BA (Hons) History and Geography (Subject to Approval) – SH335

1. 			Objectives
This degree programme is designed to provide knowledge and competence in the field of History and Geography. It equips students with the skills required for a number of professions in sectors such as teaching, research, public sector and policy, NGOs, planning, management of natural and human resources, institutions working in areas of sustainable development, environmental issues. The degree will provide a firm background for further specialised training. 

2.	Programme Requirements
•	A credit in English Language at Cambridge School Certificate/‘O’ Level or equivalent.
•	2 GCE ‘A’ Level passes in 2 relevant subjects. Relevant subjects include the following: History, Geography, Sociology, Languages, Geography, Hinduism, Islamic Studies, Economics and Law.

3. 	Programme Duration 
	Normal										Maximum

Degree:																		3 years  							   		 5 years

4.	Minimum Credits required for Degree Award - 	108   
	 	Core Modules	Electives	Gem	
Degree	84	18	6	

5.		Credits per Year
Minimum 18 Credits, Maximum credits subject to Regulation 3.
6.	Assessment
	Assessment will be carried out on performance in three areas: Programme work, practical work (70%) and written examinations (30%).

Students on work-based learning will submit portfolios.

7.	Programme Organisation
Classes will not be taught in the traditional 3-hour lecture in a lecture hall, but will consist of lectures on sites, site visits, field surveys, practical work, etc.

8.	Submission Deadline for Dissertation

Final copy: last working day of March of the academic year

9.	Programme Plan
YEAR 1
Code 
CORE	Module Name
	Hrs/Wk 
L + P	Credits	
YEARLY Modules	
HIST 1002Y(1)	Mauritian History	3+0	6	
GEO 1001Y(1)	Basic Earth Science 1	3+0	6	
GEO 1002Y(1)	Introduction to Human Geography	3+0	6	
HIST 1004Y(1)	International History since the end of the 19th Century	3+0	6	
	GEM		6	
ELECTIVES Modules EQUIVALENT TO 9 CREDITS From ANY MODULES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. The following also are on offer for geography students 	
HIST 1114(1)	Mauritian Natural History	3+0	3	
ANTH 1001Y(1)	Ancient World Civilisations and Their Study	3+0	6	
IREL 1001Y(1)	Theories and Concepts of International Relations	3+0	6	
POLI 1001Y(1)	Introduction to Political Theory	3+0	6	
HIST 1116(1)	Reading and Writing History	3+0	3	
ARCH 1001Y(1)	Introduction to Archaeology and Anthropology	3+0	6	
CSE 1010e(1)	Introduction to Information Technology	3+0	3	
Total 39 credits	

YEAR 2
Code 
CORE	Module Name
	Hrs/Wk 
L + P	Credits	
YEARLY Modules	
HIST 2002Y(3)	19th and 20th Century Europe 	3+0	6	
HIST 2013Y(3)	Indian Ocean Societies	3+0	6	
GEO 2001Y(3)	Mauritian Physical Resources: Physical, Natural, Cultural & Marine	3+0	6	
GEO 2002Y(3)	Space & Society	3+0	6	
GEO 2101(3)	Geography Practicum	3+0	3	
ELECTIVES Modules EQUIVALENT TO 9 CREDITS From ANY MODULES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. The following also are on offer for geography students	
IREL 2002Y(3)	International Economy and Trade since 1870	3+0	6	
CIVE 3217(5)	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 	3+0	3	
HIST 2120(3)	Archaeology 1	3+0	3	
HIST 2221(3)	Archaeology 11	3+0	3	
POLI 2204(3) 	Democracy and Democratisation	1½+0	3	
HIST 2005Y(3)	 American History	3+0	3	
	Foreign Language		3	
Total 36 credits	

YEAR 3
Code
CORE	Module Name
	Hrs/Wk
L + P	Credits	
Yearly  Modules – CHOOSE 4 CORE MODULES EQUIVALENT TO 12 CREDITS FROM EACH DISCIPLINE	
GEO 3001Y(5)	Geography of Development	3+0	6	
GEO 3002Y(5)	Islands response to Natural Hazards	3+0	6	
HIST 3004Y(5)	Modern Asia OR 	3+0	6	
HIST 3001Y(5)	African History	3+0	6	
HIST 3125(5)	Special Topics I	3+0	3	
HIST 3225(5)	Special Topics II	3+0	3	
HIST 3000(5)	Dissertation*		9	
MP3000	Miniproject		6	
ELECTIVES	Students choose either a dissertation in either History or Geography or a mini-project combined with a 3-credit module from within the Department	
GEO 3201(5)	Issues in Political Geography	3+0	3	
ANTH 3202(5)	Religion and Society  	3+0	3	
POLI 3004Y(5)	Public Administration 	3+0	3	
Total 33 credits	

Grand Total 108 credits

•	Students are required to earn a CPA of 60%  before they are eligible to register on HIST 3000(5)Dissertation, except with special dispensation from the Department.

10. 	Outline Syllabus 

YEAR 1  (39 credits)

HIST 1002Y(1) - MAURITIAN HISTORY 
This is a survey module covering the main aspects of Mauritian political, economic and social history from the discovery of the island to independence. This module is partly online and partly face-to-face. 

HIST 1116(1) - READING AND WRITING HISTORY 
Students will be introduced to basic skills required in the studying of history. They will read various relevant genres of historical writing. 

HIST 1004Y(1) - INTERNATIONAL HISTORY SINCE THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY 
This module aims at imparting a comprehensive knowledge of the major events in the international history since the end of the 19th century, to offer a firm basis for more advanced work in area studies and to provide the factual grounding and conceptual apparatus necessary to understand the contemporary world. Major topics include: the rise of global politics, ‘New imperialism’, the outbreak of the First World War, interwar international politics, the world economy. The Second World War in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, the Cold War, decolonisation, regional conflicts, globalisation, international and regional cooperation.

GEO 1001Y(1) - BASIC EARTH SCIENCE 1
This will be an introductory module on the forces responsible for the evolution of major landforms on the surface of the Earth. The second part of the module will make students familiar with the present Mauritian physical environment and its geological cum geomorphological build up. Since Mauritius offers a living laboratory, a series of field work will be organised for students to have a first hand view and which will form the base for course assessments. Assessment will be based on two assignments involving empirical research (70 %) and a written Examination (30 %).

GEO 1002Y(1) -	INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
This module focuses on the study of patterns and processes that shape human interaction with the environment, with particular reference to the causes and consequences of the spatial distribution of human activity on the Earth's surface as well as the major changes that have occurred in the discipline of human geography. 

ELECTIVES 

CSE 1010e(1) - INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT and Computers; Stepping in the Computer; Input and Output Devices; Secondary Storage; Programming; Systems Software; Applications Software; Systems Development; Computer Networks; The Internet; Computer Security; Software Utilities; Issues and Trends in IT.

HIST 1114(1)  - MAURITIAN NATURAL HISTORY 
This module will initiate students flora and fauna of Mauritius through on site lectures. It will be particularly helpful for students without a background. It will lead to an appreciation of the natural heritage of Mauritius.

ANTH 1001Y(1)  - ANCIENT WORLD CIVILISATIONS AND THEIR STUDY  
This module will introduce students to the ancient world civilisations and the emergence of disciplines such as anthropology and archaeology to study these civilisations. It will also introduce students to how these disciplines are being used to study contemporary societies. This module will introduce students to main currents of the discipline and famous anthropologists and archaeologists. Students will also approach main anthropological concepts and sub-disciplines. The module will enable students to develop an understanding of the key issues of protohistoric and early historic world civilizations. A brief survey of Ancient Egyptian Civilization, Greek civilisation, Aksum Civilisation Middle East: Mesopotamia, Indus Valley Civilization, Minoan Civilization and Chinese Civilization will try to examine the commonalities and distinctions of the early world civilizations. 

ARCH 1001Y(3)  - INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY  
This module introduces the students to the discipline of anthropology and the sub disciplines of this field of study such as archaeology. The students will be given an overview of the history of the field, the way it became a discipline with its own methods of research and field of study, its aims and scope, as well as main anthropological concepts such as culture, cultural diversity, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, etc.  

IREL 1001Y(1) - Theories and Concepts of International Relations
The module will focus on the major theoretical approaches to international relations in order to understand and critically analyse their strengths and weaknesses. Key concepts, such as power, agency, the state, international society and order will be identified and discussed in relation to differing interpretations and applications. Case studies assist in the use of both theories and concepts

POLI 1001Y(1) - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY 
The meaning of Politics. Fundamental rights and freedoms. The values of a liberal society. The State and the individual. Socialism and Marxism. Totalitarian regimes; fascism and communism. Topics will also include discussions concerning the nature of man, the origin of government and law, man’s relation to society and the state, the nature of just and unjust government with reference to thinkers such as: Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli.

YEAR 2  (36 credits)

CORE MODULES 24 credits

HIST 2013Y(3) - INDIAN OCEAN SOCIETIES 
Briefly this module will study the societies of the Indian Ocean in precolonial and colonial periods. It will examine the expansion of trading networks, the three main religions, the impact of European entry, the creation of diasporas and of ‘cultural continuums’ in the Indian Ocean region. The Geography component will examine the geology of the Indian Ocean, historical cartography, exploration and discovery, the expansion of trading networks, etc. 

HIST 2002Y(3) - 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY EUROPE 
This module will examine general themes in European History in the ‘Age of Nationalism’. Selected topics will include the impact of the French Revolution, Napoleon I, Vienna Settlement, 1848 Revolutions, Disraeli, the Unification of Italy and Germany, industrialisation, the development of socialism and nationalism and the development of the European states system. It will also examine the development of Europe in the Twentieth Century. Major topics include economic and political developments, inter-state rivalries, the rise of new ideologies, the development of mass society, cultural and intellectual developments and European integration.

GEO 2002Y(3) -	SPACE AND SOCIETIES
This module is primarily concerned with the basic concepts used to analyse the spatial organisation of society. It will examine the key approaches adopted by economic, cultural, and social geographers in the study of the complex inter-relationships that tie together societies and space.

GEO 2001Y(3) - MAURITIAN PHYSICAL RESOURCES: PHYSICAL, NATURAL, CULTURAL AND MARINE
This is an economic geography module exploring some of the major changes in land-uses. The first part of this module deals with the type, characteristics and quality of Mauritian resources. The second part will deal with Sustainable Island living with emphasis on resources management. Examples from other Island States will be highlighted and students will be encouraged to critically assess Mauritian responses. Assessment will be by a written examination (30%) and an extended Essay 
(50%) as well as field-based coursework or paper presentation (20%).

ELECTIVES 12 credits 
Electives modules or from any other modules within the Department

SEMESTER MODULES

CIVE 3217(5) - INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
What is GIS?-Technologies merged to create a GIS; Spatial and non-spatial information; What can a GIS do); What type of information makes up a GIS database; Metadata; GIS application worldwide (on the Internet);IDRISI – a raster based GIS system; View, display, document a file; create view palettes for vector and raster files; import bmp and dxf files; on screen digitising; simple analytical tools; Boolean algebra. Applications of GIS – miniproject.

IREL 2002Y(3) - INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY AND TRADE SINCE 1870
This module investigates major themes in the international economy since 1870, namely the origins of the international economic system, the economic impact of the First World War, the Depression, the post-1945 international economic institutions, the global economy and the World Trade Organisation

POLI 2204(3) - DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATISATION
Democracy: the concept and interpretation. Historical development of Western political institutions. Comparative historical studies of democracy. Modernisation theory, new waves of democratisation; in East Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Democracy and development in Third World countries. The concept of democratic legitimation.

HIST 2120(3)  - ARCHAEOLOGY I
This module introduces the aims and scope of the discipline of archaeology and traces the history of the discipline from its beginning.  Preliminary field techniques of archaeological exploration and recording are introduced.

HIST 2221(3) – ARCHAEOLOGY II
This module develops the concept of Prehistory and the relation of archaeology to other branches of knowledge.  Field techniques of advanced archaeological exploration, excavation and archaeological drawing are introduced.  A practical session on archaeological conservation is organised to equip the students with methods of chemical cleaning of ceramics as well as iron and copper implements.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES on offer subject to availability of resources

German				Mandarin
Spanish				Dutch
Portuguese			Malagasy
Swahili				Arabic
Italian

GEOGRAPHY
GEO 2101(3) - GEOGRAPHY PRACTICUM
Students will take part in a real life situation in order to familiarise themselves with the work environment. Students may undertake their internship at the Meteorology Department, MOI, Min of Environment, etc.

HIST 2005Y(3) - AMERICAN HISTORY
This will be an introductory survey module examining American History from the period of European discovery and settlement of the Americas, Westward expansion, the Civil War, Reconstruction, New Deal up to the emergence of the US as a superpower. 

YEAR 3  

CORE MODULES

Students choose 2 core modules in HISTORY and 2 core modules in GEOGRAPHY (12 credits each)

HIST 3001Y(5) - AFRICAN HISTORY
This module will focus on Eastern and Southern African History from the early modern period to the beginning of the 20th century. Selected topics will include historical linguistics, oral history, African economy before 1800, Mau Mau rebellion, and Maji Maji uprising, the consolidation of the settler states in South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Namibia, on the evolution of ideologies of white rule and the rise of African Nationalism in Zimbabwe. The main topics will be the Boer War, Afrikaner nationalism in South Africa, segregationist discourse, African nationalism, guerilla warfare in Southern Africa.

OR

HIST 3004Y(5) - MODERN ASIA 
This module is a survey of the political, economic and social transformation of Asia since the second half of the 19th century (Part 1 focusing on Indian and part 2 on special China and Japan). Major topics include: the Western impact and Asian response, the rise of nationalism and communism, internal politics and international and regional conflicts, the impact of the Cold War, the contemporary economic development of India, Japan and China.

HIST 3125(5) -SPECIAL TOPIC I
Students will examine one particular theme in Mauritian history through a study of archival documents and learn to construct a historical narrative as a result of this study.

HIST 3225(5) - SPECIAL TOPIC II
Through a prior study of the archival documents, students will learn to construct a historical narrative on a particular theme.

GEO 3002Y(5) - ISLANDS RESPONSE TO NATURAL HAZARDS
The first part of this module will deal with climate change and such hazard events as earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, storm waves and tsunamis. The second part will deal with human response as Islanders with emphasis on Mauritius. Assessment will be through written Examinations (70%) and course work (30%).

GEO 3001Y(5) - GEOGRAPHY OF DEVELOPMENT
World development problems are examined from a special perspective at national, regional, and urban scales.

Developed work problems and examined from a special perspective focusing on case studies from USA and Europe.

GEO 3201(5) - ISSUES IN POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
All politics is embedded in geographical space.  Political Geography examines the ways in which humans have arranged the territory of the Earth's surface.  This course concerns itself with the internal and external relationships of politically organized areas.  It also examines the effects of political actions on social and economic conditions, and with the significance of geographical factors behind political situations, problems, and conflicts.

ANTH 3202(5) - RELIGION AND SOCIETY  
Students will be introduced to the different concepts of religion in social anthropology and the role of religious institutions in society. Emphasis will be laid on the social functions of religious beliefs and practices in simple as well as in complex societies. 

POLI 3004Y(5) - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 
Public Administration – Its meaning, scope and significance, private and public administrations, approaches to its study. Role of Public Administration in developed and developing societies.  Theories of Organisation – classical theory, Scientific Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Human Relations Theory, Organisation and Decision-Making, Principles and Structure of Organisation, Line, Staff and Auxidiary Agencies. Personnel Administration – Recruitment Training, Civil Service Neutrality, Generalists and Specialists.  Financial Administrations and Budgeting, Citizens and Administrations, Public Accountability. Public Administration in Mauritius.

ANTH 3202(5) - RELIGION AND SOCIETY  
Students will be introduced to the different concepts of religion in social anthropology and the role of religious institutions in society. Emphasis will be laid on the social functions of religious beliefs and practices in simple as well as in complex societies. 

MP 3000(5) – DISSERTATION (optional) 
At the end of the third year of the programme, the students may choose to submit a dissertation. The title of the dissertation has to be approved by the Department of History and Political Science and a project supervisor will be identified by the Department. The dissertation length should be in the range of 8,000 – 12,000 words (including footnotes).
 
The dissertation may be in any format: museum exhibit, written paper of 10,000 words, project, completion of bibliographic or other databases.

MP3000    MINI PROJECT AND PRESENTATION (6 credits)
A Mini-project may also take the form of a Research/teaching internship