The Centre for English Local History

MA in English Local History

Aim of the Course

The course is the most comprehensive of its kind in England. It aims to provide you with a training, up to basic research level, in the 'Leicester' approach to English Local History as a subject that is comparative across the nation: topographically grounded; increasingly cultural in its concerns; interdisciplinary in its methodologies (including appreciation of the wide potential of IT). The course is thus designed to furnish an up-to-date springboard from which teachers, educationalists, heritage workers, museum curators, archaeologists or potential Ph.D. students may then take off for their own particular needs. Students also include those who wish to study local history as a leisure interest.

Period of study

One year full-time or two years part-time. Teaching is by weekly classes (either in the evening or, if preferred, in the morning) in the autumn and spring terms, supplemented by the occasional Saturday school and by the field-course.

Entry requirements

Normally a first or second class honours degree in an appropriate subject from a British University or the CNAA or the equivalent from overseas. In some cases, you may be able to qualify through passing a qualifying test to first degree standard (e.g. a number of 'long essays'). Full-time students wishing to apply for a British Academy grant should contact the Centre by March 1st.

• Next Step: Request an Information Pack
• More information about the centre
• Printable Application form

Course structure

The member of staff leading each of these modules may be subject to change from semester to semester, owing to research leave and other factors.

• Early regional societies c.410-1750
  (Christopher Dyer and Andrew Hopper)

  Provides a local historical perspective on the changing organisation of provincial societies on the ground as these were variously reflected in, for example, early kingdoms, shires, rural neighbourhoods or urban networks. Accompanying classes will highlight key sources (in translation) for the study of particular rural or urban communities: e.g. Domesday Book, borough records or lay subsidy rolls.Analyses the impact of key early modern historical themes on a regional and local level, such as the impact of the Reformation, custom, riot and popular politics, religious diversity, the county community controversy, identity and allegiance during the civil wars and the rise of party politics after the Restoration.

• Modern regional societies since c.1650
  (Keith Snell)

  Discusses comparatively the structures and features of local societies and economies, teaching appropriate research skills, and considering the changes that occurred before, during, and after industrialisation. Subjects covered include welfare provision, historical demography and migration, agricultural change, the Victorian city, modern community studies and oral history. Sources examined include listings of inhabitants, the census, records of welfare and the poor law.

• Modern regional cultures (including Early Modern Palaeography)
  (Keith Snell and Andrew Hopper)

  Introduces key subjects, questions and approaches for the comparative analysis of regional cultural history in England and Wales between the mid seventeenth century and the mid twentieth centuries. these will include attitudes to gender and family, landscape painting, regional literature, Victorian photography, religious geographies, anthropological approaches, gypsies and alternative cultures. Sessions on early modern palaeography will concentrate on the practical ability to read documents in secretary hand which may be considered as cultural texts in their own right or which provide information on, for example, material culture.

• Landscape history
  (Richard Jones)

  Introduces key themes in landscape history, cultural landscapes, their creation in context; their modification; cultural landscapes and society. Main periods: Anglo-Saxon, medieval, early modern through to the nineteenth century. Wide-ranging thematic coverage includes settlement history, place-names, field systems, enclosure history, urban morphology and landscape aesthetics. Emphasis is placed on both interpretation in the field and the analysis of maps both early and modern.

• Field Course
  (Richard Jones)

  The field-course introduces the comparative study of regional human landscapes as artefacts of historic cultures (very broadly defined to include, e.g. religion, work, leisure, class) in a region outside the Midlands. The course stresses the continuities between periods from sub-Roman times to today; the contrasts between sub-regions; and the evidence of the built environment whether domestic, ecclesiastical or industrial. Particular emphasis is laid upon personal development of observational skills.

• The dissertation

  Provides an apprenticeship in the setting up (from literary search and source identification to planning) and the completion of a research project (with appropriate supporting apparatus) to publishable standard within a set time limit. If you wish you may work on an aspect of the history of your home area or region of your choice.

  • Selected past dissertations
     
• Family History

  A module or Certificate in Family History is also available, which can be done within the framework of the MA in English Local History.

  • Family History

Pathways

There are two alternative pathways for the MA in English Local History

• MA in English Local History (pathway with an enhanced Social Science dimension)

  This pathway is designed for full-time MA students only. Students undertaking a research training in Social Sciences take four core modules : Research Methods in the Social Sciences ; Historical Research Methods; Economics for Historians; Social Theory and Social History. In addition students take two or three of the modules listed above, to add up to 60 credit points, and submit a dissertation on an approved topic under the same regulations as the MA in English Local History.

• MA in English Local History, by Individual Supervised Study

  This pathway is designed for students who cannot attend the weekly classes in the taught modules, for example because they live at a distance from Leicester. There is more emphasis on the dissertation, which accounts for 120 credits from the 180 for the MA. Students attend the Field-course, and an intensive residential course on methods and principles of local history.

Next Step

• Request an Information Pack