UNICAEN | UNIVERSITÉ DE CAEN NORMANDIE | UFR Humanités et sciences sociales

Undergraduate courses History

Track :
  • History - Social Sciences
  • History - Political Sciences
  • History - Archaeology

field(s) of training :
Humanities and Social Sciences
diploma level :
Grade de Licence (Bac+3)
duration of the program :
3 years
location(s) :
Caen - Campus 1Departmental archives of the Orne and Calvados departments for some of the courses of year 3

Course units

History is the main subject taught. the study of the four historical periods is compulsory for all students along the three years of the Bachelor's Programme: Antiquity, the Middle Ages, modern times, contemporary times (including the history of the present time). The main topics taught are: political, military, economic, social, religious and cultural history, history of representations and gender history. The fundamental Units in history allow the students to acquire a superior level of general culture expected at the undergraduate level.  In addition, students can choose optional history courses to complement and refine their training in year 2 and year 3. Moreover, there are courses centered on the discovery of original sources, epistemology and historiography in 3rd year.

In addition to history, three other social sciences are widely taught in this degree : geography, sociology and philosophy, depending on the students' choice. These teachings allow the acquisition of the fundamental bases in these three disciplines (general philosophy, authors and theories in sociology, discovery of anthropology, social, physical and regional geography).

Archaeology courses are offered (not only in the Archaeology study path) from year 1 to year 3. In year 2 and year 3, the courses are both theoretical and practical, including compulsory field training and laboratory internships.

The course entitled "political sciences" , taught in year 2 and year 3, include political sciences, political philosophy, political sociology, sociology of associations, history of ideas, contemporary history and law courses.

All students continue to study at least one modern foreign language from year 1 to year 3 and may study another modern foreign language or an ancient language (Latin or Greek, courses adapted to  beginners).

Course overview

The aim of the Bachelor's degree in History is to introduce students to the methodology of human and social sciences, to give them a superior general culture in history, as well as the possibility of deepening their knowledge in some historical periods and themes, or in some related disciplines, according to the interests and personal project of each student.

Year 1 is necessarily bi-disciplinary. In year 2 and year 3, students follow a common core in history and have to choose between:

  • deepening their knowledge in historical periods and themes,
  • continue to study another social science,
  • prepare for further study or employment in archaeology or political sciences.

Registration process

1st Registration at the university

Re-registratuion at the university

Level

Completion of secondary education + Baccalauréat qualification

Entry requirements

No specific requirements other than a completion of secondary education + Baccalauréat qualification or equivalent diploma

Tuition fees

Administrative registration includes the payment of the Student Life and Campus Life Contribution and the payment of registration fees. Details can be found on the training portal.

Course structure

  • Face-to-face training
  • Distance Learning : year 1, year 2 and year 3 of the Social Sciences  path of the bachelor's degree in History (sociology).

Course details

Semester 1

  • UE1 Introduction to modern-day France
  • UE2 Introduction to contemporary history
  • UE3 Introduction to the commentary of modern and contemporary history-related documents
  • UE4 Transferable methods and tools 1 (*)
  • UE5 Minor in Geography or Sociology or Philosophy 1

Semester 2

  • UE6 Introduction to ancient history
  • UE7 Introduction to medieval history
  • UE8 Introduction to the commentary of ancient and medieval history-related documents
  • UE9 Transferable methods and tools 2 (*)
  • UE10 Minor in Geography, Sociology or Philosophy 2

Teachings common to the 3 paths - years 2 and 3

Semester 3

  • UE11 Ancient History
  • UE12 Medieval History
  • UE14 Transferable methods and tools 3 (*)

Semester 4

  • UE16 Modern History
  • UE17 Contemporary History
  • UE19 Transferable methods and tools 4 (*)
  • Optional teaching: Discovery and Orientation Internship

Semester 5

  • UE21 Ancient History
  • UE22 Medieval History
  • UE24 Transferable methods and tools 5 (*)

Semester 6

  • UE26 History of the Modern World
  • UE27 Contemporary History
  • UE29 Transferable methods and tools 6 (*)
  • Optional teaching: Discovery and Orientation Internship

History - Archaeology Study path

Semester 3

  • UE13 Introduction to medieval archaeology
  • UE15 Archaeology of religious and funerary practices, from the Celts to modern times

Semester 4

  • UE18 Ancient Archaeology
  • UE20 orientation and discovery internship

Semester 5

  • UE23 Medieval Archaeology
  • UE25 Celtic archaeology

Semester 6

  • UE28 Archaeology of Roman Gaul
  • UE30 Archaeometry and field training internship

History - Political Sciences path

Semester 3

  • UE13 Understanding of the contemporary world
  • UE15 Political sociology

Semester 4

  • UE18 History of Political ideas
  • UE20 Today's world : Initiation to Law and French History of the Present Time

Semester 5

  • UE23 Political Sciences
  • UE25 Today's world : European Union Law and Sociology of Associations

Semester 6

  • UE28 Political Sciences
  • UE30 Philosophy of Law

History - Social Sciences path

Semester 3

  • UE13 Historical deepening 1
  • UE15 Reinforcement in History 1 or Minor in Geography or Sociology or Philosophy 3

Semester 4

  • UE19 Historical deepening 2
  • UE20 Reinforcement in History 2 or Minor in Geography or Sociology or Philosophy 4

Semester 5

  • UE24 Deepening in History 3 (including sources discovery)
  • UE25 Reinforcement in History 3 or Minor in Geography or Sociology or Philosophy 5

Semester 6

  • UE29 Deepening in History 4 (including epistemology and historiography)
  • UE30 Deepening in History 4 or Minor in Geography or Sociology or Philosophy 6

 

(*) Depending subjects over the semesters and study paths: methodology, optional history courses, modern foreign or ancient language, discovery of sources, digital and documentary skills.

Internships and placements

Compulsory internships in the History-Archeology paths: laboratory internship (24h) in year 2 and field training internship in year 3 (15 working days).

Students in all study paths can do an optional discovery and orientation internship of 6 weeks maximum, before July 15.

Coursework and assessment

Depending on the Teaching Units (UE) : final written test and/or continuous oral or written test. Second session : written terminal test only.

Compensation between the elements of the same Unit, between the Units of the same semester and between the two semesters of the same year. Final capitalization of marks equal or superior to 10/20 in all elements, all UEs, all semesters.

Students who validate only one of the two semesters of a year is declared AJAC (adjourned authorized to continue) in the following year.  They must nevertheless validate the semester that they did not complete.

Course arrangements for eligible students

 

Working students (more than 10 hours of paid work per week), students with family responsibilities, high-level athletes and students with disabilities can benefit from study accommodation (exemptions from attendance and adapted exam control procedures). Please refer to the regulations governing study exemptions and accommodations.

Language

French and English (for some optional courses)

Study abroad

 

Study abroad programmes are available for students in year 2 and year 3.

Agreements with the following universities : Paderborn, Augsburg, Bremen (Germany) ; Sofia (Bulgaria) ; Huelva, Salamanca, Madrid, Santander (Spain) ; Glasgow, Cardiff, Southampton (Great Britain) ; Siena, Bari, Milan, Naples, Padova, Turin (Italy) ; Coimbra (Portugal); Bergen, Oslo (Norway) ; Prague (Czech Republic) ; Ljubljana (Slovenia).

CREPUQ agreements with Quebec universities (special links with the Université de Sherbrooke).

Other opportunities : Russia, United States, Mexico.

A professor/researcher in charge of international cooperation has been specifically appointed for the Bachelor's and Master's in the History Departement.

Learning outcome

Mastery of the methods related to Human and Social Sciences, in particular to historical sciences :

  • structured thinking and argumentation
  • analysis and critical reading of textual and iconographic documents

Mastery of useful transversal skills in history and social sciences :

  • oral expression
  • written expression
  • bibliographical and digital information search
  • use of the main IT tools (office automation and bibliographic management)
  • modern foreign language(s) and ancient language(s)

Acquisition of a superior general culture in history :

  • mastery of chronology and fundamental knowledge in the four periods of history (Antiquity, Middle Ages, Modern Times, Contemporary Times).

Further study

Students can continue their studies in the Master's degree in History. Three study paths are proposed :

  • Master's degree in History, Archaeology study path
  • Master's degree in History, History study path
  • Master's degree in History, History and Heritage study path

Careers

Career opportunities in the History-Social Sciences study path

  • Teaching professions (Certificate of Aptitude for the Teaching of Secondary Education (CAPES) in History and Geography, Aggregation of History)
  • Professions in the management and enhancement of the value of the heritage (access to Master's degrees with immediate professional integration in this field)
  • Cultural professions
  • Publishing and source engineering professions
  • Research in history.

Career opportunities in the History-Political Sciences study path

  • Journalism (competitive exams and entrance exams for journalism schools)
  • Institutes of political studies and professions of senior administration, diplomacy, geopolitics and political sciences
  • Legal and administrative professions (civil service competitions for general and master executive)
  • Research

Career opportunities in the History-Archaeology study path

  • Field and laboratory archaeology professions (public and private structures, planned and preventive excavations)
  • Archaeological research

Address

Université de Caen Normandie

UFR HSS · Humanités et sciences sociales

Esplanade de la Paix · CS 14032 · 14032 Caen Cedex 5

France

Email

hss.licence.histoire@unicaen.fr

Course leader

Gabriel De Bruyn · gabriel.debruyn@unicaen.fr

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