Specialisations
In the second year of your studies, you take a specialisation of your choice. The programme offers seven specialisations, grouped into two tracks: History and International Relations. The specialisations each consist of four related courses in which you will study a particular topic in depth. Read more about the specialisations you can choose from below.
| Specialisation (30 EC) | Track 1: History
Track 2: International Relations in Historical Perspective
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The Foundations of Europe
In this specialisation, you will explore the creation of the diversity of religious, ethnic and political identities from an ancient and medieval perspective. You will study papyri, manuscripts, charters, inscriptions, coins and archaeological objects and conclude with an excursion to ancient and medieval centres such as Aachen, Trier and Cologne.
Political conflict in modern Europe
In this specialisation, we study the rise of the modern state, compare brutal dictatorships, analyse successes and failures of revolutions from Napoleon to the Arab Spring, and dissect the roots of populism. We do this not only in the lecture hall, but also on field trips in revolutionary Paris and in the Binnenhof.
The power of culture
In this specialisation, you will explore how cultural pasts can be studied, preserved and told. In what ways did people give meaning to their existence? How did they communicate with each other, how did they celebrate, and how did they deal with historical changes? Together, we study the conceptions and identities that shaped our past.
Challenges of modern society
In this specialisation you will study the root causes of inequality and learn to use history to analyse and solve contemporary problems. By means of field-trips, debates, interviews, and research you will acquire a wide set of skills.
- Why do some societies flourish while others collapse?
- What role do multinationals, like the Dutch East India Company and Shell, play in society?
Europe in the world
What is Europe, and what could Europe be? This specialisation focuses on the history of modern Europe since the start of the twentieth century. You will examine how modern Europe came into being: from the two world wars to European integration, via NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
Globalisation and world order
In this specialisation, you will delve into international relations, imperialism and the global dimensions of cultural and political change. How is globalisation governed and what conflicts underlie it? And what has the international order looked like since decolonisation?
Conflict, violence and security
National security is high on the political agenda. In this package, you will delve into phenomena of political violence, the background of contemporary international conflicts and the relationship between them and the development of security thinking.