History and Philosophy BA (Hons)

University of Reading

Analyse beliefs and concepts and explore how past societies worked with our BA History and Philosophy course. Our History Department's expertise covers a wide range of regions, from Europe and Africa to America, South Asia and the Middle East. Module choices cover diverse periods and topics, from the Crusades to the 1960s, slavery in America to Tudor monarchy, and Cold War Berlin to medieval magic.In your first year, your core modules will explore people, politics and revolution, finding out how people struggled for power in past societies; and the culture and concepts those societies developed. We will teach you the skills you need to study and research history through an individual project of your choice.Studying philosophy will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy and you will also have the chance to explore non-western philosophies such as Indian philosophy.In both subjects, you will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. We place a great deal of importance on employability skills and offer a range of modules to help students gain relevant work experience as well as explore career options.**Placement**Placements are encouraged as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice, and to gain valuable real-world experience. Staff in the History Department have close links with the University’s Institute of Education, Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) and Special Collections (archives), and with external organisations such as Cliveden House, English Heritage, Reading Museum, Reading Borough Library and the Berkshire Record Office.We ensure that placements are incorporated into core learning. In the second year, we offer opportunities for short group placements in museums and heritage organisations, and encourage students to reflect on what they have learned from previous employment or voluntary work. For third years, two optional modules offer placements of 10 working days in local archives and secondary schools.You also have the option to study abroad for a term in the second year. Some of the universities we have links with include University of Ottawa, Canada; University of Maastricht, Netherlands; University of Georgia, USA; and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.**Careers**93% of graduates from the Department of History are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree responders from History). History graduates are valued by employers for their research, analytical, teamwork and communication skills.Previous graduates have found employment in the civil service, journalism, consultancy, finance, local and central government. Recent employers have included The British Museum, Cambridge University Press, The Football Association, House of Commons, MI5, Ministry of Defence, Morgan Stanley, Yellow Media Works, local authorities and other universities.