Whether you're interested in culture and society, politics and power, or war and conflict, in the School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies at Essex we give you the freedom to explore the history that excites you. Our global expertise and topical diversity give you an unrivalled opportunity to pursue your historical passions and discover new ones. Our MA History is rigorous, flexible and wide-ranging, so that you can to choose the modules and a dissertation topic which best suit your interests. Historical research at Essex concentrates on the period from 1500 to the present, and covers a wide geographical area that includes Britain and Europe, Russia, Latin America, the USA, China and Africa. In addition to two compulsory modules, one that deals with recent developments in the study of history and the other providing you with practical steps to undertake historical research, you take three optional MA modules which enable you to explore the latest in historical research in our specialist areas. You also write a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice. Our Masters degree also provides you with opportunities to explore local history, and we have strong links with the Essex Record Office, one of the best county record offices in the UK. A variety of assessment allows for testing of a range of skills and learning outcomes. Assessed coursework generally consists of essays, concept studies, critical commentaries, research proposals, and a 15,000-word dissertation. Students usually attend a two-hour seminar for each module each week. Seminar groups/workshops which would usually have about 15 students.