GENERAL AIMS

The aim of any University course must be to provide individuals with a well-rounded education and training grounded in scientifically-proven facts. Accordingly, the fundamental aim of this Degree is to offer a rational and critical overview of past human societies as the basis for understanding the present, whilst providing students with the instrumental and theoretical sources and tools of the discipline, in order to train professionals with a global understanding of history.  In this way, History helps to build civic awareness and an appreciation of the past and of our historical, cultural, artistic and archaeological patrimony, thus contributing to the creation of a culture of respect and tolerance and an understanding of historic and cultural diversity.

Given the above, the basic aims of this Degree are that students should:

 • Acquire a basic knowledge of humanity’s major events and processes of change and continuity from a diachronic perspective, from prehistory to the current day. The spatial dimension of this understanding of history is as wide as possible, in order to develop the capacity to understand and explain historic and cultural diversity and, consequently, to build civic awareness and respect for value systems.

• Acquire a basic understanding of the methods, techniques and analytical instruments used by historians. This involves, on the one hand, developing the capacity to examine historical sources from a critical perspective and, on the other, acquiring the ability to apply tools to find, identify, select and compile information, including information technology, and using them in learning, study and research.

• Become conversant with the major concepts, categories, theories, problems and issues that arise in different branches of historical research.

• Develop the awareness that historical interests and problems tend to change over the passage of time, in the light of new political, cultural and social contexts.

• Acquire the ability to construct a consistent and coherent historical narrative, expressing themselves both orally and in writing, and using the correct terminology. Students will be encouraged to acquire similar skills in other languages, thus enriching their capacity for historical analysis.

• Acquire the capacity to relate past events and processes with present ones, in a rational and critical manner, discerning how the former influence the latter.

• Prepare for entry into the labour market, in accordance with the demands, needs and expectations of society, and on the basis of the professional profiles given below.

• Credit structure of the degree course
• Distribution of credits per subject type
• General description of the course programme
• Optional subjects and routes
  

CREDIT STRUCTURE OF THE DEGREE COURSE

Subjects in the Degree in History, each worth 6 European ECTS credits, are organised into semesters.  Specifically, students are required to take 5 subjects each semester, to complete 30 credits per semester and 60 credits per year, for a total of 240 credits over four years.

In order to make the course compatible with other activities, students are allowed to take a part-time course consisting of 30 credits per academic year.

DISTRIBUTION OF CREDITS PER SUBJECT TYPE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE PROGRAMME

The Course Programme has been structured into seven modules, including a Final Project module and a Work Experience module.  Modules are further subdivided into twenty one units comprising forty nine subjects, which students are required to take. Modules are as follows:

• Core subjects (60 ECTS). Four units, ten subjects.
• World History (72 ECTS). Six units, twelve subjects.
• Iberian Peninsula and Spain (42 ECTS). Five units, seven subjects.
• Theory and analytical procedures in History (30 ECTS). Three units, five subjects.
• Optional subjects (90 ECTS, of which students are required to take 30).  This module is structured into three optional routes, each consisting of five subjects:

 1. Cultural heritage and the teaching of History

 2. Culture and historical constructs

 3. The European and Mediterranean world

• Work experience (6 optional ECTS)
• Final project (6 compulsory ECTS)

The Core Module provides a basic grounding and comprises the units and subjects taught in the first year. It covers core aspects of the Degree in History, which are also common to the Degrees in Geography and Humanities. The nature of the subjects included enables students to transfer to another Degree within the area of Arts and Humanities, thus implementing the comprehensive approach to a Degree education recommended in Royal Decree 1393/2007. This guarantees and enhances flexibility and an inter-disciplinary approach.

The first year includes subjects from Geography, Philosophy and Art, which, together with the subjects dealing specifically with History, are intended to offer students a broad foundation.

The compulsory subjects are distributed over the following three academic years, and together with the core subjects taught in the first year, represent a comprehensive view of the Degree. They are divided into the Modules World History, History of the Iberian Peninsula and Spain and Theory and analytical procedures in History.

The modules, units and subjects comprising the degree course constitute a coherent and innovative approach, particularly with regard to the design of the optional module. The Optional subjects complement this comprehensive approach, with a more professionally-oriented profile. Thus, the optional subjects, taken in the last year of the degree course, allow students to study their chosen fields in greater depth. The optional subjects supplement the core and compulsory subjects, complementing or extending the content of these, as the case may be. While the acquisition and practice of proficiencies is ensured through the core and compulsory subjects, the design of the optional part of the course guarantees that these proficiencies are reinforced and applied by means of alternative activities, in a range of working contexts. The opinions of History students were taken into account when designing the optional routes: in the Degree Committee, in the assessment of the Degree Course and in the Quality Commission set up to implement the improvements recommended following the assessment. Previously, the optional offer comprised areas of specialisation designed in accordance with traditional chronological blocks.

The Work Experience module is optional. It may be taken during any of the terms of the 4^th Year and can substitute one of the optional subjects offered in the route previously chosen by the student. Work experience allows students to experience professional life. In this regard, the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters has set up a management structure by which agreements can be reached with organisations outside the University.

The aim of the Final Project Module is to demonstrate acquisition of the proficiencies associated with the Degree in History, by means of writing and defending a compulsory Final Project, in accordance with the terms of Royal Decree 1393/2007.

Prior to evaluation for the final project, the student must provide evidence of ability in a foreign language.  Among other forms of accreditation, the minimum necessary requirement at the University of Alicante is to have attained level B1 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages, and this requirement may be raised in the future.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS AND ROUTES

The optional subjects allow students to study their chosen fields in greater depth. Optional subjects are taken in the 4^th Year and are grouped into four discrete routes. In order to complete a route, students are required to take at least 24 of the corresponding credits.

The Work Experience module is optional. It may be taken during any of the terms of the 4^th Year and can substitute one of the optional subjects offered in the route previously chosen by the student.

Work experience allows students to experience professional life. In this regard, the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters has set up a management structure by which agreements can be reached with organisations outside the University.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT (IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Students who study an undergraduate degree at the University of Alicante must confirm a minimum level of B1 in a foreign language (a B2 is recommended) in order to obtain the diploma.  

The required language level is in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

The language accreditation requirement can be obtained previously or at any time during university studies. However, the language requirement will be necessary in order to be able to assess the final year project.

The different forms of obtaining such language requirement can be consulted in the additional information in this section.  

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LANGUAGE TEACHING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

Students who want to have a career in non-university teaching when they finish their studies are recommended to obtain the teaching competence certificate (Valencian and/or foreign languages).

This certificate can be obtained by taking specific itineraries in your university studies or by taking the UA teaching competence course in Valencian, German, French and English.

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FINAL YEAR PROJECT (TFG)

All the official undergraduate degrees must be completed by preparing and defending a final year project, which must be done in the final phase of the studies and be aimed at the assessment of competences associated to the degree.

The final year project must be an original, independent and personal work. The elaboration of it may by individual or coordinated. Each student will prepare this project under the supervision of a tutor, allowing students to show the received training content in an integrated many, as well as the acquired competences associated to the undergraduate degree.

In order to register in the final year project, students must comply with the requirements established in the “Regulations for continuation studies for students registered in undergraduate degrees at the University of Alicante”. Among the requirements established to be able to register in the final year project, a minimum of 168 credits must be passed in undergraduate degrees with a total of 240 credits, and a minimum of 228 credits in undergraduate degrees with a total of 300 credits or more.

In order for the final year project to be assessed, a B1 level of a foreign language (B2 is recommended) must be confirmed.

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• Access routes
• Procedure for applying for admission
• Recommended applicant profile
• Number of places and pass marks

ACCESS ROUTES

Admission to this degree course is open to any applicant who meets one of the following entrance requirements:

1.     SPANISH BACCALAUREATE (LOMCE) UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Although students can access university by means of any Baccalaureate specialization, the recommended one is Humanities and Social Sciences.

Admission scores for this degree can be improved by taking the specific modules of the University Entrance Exam (PAU) as indicated in the table below with their respective weightings.

TABLE 1

2.     PREVIOUS BACCALAUREATES WITH OR WITHOUT A PASS IN THE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Students who have completed their Baccalaureate under previous education systems and have passed the PAU will be able to use the mark obtained in their application.

However, students can take specific exam modules during the voluntary PAU exam period in order to improve their admission score as shown in table 1. They can also sit for the obligatory PAU exams, in which case they will have to take all the exams scheduled during this period.

3.     VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: Vocational educational qualifications such as senior technician, senior technician of plastic arts and design, or senior technician in sports is the preferred professional area although access to this degree may be through any professional field.

Admission scores can be improved by taking the PAU exam in up to 4 of the modules in table 1.

4.     STUDENTS FROM EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION OR OTHER STATES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT: Accreditation is required and issued by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED).

Students can sit for exams in subjects included in the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE), organised by the UNED, in order to improve their admission score up to 14 points as indicated in the weightings in Table 1.

5.     STUDENTS FROM FOREIGN EDUCATION SYSTEMS: Prior to applying for the validation of their foreign Baccalaureate, students may sit for up to 4 exams in subjects offered by the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE) organised by UNED (at least one subject from the core subjects).

The weightings indicated in table 1 will be applied to core and/or optional subjects.

6.     OTHER: University degrees and other similar qualifications. University entrance exam for students over 25 (preferential option: Arts and Humanities). Access on the basis of professional experience (applicants over 40 years of age). Access to applicants aged 45 years or more by means of an exam.

Weightings of the subjects of the specific phase of the Proof of Access to the University (PAU) in the previous years

High School Diploma Subjects

Academic Years 2010-11 2011-12

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Academic Years  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

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Academic Year 2015-16 2016-17

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PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR ADMISSION: PRE-ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION

• Anticipated number of places offered during the first pre-enrolment session: 125

• In order to apply for a place, the procedure and pre-enrolment periods established each year must be observed. Information concerning the application procedure  (Pre-enrolment).

• Applicants admitted to a course must formally register within the timescale established annually in the enrolment calendar. Registration Information.

RECOMMENDED APPLICANT PROFILE

New students should have a basic grounding in the Social and Human Sciences, together with good skills in logical reasoning.

NUMBER OF PLACES AND PASS MARKS

• "Pass marks" indicated correspond to the results of the first adjudication of June.
  
• The definitive marks can be inferior to the here collected.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

The scientific, comprehensive, rational and critical training offered by the Degree in History prepares graduates for professional activity in a wide range of fields, from those traditionally allied with the discipline, such as teaching and research, to newer, more varied profiles, which value the capacity of History graduates to interpret and explain the idiosyncrasies of present day society from the perspective of the past.  In this regard, graduates are equipped for professional practice in the following fields: teaching, research, the liberal professions, management, preservation, dissemination and consultancy.

Established professional profiles:

1. Teaching of History:  Secondary and Further Education, Higher Education, including first, post-graduate and doctorate degrees, in addition to historical-cultural aspects on language courses for foreign students.

2. Historical Research on all aspects of the discipline, using a range of approaches (diachronic, thematic, and methodological), in a variety of research centres, such as CSIC, universities, museums, research institutes, etc.

3. Archaeological prospection, digs and studies, and preparation of archaeological impact reports required by public institutions and private organisations.

4. Management of historical and cultural heritage (communication, dissemination, evaluation and interpretation).

5. Management of historical archives and libraries.

6. Management of historical information and documents.

7. Management of historical, artistic, archaeological and ethnological museums.

8. Management of Cultural and Archaeological Parks and Landscapes, historical monuments and cultural foundations.

Associated professional profiles:

9. Dissemination and transmission of historical content in the media and through publishing houses.

10. Documentary, cultural, historical and archaeological consultancy for public institutions and private business.

11. Diplomacy.

12. Tourist guides.

13. Heritage Interpretation.

14. Management of cultural mediation projects and cooperation for development.

15. Human resources management.

16. Work in public administration.

Professions for which the degree qualifies its holder:

Historian.

Secondary school teacher.

Archaeologist.

Archivist, librarian, information specialist.

Advisor in national and international institutions and organisations.

Advisor in public and private cultural organisations.

Specialist in cultural tourism.

Cultural advisor.

Museologist and heritage manager.

Manager of human and social resources.

Promoter of cultural activities.

Media and publishing house contributor.

Historical research and documentation

Manager in public administration.

IMPLEMENTATION

TIMESCALE

Once a course has been phased out, the subjects corresponding to the course will no longer be taught. Students who do not wish to take the new degree course subjects are entitled to sit four examinations in the two academic years following the end of each year. Any students wishing to continue their studies after sitting and failing these tests will be required to follow the new plan, according to the adaptation system established in the new plan.

CREDIT EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THE FORMER DEGREE (LICENCIATURA) IN HISTORY AND NEW DEGREE (GRADO) IN HISTORY

DEGREE IN HISTORY. SYLLABUS SUMMARY

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes