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Diploma of Higher Education in History - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

This is an intermediate programme that aims to provide you with:

  • a thorough grounding in the humanities alongside the development of discipline-specific perspectives at OU level 2
  • the development and consolidation of skills of analysis, argument and expression
  • the ability to write well-argued essays and other specified written tasks, including work in formal examinations, reflect on tutor feedback, and use this feedback to improve on future performance
  • the opportunity to enhance your personal development, both in terms of progressing towards a degree in a named subject through OU level 3 study and awareness of the transferrable skills you have gained in the process of studying history in conjunction with arts and humanities to diploma level

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this diploma, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

  • history as a systematic and reflective discipline producing bodies of knowledge about the past, these being constantly subject to controversy, debate, refinement and correction
  • aspects of the history of Britain, Continental Europe and the wider world from around 1500 to the twentieth century
  • the use and value of relevant concepts and theories

Cognitive skills

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:

  • read critically and think logically
  • evaluate evidence and distinguish between objective knowledge, hypotheses and opinions
  • apply such knowledge and understanding and other cognitive skills to the solution of problems of a familiar and unfamiliar nature
  • synthesise information and ideas obtained from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including written and visual sources

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:

  • undertake research: seek out, collect and select relevant information in a systematic manner, using information literacy
  • present historical discussion in appropriate language using the scholarly apparatus (according to conventions within the discipline) that provides proper acknowledgement of relevant work by other scholars.

Key skills

On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:

  • communicate your ideas effectively both orally and in writing in ways that demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the discipline
  • collaborate with others and participate in group discussion 
  • study and learn independently, including planning and executing a study programme
  • use feedback to improve performance in the academic context
  • read and synthesise substantial amounts of material.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

You will be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment, which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top-quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups; and community forums.

A range of  assessment methods is used in accordance with the recommendations of the national benchmarking statement. Most modules include continuous assessment and an examinable component. The tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) that make up the continuous assessment component may take the form of essays, reflective writing, and reports, depending on the module and the level. The examinable component may take the form of a traditional unseen examination or a project.