HIS-30157 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module allows you to study one of the most dramatic processes to shape the modern United States: the struggle for African American civil rights. From a nation blighted by white supremacy (and an especially racially oppressive South) to a country where legal equality was achieved but significant racial disparities remained, we will assess the aims and achievements of Black leadership, and the contribution of ordinary men and women, Black and white, northern and southern, to re-shaping American society through their activism. You will also study the actions of opponents of racial change.

To introduce students to the role of civil rights conflict in the shaping of contemporary America;
To assess the aims and achievements of Black leadership in the Civil Rights Movement;
To document and evaluate the contribution of mainstream protests by ordinary men and women, Black and white, Northern and Southern, in re-shaping American society;
To document and evaluate the broader African-American contribution to American society and culture.

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognise and explain the particular issues and debates associated with the struggle for Civil Rights and racial equality in the United States: 1,2
assess the relative merits of conflicting interpretations of significant events and phenomena, recognising the complexity and diversity of historical situations, events and belief systems: 1,2
use source materials constructively, evaluating primary and secondary accounts to develop original interpretations of evidence: 1,2

Study hours

12x 2-hour seminars; 50 hours seminar preparation; 28 hours presentation preparation; 48 hours long essay preparation.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment