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HIS-10052 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

HIS-10052 - Applied History: What's Past is Present
Coordinator:
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

History is ever-present outside of the academic setting in places such as heritage sites, museums, schools, advocacy organizations, newsfeeds and social media. In this module you will grapple with how history is communicated to different groups for different purposes. A field trip will serve as a case study to complement your teaching programme, and you will put your skills into practice by producing and reflecting on your own public history intervention, with guidance from staff.

Aims
This is the core professional development module for L4 students. It is intended to:
- Introduce you to the uses and roles of History outside the university.
- Develop your understanding of public and applied history through experiential and peer-based learning practice.
- Develop your ability to think creatively and reflectively about the presentation of historical information in public and applied history contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Recognise themes and issues surrounding the significance of public and applied history.: 1,2
Identify key primary and secondary sources related to the heritage sector and public history.: 1
Use collaborative communication skills acquired through experiential and peer-based learning practices.: 1
Constructively reflect on their own academic and professional development.: 2
Evaluate the presentation of historical narratives to different audiences.: 2

Study hours

Active Learning hours:
12 x 2-hour classroom seminars = 24
A 6-hour field trips to partner organization = 6
Collabrative work sessions = 3
Independent Study Hours:
Preparation for seminars and field trip = 67
Collaborative group work on assessment, arranged at group's discretion = 35
Reflective diary research and preparation = 15

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 70%
Collaborative Public History Project
Students will work collaboratively (in groups of two or three) to produce a booklet, blog, interpretation panel text, or similar, that presents a particular historical topic or subject to a public audience (e.g. a walk around a particular area highlighting historical significance; an intervention in public interest issues highlighting inherent historical assumptions and the effects these have on the issue; an interpretation panel display intended to inform on a particular place, etc). (1750 words).

2: Reflective Diary weighted 30%
Reflective Diary
Students will complete a reflective diary to critically evaluate the core themes and skills developed on the module. Students must include entries for their collaborative project (exploring their commitments with relation to their chosen audience) and the field trip. (750 words).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026