LSH Magazine Issue 4 (PDF) - University of Lincoln

MAMAHistorical StudiesThe MA in Historical Studies introduces students to a range of newand exciting approaches to studying the past that have emerged inrecent years.Students study core modules onResearch Methods and Approachesto Historical Inquiry. A range of optionalchoices then allows students todevelop their own specialised interestsacross a range of historical themes,including medieval, early modernand modern British, European andAmerican history. The course alsohelps students develop a variety ofskills that enable them to undertaketheir own research projects, leadingto a 15-20,000 word dissertationon a topic of their own choice. TheUniversity of Lincoln is ideally placedfor students’ research interests, witheasy access to a wide range of archivalsources at Lincolnshire Archives,Lincoln Cathedral Library andLincoln Central Library.Medieval StudiesThe MA in Medieval Studies encourages students to explore the depthand breadth of resources available in the medieval city of Lincoln –home to one of the few surviving original copies of the Magna Cartaand to one of the greatest medieval cathedrals in the country.Historical archives, literary manuscriptsand the built environment are all usedto introduce students to advancedstudy of the Middle Ages. The coursealso makes use of the remarkablerange of medieval archives in Lincoln,to teach skills such as palaeographyand to explore the economic, socialand religious history of England.The wealth of literary manuscriptsat Lincoln Cathedral, including oneof only fifty full manuscripts of theCanterbury Tales and the ThorntonRomances containing the earliestknown account of King Arthur’sdeath, supports modules in medievalliterature and Arthurian studies.Historical modules consider Englishecclesiastical history with a localfocus on Lincoln, the largest medievaldiocese, medieval concepts of timeand space and how these developed,and theories of gender, particularlymedieval concepts of masculinity.Cultural studies forms an importantand unique part of this programme:students can consider the enduringlegend of King Arthur, deconstructinghis image as ideal ruler andreconsidering him in his social context,or the beginnings of medievalism inthe Renaissance in their considerationof medieval literature. They will havethe opportunity to pursue their ownparticular interests through theirfinal dissertation.Reproduced by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter of Herefordand the Hereford Mappa Mundi Trustees www.herefordcathedral.orgStudent view:Darren CookeBA (Hons) History 2009-12MA Historical Studies2012-13To come to Lincoln University to studyHistory was a logical decision; the cityitself has a fascinating history, with thecastle and cathedral at the top of thehill providing a consistently impressivevisual reminder of the past. Alongsidethis, the facilities and staff present atthe University offer a flexible and alwaysinteresting experience of learning aboutthe past - in particular, I found thefriendly and enthusiastic nature of mytutors made the transition from A-Levelto higher education effortless. Outsideof my course, the vibrant social life thatthe city offers meant I made long-lastingfriendships and had a fantastic timedoing so.I enjoyed the three years as anundergraduate so much that I continuedonto the MA to further develop my skillsin a more critical learning environment.In the process, I have discoverednew avenues of historical interest thatI aim to pursue further in the next fewyears, and gained the confidence andqualifications needed to progress inan extremely competitive field of study.Student view:Jayne McMathMA Medieval StudiesMy decision to enrol on the MedievalStudies course was influenced bythe wealth of resources available inthe Cathedral Library and the CountyArchives of Lincoln, as well as thebeautiful historical setting of the city itself.It is a great asset to be able to study parttime over two years which fits in well withwork and family commitments. I havefound the compulsory modules, HistoricalResearch and Palaeography a real aidto research. There are a wide rangeof modules to choose from, coveringthe entire Medieval period, which to acertain extent can be chosen to suityour preferred method of assessment,ie assignment; exam or presentation.Palaeography and Latin seminarsprovide a great basis for the decipheringof medieval documents and there isscope to pursue areas of personalinterest within the assignments,projects and especially the dissertation.As well as the weekly seminarsthere is the chance to attend extracurricular lectures and workshops,which provide additional interest andawareness of research opportunities.Every module, whether compulsoryor personal choice, is backed upby expert support and guidance.Kate has worked at the University ofLincoln since 1995, and specialises inBritish social and cultural history of thenineteenth century. She is particularlyinterested in the history of museumsand how that illuminates both thecultural issues of the Victorian period,and the issues facing museums today.Her books include Culture and Classin English Public Museums 1850-1914(2005) and Museums and Biographies(2012). She is Chair of the Museums andGalleries History Group and a founder ofthe Midlands Interdisciplinary VictorianStudies Seminar. On the HistoricalStudies MA she co-ordinates the coreResearch Methods module and alsooffers the popular option, History andthe Public. She has supervised a numberof MA dissertations on cultural history,and is also currently supervising threePhD students.Staff profile:I’m a historian of late antiqueand early medieval Spain and theMediterranean. My research focuseson the transmission of knowledgeand identity from the ancient to themedieval world via two processes:history-writing and education. I’vedone a lot of work on Isidore of Seville,a Spanish bishop (and the patronsaint of the Internet) who wrote abook called the Etymologies, a sort ofWikipedia for the early middle ages. Atthe moment I’m developing a projectthat explores the role of violence inthe schools and monasteries of thelater Roman Empire. I’ve previouslytaught in History, Classics and AncientHistory, and Religions and Theologyat the Universities of Manchester,Liverpool, Warwick and Sheffield, andhave done a lot of research into theuse of innovative methods for teachingHumanities subjects. I’m really lookingforward to leading new modules nextsemester called The Rise of Islam andThe Goths: Barbarians through time.Staff profile:Dr Kate HillDr Jamie WoodProgramme LeaderLecturer in History12 MA Historical Studies1312th century paintings in the royal pantheon of San Isidoro in Leon, Spain