MA Landscape History

The English landscape has been described as the richest historical record we possess. Society has developed in geographical pockets, as reflected in our attitudes, beliefs, social structures, industries – and our accents.

Our MA will provide you with the skills you need to read the landscape, and to unearth clues about the relationship between human beings and the natural environment.

Our approach to Landscape History is deliberately eclectic – unconstricted by eras or geographical boundaries. You’ll study materials ranging from prehistory to the present day, from early estates and territories, to historic gardens and wartime pillboxes. You’ll discover long-term trends, and the enduring legacy our landscapes have had on local and regional communities.

Our Master’s course offers intensive and practical preparation for further postgraduate study. However, it is also ideal preparation to enter professions requiring knowledge of the historic environment, such as tourism, heritage and conservation work.

About

Our landscape is a living record of the way humans have interacted with the land; how we’ve exerted our will over it – and how it in turn has shaped our society.

Our Master’s course will arm you with the skills you need to read the landscape, as well as knowledge of the practical and theoretical issues involved in the study of the countryside.

You’ll study the relationship between human beings and the natural environment from prehistory to the present day. You’ll look at man-made and semi-natural spaces, such as wood pastures and heaths, in the context of historical ecology. And you’ll examine regions – why they exist, and the behaviours and patterns they create.

You’ll undergo intensive practical training in Geographical Information Systems, which will prove invaluable in your independent studies. You’ll discover where to seek out historical and archaeological information. And you’ll even learn how to read historic handwriting in our English Palaeography module.

Your dissertation will form a large part of the course. It will allow you to select and focus on a particular place of interest or a specific research question. We have a huge range of expertise within our School, which means we can provide supervision for a wide range of topics. And we’re proud to say that a substantial number of our students’ dissertations have gone on to form the basis for published articles.

Throughout the course, you’ll also discover how an understanding of the historic environment has applications within the heritage industry, conservation agencies, local government and archaeological management, all of which will offer excellent career opportunities following graduation. Or you may wish to undertake further postgraduate study, for which the MA will provide invaluable preparation.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

Our modules include both formative and summative assessments, with feedback provided in various ways. This includes – but is not restricted to – written feedback, oral feedback in seminars and tutorials, and peer-to-peer feedback.

Each module will include a sequence of assessments, giving you the opportunity to learn from your formative feedback. The process will encourage you to reflect on your performance and to approach subsequent pieces of work with greater confidence, improving your performance in summative assessments.

Formative assessment includes presentations, essays and dissertation plans, research training and specialised skills. Summative work is assessed through coursework essays – including the options to submit book and exhibition reviews – and your dissertation.

Structure

Our Landscape History Master’s degree covers the key periods and developments in the history of the English countryside, from prehistory to the present day.

Our core, year-long module, Past Environments: Theory and Practice in Landscape History, revolves around four major themes, and looks at the ways the landscape has been impacted in different periods:

What is Landscape History? explores the ways in which landscape history is practised and its relationship with other disciplines.

Landscape and Environment discusses the history and archaeology of various man-made and semi-natural environments, such as wood pastures, heaths and moors, and introduces ideas of historical ecology, as well as the subject that is sometimes mistakenly referred to as ‘environmental determinism’.

Society and Landscape is concerned with human agency in the landscape, and the ways in which we’ve manipulated the countryside. Within this theme you’ll discuss ideas concerning landscape design, enclosure and the impact of modernity.

Regions and Regionality takes a slightly different approach, examining patterns and asking questions of regionality in the landscape: Why do regions exist? Are they created by social and economic behaviour that reflects different regional identities, or are they the product of later attrition?

In your autumn semester the module Sources for Landscape History will provide you with training in where to find historical and archaeological information, introducing you to a wide range of source material. And in the spring, you’ll take English Palaeography, which will help you learn to decipher and read historic handwriting.

You’ll also complete a module that will provide training in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This module has been tailored to the needs of landscape historians, and places a particular emphasis on the specific analytical operations that you will find useful. So by the end of the practical training, you’ll be able to put GIS to invaluable use in your dissertation research.

Your Master’s dissertation will be the main focus of the course, and is your opportunity to go into real depth about a subject or place that interests you. We have a vast range of expertise within our School, so we’re confident that we can provide supervision for most dissertation topics, and many of our students’ dissertations have gone on to form the basis for published articles.

Examples of recent dissertation subjects include: the landscapes of medieval monasteries, medieval hunting landscapes, the archaeology of ancient woods, regional patterns of enclosure, landscape characterisation, and Second World War coastal defence.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching

Our integrated approach means that your learning from each module will relate to and inform your other modules. Broad and thorough, this also makes for a more interesting and stimulating study experience.

Our skills-based modules will provide you with the theoretical and methodological tools key to the study of Landscape History, as well as the conceptual knowledge you’ll need to complete the core module and your dissertation.

Our teaching will enhance your knowledge and awareness of different disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. And with the skills gained through the taught elements, along with our close supervision and advice, you will be in the position to undertake your extended, independent, original research project.

Independent study

The very nature of a Master’s course means that you will spend a lot of time carrying out independent study. You’ll have access to UEA’s state-of-the-art library, which houses a wealth of specialist research collections in British, European, and global history. You’ll also have access to the East Anglian Film Archive and the Norfolk Record Office. Moreover, you’ll be able to work with libraries and archives across the country, including the British Library and the National Archives.

The balance we offer between independent thinking and study skills will help you grow into a self-motivated learner, an analytical thinker and an expert researcher. You will develop accuracy and precision in your written work through evidence-based analysis. And you will become well versed in time management, making you highly organised and confident in self-directed study.

Throughout your degree, you’ll be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve.

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Assessment for Year 1

Compulsory Modules

SOURCES FOR LANDSCAPE HISTORY

Code HIS-7000A

Credits 10

This is a specialist preparatory exercise, examining sources for landscape history, ranging from historical documents through to archaeological data sets and maps. There will be a strong practical element to this component, with an emphasis on how landscape historians use their sources.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR LANDSCAPE HISTORY

Code HIS-7001B

Credits 30

The use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) has become a key part of landscape history research in the 21st century. On this module you'll learn how to apply GIS techniques in your own research through weekly practical sessions using ESRI’s ArcGIS software. You'll develop a range of skills such as georeferencing historic maps, using digital data including maps and LiDAR data, creating your own data and combining datasets to carry out more sophisticated analysis. An essay and portfolio of maps will enable you to develop your understanding of how GIS has been used more widely on historical and archaeological projects and to put your new skills into practice to create and present your own maps.

PAST ENVIRONMENTS: THEORY AND PRACTICE IN LANDSCAPE HISTORY

Code HIS-7021Y

Credits 50

This year-long module allows you to examine the nature of past environments from prehistory to the present. You will focus on the theory and practice of Landscape History and examine a series of semi-natural environments, the archaeological footprint of the Middle Ages and the Post-Medieval period and aspects of regionality.

MA HISTORY DISSERTATION

Code HIS-7019X

Credits 80

Dissertation for students taking the MA in the School of History. 14,000 - 16,000 Words

EARLY MODERN ENGLISH PALAEOGRAPHY

Code HIS-7018B

Credits 10

All historians will find this module essential if they wish to be able to read handwriting of the period that they are researching. It can be demanding, but also enjoyable, leading to the mastery of a new skill.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

Entry Requirements

Degree classification

Bachelors degree (minimum 2.1 or equivalent)

Degree subject

History or a related subject

Additional entry requirements

Applicants must submit a sample of written work (in English). This should be a typed essay on a historical subject, 2-3,000 words long, preferably a photocopy of an assessment marked by a tutor, complete with critical comments and a percentage or grade. The essay should address a specific question, and must demonstrate an ability to construct a historical argument, familiarity with the conventions of academic writing, and competence in English. This should be uploaded to your online application on applying.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in two components only, with 6.0 in the other two)
PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in only two components with 64 in the others)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests

INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

Clearing and Admissions Live Chat

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How rupture with mainland Europe caused Britain to falter for hundreds of years

Placeless people

A new research network at UEA explores how the humanities can contribute to our shared understanding of refugee history and refugeedom today.

LEARN MORE >

Course Reference Number: 6884534

MA LANDSCAPE HISTORY