Liberal Arts

The Making of Modern Britain: Culture, Community and Family in Britain 1660-1918

How have families interacted over time? And how have they related to their communities? And governments?

In this module, you'll explore the social and cultural history of the family. You'll consider how gender, class, age and sexuality have affected our home lives. You'll look at what has made up a family over the years. You'll unpick how they marked births, marriage and deaths. And you'll discover how families coped with people who didn't fit with their norms. 

You'll delve into:

• Making marriages
• Family rituals and material culture
• Sex and family planning
• Divorce, bigamy and illegitimacy
• Family secrets and shame

Students must study one module option related to The Making of Modern Britain.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

The Making of Modern Britain: Politics, Society and Culture in Modern Britain, c. 1815-1997

How has British politics changed since the end of the Napoleonic Wars? How has industrialisation, immigration and the growth of cities changed our lives? And how are views on gender, race and citizenship changing? In this module, you'll explore:

• changing party politics - and the rise of the Labour Party
• ideas on empire, citizenship and 'the nation' 
• the changing role of women in British society
• the emergence of Scottish, Welsh and Irish nationalism
• sport, leisure and what we do in our spare time

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Students must study one module option related to The Making of Modern Britain.

Literature, Self and Society: Landscapes and Mindscapes

In this option, you’ll examine the relationship between landscape and ‘mindscape’ – in other words, between individuals in literature and their physical and social environments. You’ll read widely varying poems and prose fiction, from the Romantic poetry of Wordsworth and Coleridge to Thomas Hardy’s novel Return of the Native and Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. You’ll explore issues such as:

• the pastoral as a genre
• the development of the cityscape 
• Renaissance concepts of internal climate and humoral ecology
• changing concepts of the individual and his/her importance in the Romantic era 
• the effects of the Industrial Revolution 
• parallel or contrasting developments in post-colonial environments.

Students must study one module option related to Literature, Self and Society.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Literature, Self and Society: Crime, Culture and Transgression

Why does crime fiction occupy more and more shelf space in bookshops? And is it true that, in Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan has all the best lines? Rule-breaking and criminality have fascinated writers for as long as writing has taken place.

In this option, you’ll explore themes of transgression and criminality in literary culture since the early modern period. From Milton’s Satan to the Golden Age crime novel and beyond, you’ll examine what happens when we don’t follow society’s rules. You’ll track how ideas of crime and transgression have shifted through different historical periods, and think about issues like:

• the philosophical question of evil
• the limits of individual freedom
• resistance,rebellion and terrorism
• crimes against books and art (censorship, destruction)
• authority and heresy.

Students must study one module option related to Literature, Self and Society.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Literature, Self and Society: British Theatre, 1950-Present

In this option, you’ll explore what’s happened in British theatre writing and practice from 1950 to the present day. You’ll learn about how significant, publicly funded theatres and companies, like the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, came to life in post-war Britain. We’ll cover topics like theatre censorship, which went on until 1968, affecting plays like Joe Orton’s Loot and Edward Bond’s Saved. You’ll also look at:

• feminist, queer and alternative theatres
• notions of nationhood, race and class.

We’ll study plays in script, but also, where possible, by watching them in performance.

Students must study one module option related to Literature, Self and Society.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Employability in a Multicultural Environment

In this module, you’ll gain a strong insight into organisations, including their structure and culture. You’ll also understand the behaviour of individuals and groups within them. You’ll conduct practical research in the form of questionnaires, learning about critical analysis and questionnaire design. As part of this module, you’ll benefit from psychometric profiling, allowing you to understand your personal behaviour. Throughout the module, you’ll lay the foundations for your future professional success.   

Language Options 3

In this module, you’ll gain strong skills in speaking, writing, reading and listening in French, Spanish, or German. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in your chosen language, and communicate well with others in an everyday context. You’ll reach a lower intermediate level in the language, as you master both informal and semi-formal communication, in settings from the workplace to leisure activities.

European Societies

In this module, you’ll investigate European societies. You’ll apply classic concepts in studying societies as you look at European villages and urban neighbourhoods. You’ll then explore broader contemporary issues, including:

• identity
• nationalism
• racism
• how we use history
• ceremonial issues
• tourism
• the EU.

English Language Teaching to Adults

Do you dream of working as an English language teacher? Do you want to help adult learners grasp the English language? In this module, you’ll get to grips with English language teaching. You’ll gain a strong knowledge of teaching English, and essential skills in effective language teaching. You’ll also develop key practical skills for teaching English to adult learners. If you take this course, you’ll be able to apply to British Study Centres Oxford to complete your teaching practice, and acquire a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). This is recognised by Cambridge Assessment as a pre-service training qualification.

Language and Reality

How did language - the centre of our culture, family ties and business transactions -  develop? In this module, you’ll get to grips with fascinating debates around language, and why philosophers have been so drawn to it throughout history. You’ll gain core critical skills, as you consider questions around: 

• what language is 
• whether we can study it scientifically
• the relationship between language and thought.  

Language Options 4

In this module, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your chosen language. As someone with a lower intermediate knowledge of French, Spanish, or German, you’ll develop strong skills in speaking and writing, listening and speaking. You'll be able to express yourself effectively and will gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences of the countries that speak the language.

Oxford Buildings

In this module, you’ll explore Oxford’s famous buildings first-hand. You’ll gain valuable analytical skills for studying the History of Art, as you explore the buildings in their social, environmental and architectural contexts. You’ll benefit from studying buildings directly, and visiting their sites. You’ll visit a diverse range of buildings in Oxford, from the renowned Oxford colleges to the Bodleian Library and the Sheldonian Theatre.

The Making of the Modern World: Age of Revolution and Popular Protest

In this module, you’ll study the period of crisis that overtook Western society from the late 19th century to the start of World War II. You’ll look at the sweeping changes, uprisings and political extremism that created a sense of crisis. These include:

• urbanisation and mass politics at the end of the 19th century
• the Russian Revolution of 1917 and its impact 
• the role of nationalism and imperial ambitions between the World Wars
• the rise of extreme political movements in Europe
• the role of consumerism in the 1920s and 1930s

Students must study one module option related to The Making of the Modern World.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

The Making of the Modern World: Brave New Worlds: Evolution and its Discontents

Can we consider the French Revolution as the birth of the modern age? What caused this revolution, which transformed France from a monarchy into a republic?

In this module, you’ll study the origins of the revolution and its impact on the French people. You’ll explore the experiences of ordinary people - and see how they lived under the Jacobin dictatorship and Napoleonic wars. And you’ll investigate how the French Revolution created a new form of politics - that endures today.

Along the way, you’ll learn about:

• the Enlightenment, and changing understanding of freedom
• the shock waves that the French Revolution caused abroad
• the birth of modern democracy, nationalism, and socialism
• the evolution of street protest and the power of the people

Students must study one module option related to The Making of the Modern World.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

The Making of the Modern World: Crisis of the West

How did the theory of evolution develop? And why is it so important in how we understand people? And in how we practise medicine? In this module, you’ll explore the history of evolutionary ideas and how they’re applied - in medicine and society. Studying primary texts and secondary sources, you’ll investigate how evolutionary scientists argued for their theories. And you’ll look at their explosive impact on Victorian public discussion. You’ll also consider more recent controversies - like human cloning, gene therapy and in-vitro fertilisation. 

Students must study one module option related to The Making of the Modern World.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Dilemmas of Governing

How much did world leaders rely on history to make decisions? In this module, you’ll get to grips with governing strategy - from the 20th Century to the present day. You’ll choose either the British or Soviet states, and analyse how their leaders managed xrises and issues. You’ll also explore the relationship between politics and economics, and apply key approaches to the problems of governing.

Researching cross-cultural experiences

In this module, you’ll analyse and present your experiences of your placement year. You’ll gain core critical skills for your final year, as you analyse your time living in a different culture, and the wider cross-cultural experiences of individuals or groups. You’ll do independent research on an aspect of the country you lived in that fascinates you. You’ll also present the outcomes of your research at an academic conference, giving you vital skills for your future career.

Language Options 5

In these modules, you’ll build on your communication skills in your chosen language. As someone with intermediate knowledge of spoken and written French, Spanish, or German, you’ll develop your study and understanding of the culture and society of the countries that speak the language. You’ll develop a rich vocabulary based on themes which are key to the language's culture. You’ll improve your language skills to a higher, upper intermediate level, as you study and practise the key structures of the language. 

Thought and Consciousness

In this module, you’ll get to know one of the liveliest areas of current research: contemporary philosophy of mind. You will explore issues such as:

• What is the relationship between the mind and the brain?
• How are our thoughts capable of being about phenomena that exist outside of the mind?
• Where is the mind located? Is it in our skulls or does it stretch beyond the outer surfaces of our bodies?
• Is consciousness a mystery or can it be explained from a scientific perspective?

Laws, Empires, and Revolutions

In this module, you’ll get to grips with capitalism today. You’ll explore colonialism. And you’ll find out what the modern world can teach us about its laws and events. You’ll discover an alternative history of international relations - as you explore modern sovereign states. 

Each week, you’ll take a crucial world event and analyse it. You’ll look at issues like:

• the Arab Spring
• struggles for human rights
• cross-border protests
• migrants and refugees

You’ll contrast these events with historical events which involved tension and legal debate, like:

• colonial trading companies
• slave revolutions
• capitulations
• the Treaties of Westphalia
• the Ottoman empire 

Language Options 6

In these modules, you’ll build on your communication skills in your chosen language. As someone with intermediate knowledge of spoken and written French, Spanish, or German, you’ll develop your study and understanding of the culture and society of the countries that speak the language. You’ll develop a rich vocabulary based on themes which are key to the language's culture. You’ll improve your language skills to a higher, upper intermediate level, as you study and practise the key structures of the language.

Contemporary Literature

From 9-11 to the rise of the digital world, how does literature explore issues which are directly relevant to our lives?In this module, you’ll dive into literature written in the last decade. You’ll examine a series of exciting texts, exploring how we live in the 21st Century. From climate change literature to political manifestos, you’ll study and debate the big issues that face our society today.

Social, Cultural and Medical History: Life in Renaissance Italy

What was life like for ordinary people in Renaissance Florence, Venice and Rome? Millions of tourists flock to these cities every year. But in this module, you'll explore beyond the piazzas and palaces. You'll  discover what life in 15th and 16th century Italy was really like. You'll examine:

• how age, gender and ethnicity affected urban life
• the impact of warfare, disease, natural disasters and climate change
• the stories of people on the margins - like sex workers and the homeless

You'll emerge understanding the rich and complex history of this fascinating period.

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Social, Cultural and Medical History: Religion and Magic in Everyday Life

How does belief in magic affect our everyday lives? And how can religious beliefs shape our ideas and opinions? In this module, you'll explore beliefs - beyond the boundaries of religious institutions. You'll delve into the rituals, superstitions - and even cults - that have shaped our world view from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century. You'll examine:

• the cult of saints and relics
• angels and demons
• ghosts and fairies
• vampires
• folk magic and divination
• witchcraft and witch hunts

This module is subject to availability in any given year.

Social, Cultural and Medical History: The History of Food, Politics and Society

Is it true that you are what you eat? And how does your experience of food shape who you are?

This module puts history on plate. You'll reflect on diet, food habits and material culture - and what this tells us about society. You'll explore how food has been used as a political tool, and as a political control. And you'll examine how food relates to our identities and how we socialise.  You'll never look at what you eat the same way again! 

You'll consider topics like:

• Food and famine
• Migration and globalisation
• Food as culture
• Material culture
• Gender and the body 

This module is subject to availability in any given year

Social, Cultural and Medical History: War and Medicine: from the Napoleonic Wars to Afghanistan

How does medicine impact war? And can medical treatment influence whether wars are won or lost? This module explores the close relationship between war and medicine. You'll look at the growth of:

• surgery
• hospitals
• battlefield and naval medicine,
• neuro-psychiatry
• nursing
• civilian medicine
• ethics and medical ethics.

You'll examine how medicine has changed how wars were fought. And you'll explore lessons we've learned (and forgotten) related to war and medicine. 

This module is subject to availability in any given year.

Social, Cultural and Medical History: Debating Issues in Health, Past and Present

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Social, Cultural and Medical History: Witchcraft and Belief in Early Modern Europe

This module option is subject to availability in any given academic year.

Ethics, Power and World Politics

What can world leaders do, and what should they do? How much power should countries give each other? And how should states and individuals behave towards each other? In this module, you’ll get to grips with the key questions in world politics. You’ll explore:

• how we determine rights and duties
• how we both enable and restrict dominance
• how issues of race, gender and class interact

in relation to world politics. You’ll choose one of three topics that focus on international ethics and power - human rights, migration and immigration, or postcolonial perspectives.

Independent Study Module II

This module provides you with the opportunity to explore a specific academic topic to greater depth or breadth. You’ll undertake a literary review on an agreed topic, adopting an interdisciplinary approach using at least two disciplines. This is a great opportunity to delve into the subject area that you’re most passionate about as you'll have the freedom to investigate any aspect of your agreed topic.

Study / Placement Year

The Placement Year gives you the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university and/or undertake vocational practice and cultural experience in a professional setting. This can be carried out in the UK or abroad, depending on your language skills and programme of study.

During your Placement Year, you’ll practise a broad range of transferable skills. In particular,  you'll enhance your organisational and communication skills as well as develop a greater sense of responsibility and independent learning strategies. For those of you with language skills, you’ll also improve all aspects of your linguistic competence

Work Placement

You will have the opportunity to undertake a work-based learning module as part of your degree. You’ll be responsible for organising your own work placement with the support of our careers services. Travel and associated costs of all work placements are the responsibility of the student, therefore it is advised that you organise your placement with this in mind.

This module gives you the opportunity to:

• Reflect on your interests and career aspirations 
• Approaching potential employers about opportunities in their organisation
• Experience what it is like to be a professional in the chosen area
• Prepare for future employability.