Course Catalogue

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The course explores changing understandings and representations of ideas of race in Scotland (or in the lands that will become Scotland) over c.1500 years. The concept of race will be situated in Scotland's distinctive historical experience and European religious, philosophical, intellectual, and socio-economic dynamics operating at a global level during the era of European colonial expansion and decolonisation. The course enables critical and reflective engagement with the concept of race to reveal its deeply embedded and historically and socially contingent nature.

10 x two-hour workshops as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History, and by arrangement to visiting

students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Learning journal (2,250 words) -- 50% 

■ Essay (2,250 words) -- 50%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Develop a broad and critical understanding of the role and changing nature of ideas of 'race' in Scottish society over an extended historical period.

■ Utilise and develop the skills acquired in previous levels by engaging with more complex and challenging material that enables a critique of existing interpretation of race in Scotland's history.

■ Develop and practice intellectual and analytical skills in History through critical assessment of both secondary and primary sources

■ Facilitate engagement with critical and reflective thinking and a better appreciation of the requirements, challenges and responsibilities inherent in working effectively in groups and managing collective debate.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Reflect critically on ideas of race from Scotland's beginnings until the modern era.

■ Evaluate continuities and changes in the transmission of understandings of race in Scottish society.

■ Analyse key texts/primary sources in relation to the conditions of their creation and their meaning and use over time.