Entry requirements

successful completion of the module Theories and Methods of Cultural and Historical Studies (offered in winter semester)

Qualification aims

Students learn about the history of Latin America in depth, as well as selected approaches to global history. They will be able to critically analyze the current state of research on a historical issue and independently evaluate and interpret relevant source material, paying particular attention to historical-cultural action, representations, and interconnections. In doing so, students learn to classify various methodological approaches, especially those of global, transnational, and comparative history, and apply them to empirical case studies. They also learn to work independently against the backdrop of current research debates, i.e., to grasp complex tasks and problems; to develop concrete historical questions; to select adequate analytical perspectives; to research and evaluate appropriate sources and literature in a targeted manner; to build a line of argument; and to explain, represent, and present the process and results of their own work according to good academic practice. In this context, alongside independent historical work, students also learn to discuss different interpretations and views in groups. For their personal competencies, they are given the tools to discuss new findings in the global context of changing social, political, economic, and cultural circumstances. 

Content

Students gain an overview of a sub-period from the early colonial period to the present or pursue a thematic area of the history of Latin America within global contexts based on the current international state of research. In addition, students develop, evaluate, and interpret (digitized) source materials from different actors, learn about the state of research on a specific topic and independently implement a small project that represents different historical academic perspectives. In addition to global history, students can focus on cultural history, social history, women's and gender history, visual history, oral history, or the digital humanities. Finally, students learn how to research, present, and write academic texts using current literature and a variety of sources from different regional origins, languages, social spheres, perspectives, and materiality. 

Essentials

Teaching and learning methods: Grundkurs (GK) + Hauptseminar (HS)

Module exam: Term paper (approx. 15 Seiten)

Offer: every summer semester