In this phase you can follow your own interests and develop expertise in specific topics. The RMA programme offers room for four electives (20 EC) within your first year of study. Half of this elective space is normally filled with two tutorials within our department. You are strongly encouraged to take at least one tutorial. The other half is normally filled with two Research School courses. However, pending approval from the programme coordinator and the Exam Committee, you may choose to take up to 10 EC of electives from MA courses at an appropriate level offered by other MA programmes in the History department, in other departments or at other universities:
Research tutorial options 2022-23 (5 EC each)
Tutorials offer you insight in a specific area of history by studying, under the supervision of a senior staff member, a substantial amount of literature. You will read 1,000 to 2,000 pages of books and articles, discuss the literature in 3-6 sessions, and write reports to digest the readings and to explore possible research questions. Our department has specialists in many different fields within history who can be asked to give a research tutorial on a wide range of topics. This academic year, the following tutorials are on offer:
Period/block 2:
- Decolonizing knowledge
- The development of democracy in the early modern era
Period/block 3:
- (Post)colonial roots of contemporary cultural diversity
- Capitalism: blessing or curse?
- Environmental history of Russian imperialism
Period/block 4:
- Black Internationalism
Electives of the National Research Schools (minimum of 10 EC total)
Being part of the RMA community, you are normally affiliated to one of the three following national research schools, each of which offers a range of courses throughout the year. Please consult the individual websites to see what is on offer:
- Research School Political History
- Huizinga Research Institute and Graduate School for Cultural History
- N.W. Posthumus Institute, Research School for Economic and Social History
Electives from other programmes
Please see the list below, and please note that these require previous approval from the programme coordinator and Examination Committee. (5 EC each)