BA (Hons) Education Studies and History

How do people learn? What gets in the way of learning? Where might people learn best – and how? Do we need schools? Is it possible to ‘school’ the world? Can education make a difference to human rights? Women's rights? Nationally? Globally? These are just some of the big questions that you will examine through studying Education Studies at BGU. We are proud of our highly contemporary, reactive and issues-based course that has been carefully designed to give you that ‘bigger’ picture of education in a global society. An Education Studies degree from BGU will equip you well for the future, no matter what your career destination, but if you are planning to go on to teach you will find that our modules will open your eyes to some different ways of thinking about education and its purpose and place in society.

Studying Education Studies with us will provide you with an excellent understanding of education in its widest sense, nationally and globally, and is a great choice if you are interested in a career in teaching or are thinking about working in other education-related areas. It will provide you with a deep and reflective knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues in education, directly related to everyday practice. You’ll debate education policy, find out more about the drivers of educational change in England today and critically consider different approaches to schools and schooling, both within the UK and globally.

A key feature of Education Studies is a focus on you as a developing practitioner. You will be encouraged to develop a strong personal ideology of education and will be supported in the development of secure employability skills through our work-based placements. A number of core modules each year incorporate placements in schools or other education-related settings and carefully structured placement tasks will ensure that you gain valuable first-hand practical experience.

History

History is essential in understanding what the past means for us in the twenty-first century. Here at BGU, you won’t just study history through documents, you’ll learn through placements, site visits and the archives and museums that the ancient city of Lincoln has to offer. Discover the ages in a dynamic and exciting way; through words, images, buildings and artefacts.

Throughout the course, you will discover a number of the modules which take a more thematic approach where you may explore critical issues such as community and public history, local history or war and commemoration. During your final year, with advice and guidance from academic staff, you will also choose to focus on a topic, period or theme that is of particular interest to you. This allows you to tailor the course to your own interests and particular career aspirations.

On this course, you will explore a range of fascinating topics spanning a number of historical eras, in a wide variety of local, national and global contexts. You’ll analyse data, construct arguments and engage in real historical research, along with looking at how history is encountered within the community. You'll also take a work-based placement at an archive, museum or other historic sites.

This course will help to build your skills as a historian, from introductory subjects in your first year through to a research-based dissertation in your final year. As well as learning about people in the past, you will investigate how people today engage with history and consider how the past can be brought alive.