Oral History Theory and Methods (DL) HIST5198

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This postgraduate course allows students to explore oral history theory and practices as a valuable means of understanding the past. We will examine the advantages and limitations of oral history as both a research methodology and an outcome by discussing key texts written by leading oral historians and related practitioners. In the second half of the course students will gain practical experience by designing and implementing a mini oral history project. By the end of the semester, students will have written a preliminary research design, submitted their project proposal for ethics approval, and conducted and analysed an interview..

Timetable

1x 1-hour lecture per week for 10 weeks, accessed online.

1x 1-hour seminar per week for 10 weeks, accessed online.

This is one of the PGT optional courses in History and may not run every year. The options that are running in the current session are available on MyCampus

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Masters at College Level

Excluded Courses

HIST5175, HIST4089

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Research design and ethics application (40%) - 2,000 words

Reflective essay (60%) - 2,500 words

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Explore the emergence, history, methodology and genres of oral history.

■ Teach students how to collect and analyse oral historical data.

■ Allow students to experiment with different genres of writing and sharing oral history for different audiences.

■ Explore the potential of oral history for educating and engaging the public.

■ Develop transferable skills by fostering individual initiative, personal choice, group discussion and, where appropriate, problem-solving teamwork

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ Explain aspects of oral history theory and practice, including its strengths and limitations, and evaluate different genres of writing in oral history.

■ Critically analyse historical and oral historical sources in relation to existing historiography;

■ Acquire first-hand experience in producing their own source material by conducting an interview and transcribing and analysing the results.

■ Enhance skills in oral discussion, analysis and written argument.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.