Anglo-American University in Prague What is History?
| Course Name | What is History? |
| Course Code | HIS100 |
| Description | This course offers an introduction to methods, concepts and controversies which confront and challenge historians today, in the researching, writing and justifying of professional historical work. It is predominantly concerned with exploring various assumptive and theoretical foundations of historical practice, espoused by historians both past and present, and learning about how these various approaches are contested and debated. Key concepts to be considered include objectivity, causality, representation and truth. We will be particularly interested in how postmodernist commentators and historians have challenged many of the assumThis course introduces methods, concepts, and controversies that confront and challenge historians today in researching, writing, and justifying professional historical work. It is predominantly concerned with exploring various assumptive and theoretical foundations of historical practice espoused by historians past and present and learning about how these various approaches are contested and debated. Key second-order concepts to be considered include objectivity, causality, representation, memory, past, progress, and multiperspectivity. We will be particularly interested in how postmodernist commentators and historians have challenged many of the assumptions and methods upon which attempts to write objective history have been based. |
| Learning Outcomes | Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: – Critically reflect on the main challenges of researching, writing, and interpreting history. – Demonstrate a critical awareness of major philosophical and theoretical assumptions that underpin historical research. – Engage in a well-informed debate on the role of history in contemporary society. – Express articulate opinions on concepts related to historical research, such as truth, objectivity, evidence, etc. |
| School | School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Level | Bachelor |
| Number of credits (US / ECTS) | 3 US / 6 ECTS |