History (Honours) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Overview

Key Features

The Bachelor of Arts in History (Honours) offered at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct effective historical research. 

Students will learn about the process of historical methodology, from data collection and analysis to the writing of an independent research project. Seminars will include discussions on choosing a research topic, developing research questions, writing a literature review, navigating archives (including field visits to key local historical archives), the use of digital archives, organising historical data and other practicalities of research, and ethical considerations of research. 

By the end of the course, students are expected to produce a polished, professional and focused research proposal that involves a detailed engagement with secondary sources and an informed discussion about the available primary sources. The proposal should develop a clear set of research questions and present a structured research agenda. It should also involve considerations about ethics and the practicalities of research. 

This detailed proposal, which will be presented at a departmental seminar, will be the object of assessment for the course and will in effect take the place of an examination. It should be noted that students will, by the second block, be assigned individual supervisors to assist them with developing their proposals.