Module:

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Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: HY346)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

Children and Childhood in the Western World provides an introductory historical survey of the lives of children in Europe and North America from the classical to the modern ages.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the key issues and themes related to the histories of children and childhood in the western world.
2. Identify and assess different historiographical approaches to and interpretations of the histories of children and childhood.
3. Interrogate different types of primary source documents for the study of the histories of children and childhood.
4. Present a reasoned argument based on historical evidence both orally and in writing.
5. Pursue independent, self-directed study at a level appropriate for a third-year undergraduate student of history.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	44	Lectures/Seminars
Independent Study	206	Assigned readings, independent research & preparation of written assignments and presentation.
Total Workload: 250

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Participation	Seminar preparation, attendance and participation	20%	As required
Essay	Research Essay: 3,000 words	30%	As required
Presentation	Research Presentation in class	10%	As required
Formal Examination	n/a	40%	End-of-Semester

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

Indicative content and learning activities
This module provides an introductory historical survey of the lives of children in Europe and North America from the classical to the modern ages. It explores the relationship between ideas about childhood and the experience of being a child in order to uncover patterns of change in the experience of childhood, taking into consideration such factors as geographic location, social class and gender as well as wider economic, social and political developments in western society. It concentrates on three key themes: ideas of childhood; adult-child relations; and the roles of families, philanthropists and states in connection to childhood. Students will attend lectures, contribute to seminar discussions, and complete assigned readings and written and oral assignments.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Colin Heywood: 0, A history of childhood, Oxford, 2001, 2007, 2011, 2018,
Hugh Cunningham: 0, Children and childhood in western society since 1500, London, 1995, 2005, 2021,
Colin Heywood: 0, Childhood in modern Europe, Cambridge, 2018,
Paula S. Fass (ed.): 0, The Routledge history of childhood in the western world, London & New York, 2013,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Online: Additional articles, book chapters, and primary source documents will be made available on the module’s Loop site,

The Coursebuilder system would not allow me to change the assessment from 100% CA to 60% CA and 40% Final Exam.