Module: Historical Sources & Approaches

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Historical Sources & Approaches
Module Code	HIS1042 (ITS: HY345)
Faculty	History & Geography	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module will focus on the skills of historical research. Students will engage closely with primary sources and be encouraged to assess those sources critically and with an understanding of the context in which they were created. The module will give students a chance to locate relevant historical material, whether in physical or digital archives or collections and then to examine and interrogate these materials. The module will also introduce students to relevant historiographical developments, investigating the training, approaches, political and intellectual concerns of historians to better assess their historical work. Students will be given the space to work independently and follow their own interests to create a dissertation that incorporates the historical skills they have learned in the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the critical and analytical skills required to assess primary source material for research.
2. Present a concise, critical and objective argument based on historical evidence both orally and in writing.
3. Display an understanding of historiographical developments
4. Pursue independent, self-directed study at a level appropriate for a final-year undergraduate student of history.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	48	Lectures and tutorials
Independent Study	202	Reading and completing assignments
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20542	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	James Akpu	Module Teacher	Sparky Booker

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	n/a	50%	n/a
Assignment	n/a	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

A full bibliography will be available on Loop

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None