in careers in the archives sector through placements based internally at the University’s Special Collections or externally at the Berkshire Record Office. You’ll grow a practical understanding of the industry as you develop your research, as well as oral, written, and other professional skills.  

Medieval Magic and the Origins of the Witch-Craze 

Absorb the history of magic as you gain an understanding of medieval practices and theories of magic. You’ll consider the wider social contexts within which they were developed to gain a deeper understanding on why they were welcomed or repressed.  

Battle axes and Benchwarmers': Early Female MPs 1919-1931 

Assess the aftermath of suffrage and reassess the importance of the 1918 Representation of the People Act on British democracy. You'll examine the impact of the acts in relation to women, and the emergence of female MPs throughout the transformative social, political and economic context of the 1920s.  

Axis at War: Life and Death in Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, 1936-45 

Explore Italian and German society during a war which sparked civil war in Italy and sent millions to their deaths in the Holocaust. You'll examine diaries, letters, secret police reports and Allied Intelligent assessments to gain a view of life under fascism and the differing experiences of the Second World War.  

Politics and Popular Culture: Post-Arab Spring Egypt 

Explore the key themes that defined the Arab Spring protests through exploration of Egypt. You'll reflect on the meaning of revolution and how this was contested and debated in the Egyptian context while exploring the relationship between politics and popular culture of the period. 

From Darwin to Death Camps? Evolution and eugenics in European society, 1859-1945 

Examine the reception of Darwin’s ideas and their influence in shaping social theories. You’ll focus on the shifting perceptions of a desirable social and biological order found in attempts by science, medicine and the State to influence heredity and evolution, regulate sexuality and reproduction, and eradicate disease and defect.  

Ireland and the English in the Middle Ages 

Investigate the initiation, consolidation and subsequent decline of English lordship and colonisation in Ireland from the later twelfth to fifteenth centuries. You’ll survey key developments in the relations between England and Ireland and assess the political, social and economic impacts and limitations of English lordship and colonisation in Ireland across the period.  

The United States and the Cold War 

Explore the evolution of US foreign policy during the Cold War as you examine the impact of the conflict on US domestic politics and the wider influence of the Cold War on US society and culture.  

Modern Science and Empires, 1750-2000 

Examine the relationships between British colonialism and modern science as you distinguish whether European science was misused for the conquest and exploitation of the colonies. You'll analyse whether colonial rule in different parts of the world lead to the creation of new kinds of scientific knowledge while considering how colonised people responded.   

The Romantic Revolution: Culture, Environment and Society in England, c.1790-c.1900 

Explore English Romanticism and the far-reaching, profound ideas of the Romantic artists and writers who drew a distinction between nature and humanity. You'll consider Romanticism in its wider social and political historical context. 

Sexual Politics: Gender, Sex, and Feminism in Britain after 1918 

Explore the factors underpinning gender roles from 1918 to the present to develop a wider understanding as to why attitudes of gender, sex and feminism have evolved, considering wider social and academic reasoning.  

Utopia: The Quest for a Perfect World

Discover the utopian tradition to explore modern and historical attempts to create the perfect world. You’ll explore attempts to put utopia into practice, for example within Yugoslavia, Cuba and Scandinavia.

Poor Law to Hostile Environment: Repatriation, Deportation and Exclusion from Britain, 1800-2016

Considering the concepts of ‘foreignness’, ‘home’ and attitudes towards migration, you’ll examine language and policies of repatriation and expulsion aimed at migrant and minority groups in Britain, from the early nineteenth to the twenty-first century.

The American Civil War 

Reflect on the historical impact on the American Civil War and how it shaped understandings of what it means to be American, particularly in relation to face. You’ll examine issues of contingency and consider how historians have understood the causes and consequences of the conflict.  

Philosophy of Language: Animals, Babies, Colours, and Language Death 

Engage with questions concerning meaning, language and communication. To address these, you'll engage with foundational texts in linguistics, psychology and anthropology and research informed by developments in the cognitive sciences. 

Free Will and Responsibility  

Investigate the concepts of freedom and responsibility using philosophical thinking and by applying approaches from different cultures.

Gender in Africa: From Eighteenth Century ‘Amazons’ to Twentieth Century Child Soldiers

Develop and demonstrate your skills of working with primary sources to survey the history of gender in Africa. You’ll reflect on approaches in gender history and methodologies applied to recover gendered voices from the past. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Empire, Slavery, and Society, 1550-1750 

Examine ‘piracy’ in terms of its popular connotations, legal definition, and social dimensions. You’ll explore its development and consequences for early modern empires in the Caribbean and reflect on how attitudes towards piracy developed.

Fairness 

Learn about leading contemporary theories of fairness, including the relation of fairness to impartiality, equality, proportionality, need, desert, and free-riding. You'll address conflicts between fairness and other values, while developing your skills in dealing with abstract moral concepts and normative arguments.

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility 

Explore and debate critical issues in business ethics from a moral, practical and, sometimes, political perspective. You will learn about topics such as the morality of sweatshop labour, the ethics behind advertising, and the corporate obligation to do what is right.

Society and State in Ancient Greece 

Study the classic works in Ancient Greek political philosophy, including some or all of Aristotle's Politics and Rhetoric and Plato's Republic and Gorgias. You'll look at the philosophers' conceptions of politics, society, and government, and examine their relevance to modern concerns and issues.

The Scandal of Film   

Study the role films play in our cultural lives. Explore film in relation to reality, the human condition, philosophy and art. 

Hume and Wittgenstein

Investigate the concept of knowledge and analyse and evaluate some of the core arguments in contemporary epistemology. You will learn about the different theories of knowledge and explore famous works from Ernest Sosa, Alvin Goldman, David Lewis, Edward Craig, and Miranda Fricker.

Speech Attacks: Bullshit, Lies, Propaganda 

Discuss the foundations of speech act theory and examine ways that it has been applied to philosophical problems in feminist theory and political and social theory. Explore lies and bullshit, and what (if anything) is wrong with these uses of language. And we will discuss the nature of propaganda and 'fake news' and how to resist its effects. 

Paradoxes 

Explore some of the great contemporary and historical paradoxes in philosophy, and their proposed solutions. Philosophy is full of paradoxes – logical, semantic, metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and others, which shed light on big philosophical issues.

Metaphysics 

Discover metaphysics, one of the foundation stones of philosophy, and how the way we deal with metaphysical problems affects our approach to problems in many other areas of philosophy, such as philosophy of mind and epistemology.

Optional Language or University Wide Modules 

Study a module from outside your Department to enhance your understanding of history and culture. Alternatively, you can learn one of ten languages offered by the University at a level appropriate for you.  

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.