A Level History

A Level History is valued by universities and employers because it combines logical investigation with reasoned and substantiated argument. By helping us to understand the past, History sheds light on the issues of the contemporary world. Many of the problems we face today have their roots in the recent past. The Central Saint Michael’s A Level History course aims to provide students with a wide-ranging investigation of modern history across Britain, Europe, and America.

Course Overview

The course covers a range of historical fields focusing on the concepts of power, ideology, terror, democracy and dictatorship.

The configuration of the units for AS and A Level is as follows:

AS Units

England 1485 to 1558, The Early Tudors
Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany, 1919 to 1963.

A Level Units

Civil Rights in the USA, 1865 to 1992 or The Changing Nature of Warfare from 1792 to 1945
Coursework 3,500 – 4,000 words: a student choice relating to one of the three previous units.

The course will develop your skills of historical research, analysis and interpretation. It also includes a visit to the Cold War Museum in Telford, occasional guest speakers, and access to rare documents.

Entry Requirements

All students studying A Levels must have at least five GCSEs at grade A* – C (grade 9 – 5) in academic subjects, including English Language at grade C (grade 5). Two of these must be B grades (grade 6).

Assessment Information

Assessment of the four units is structured as follows:

AS Units

England 1485 to 1558 – The Early Tudors (source-based exam)
Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany, 1919 to 1963 (essay-based exam)

A Level Units

Civil Rights in the USA, 1865 to 1992 or the Changing Nature of Warfare 1792 to 1945 (thematic essay exam)

Coursework 3,500 – 4,000 words: a student choice relating to one of the three previous units. The course will develop your skills in historical research, analysis and interpretation. It also includes a visit to the Cold War Museum in Telford, guest speakers, and access to rare documents.

Career Opportunities

Students who study History often follow the subject at degree level or study for a related subject such as Law, Politics or Sociology.

The study of History is useful in a wide range of careers such as the legal profession, the civil service, teaching, local government, politics, and in pressure groups and charities. History skills are especially useful in research-based occupations such as journalism, the police and the law.