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Study programme 2015-2016

Teaching and training



 Students on the Master [120] History prepare themselves to, in the course of their socio-professional life, demonstrate the ability to shed light upon the complexities of the history of people and societies which have preceded us and the connections linking them to our present.

At the end of the course, the future historians will have deepened their knowledge and awareness of the themes relating to different historical fields and periods, by situating them within the principal trends in current research. Students will have acquired expert knowledge of research methods in historical studies: able to construct a relevant research problem, gather documentation, analyse and criticise the data collected, reach their own conclusions and communicate the results obtained to different audiences and in different ways. Open to interdisciplinary studies, students will also be capable of employing concepts and methods from social studies in particular in the course of their research. The future historians are aware of the issues, debates and even exploitation to which the past is subject, and can contribute, using a scientific approach, to a better understanding of the present. Using their ability to communicate their knowledge and critical investigation methods, the future historians can enrich societal debates.


On successful completion of this programme, each student is able to :
1. Achieve expert and specialised knowledge and awareness of the themes relating to different historical fields and periods, by situating them within the principal trends in current research.

2. Attain expert knowledge of and employ research methods in historical studies: develop and carry out research work, implement a methodological and critical approach in the finding and implementation of data, in order to look deeper into a specific historical issue, reaching their own balanced and reasoned conclusions.

3. Take a reflexive, scientific and methodologically-based look at the history of their discipline (historiography) and their own practices as historians, particularly in employing concepts and methods from other fields.

4. Develop and employ, on the basis of their historical disciplinary and methodological skills, a series of transferable skills in different fields of social and professional life:
- Carry out a documentary study and report its conclusions
- Communicate, discuss and collaborate
- Act as independent and responsible actors and carry out continuing development.

5. Progress in professional practice in accordance with a grounded academic approach (from a theoretical and methodological point of view) anchored in the history of humans and societies preceding us and characterised by a critical distance.

6. Their expert knowledge in and ability to employ concepts and methods from social sciences, and openness to different disciplines will allow them to become part of a wider scientific community and take part in discussions with specialists from other disciplines.

7. In a world where public debates and societal issues frequently cite the past, students will shed light on the present and contribute to debates as historical experts, both in terms of knowledge and critical methodology.

8. If the research focus course is chosen: analyse and provide a reflective and critical look on the sections of research “in progress” around case studies and bearing upon different fields and periods of history (these case studies fall within the course instructors’ fields of expertise).

9. If the didactic elective is chosen: call upon the competencies necessary to begin teaching effectively in upper secondary education, in history, and be able to progress there.

10. If the professional focus course “History and Archives” is chosen: independently manage an archive, collect, classify, inventory the stock and implement a conservation and evaluation policy for the same.

11. If the professional focus course “Communication of Historical Knowledge” is chosen: communicate historical knowledge to a wide audience, on the basis of expert theoretical and methodological knowledge of communication challenges in history and the methods and tools for communication, with a view to responding to the social demand for history.