Training goals

The basic goal of the Degree in History is to provide students with a rational and critical knowledge of the past of humanity in order to enable them to understand the present. No other science capacitates individuals to acquire the ability to understand how events and processes in the past influence these in the present. Furthermore, no other science contributes more than history to the objective appreciation of historical and cultural diversity. This in turn promotes tolerance and respect for the different points of view inherent to historical traditions and cultures, and fosters civic attitudes.

1. The Degree in History must provide students with a rational and critical knowledge of the past of humanity so that they are able to understand the present. Only historians are able to understand how events and processes in the past influence those in the present.
2. History students should acquire a basic knowledge of the main events and processes that have led to major changes or to continuity in the history of mankind from a diachronic perspective. The spatial dimension of historical events must be as wide as possible so that students develop the ability to understand historical and cultural diversity. Consequently, they will learn to respect the values of other cultures and adopt civic attitudes.
3. The Degree in History must provide a basic grounding in the main methods, techniques and tools used to analyse history. This includes the ability to critically examine all historical sources and documents. Students will likewise be expected to be able to apply research methods, identify, select and gather information, including that found on IT resources, that can be applied to study and research.
4. Graduates must have acquired a basic knowledge of the most important concepts, categories, theories and topics of the different branches of historical research by the time they complete the course. They must likewise have become aware of the fact that historical topics of interest and problems may change as time goes by, depending on different political, cultural and social contexts.
5. Graduates must be able to express themselves with clarity and coherence, both orally and in writing, and use the terminology specific to the discipline correctly. In addition, they must be as proficient as possible in other languages in order to enrich their vision of reality and to broaden their capacity for the analysis, comparison and comprehension of the past and the present.

Competences

Specific competences

Personal competences

• Knowledge of the general diachronic structure of the past.
• Comparative knowledge of history at different times and in different territories.
• Knowledge of one or more specific past periods.
• Knowledge of the historical processes and main demographic, social, economic, political and cultural factors that influence different periods of time and territories.
• Knowledge of different theories and historiographical perspectives, as well as of the diverse perceptions of time and historical memory.    
• Knowledge of other human and social sciences, especially social anthropology, the history of art, geography , economics and the study of languages, which can aid the study of specific historical processes.
• Knowledge of the evolution of thought and its relationship with history.   
• Knowledge of the inequalities and heterogeneous social attitudes to class, gender, ethnicity, religion and ideology and their relevance to historical evolution. 
• Knowledge of cultural diversity from an anthropological perspective, specifically of cultural and religious traditions and their influence on historical change.
• Knowledge of the significance of history in everyday life and in family realtionships and structures.
• Knowledge of the relationships between science and social evolution.   
• Ability to critically analyse the events and processes of the past and present.

Systemic competences  

• Knowledge of the methodologies of historical research.   
• Knowledge of the most common methodologies used in history: gender studies, economics and social history and the history of thought.
• Knowledge of ethnographic methodologies and techniques (social anthropology).    
• Knowledge of the basic methodologies used in social and human sciences particularly, the history of art and geography.

Instrumental competences

• Ability to interpret and use all types of information related to documentation and archives.
• Knowledge of the didactics of history.
• Knowledge of the techniques used in associated disciplines: archaeology, epigraphy, palaeography, archives and diplomacy.
• Ability to participate in and manage an archaeological excavation.
• Knowledge of the history of the conservation of monuments, the main criteria applied to restoration, and of the recovery and management of cultural heritage, particularly archaeological heritage.
• Capacity to teach and raise awareness about historical topics.

General Competences

Personal competences

• Knowledge and ability to use scientific methods.
• Ability to analyse and summarise.
• Ability to think critically.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
• Ability to take initiatives.
• Ability to work on an intra- or interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to work in international contexts.
• Leadership.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations.
• Motivation for rigor and quality.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to human rights and the eradication of inequality.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural diversity.
• Sensitivity to environmental issues.

Instrumental competences

• Ability to learn autonomously.
• Ability to organise and plan.
• Ability to put theoretical knowledge into practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in one’s mother tongue, both with experts and laypeople.
• Knowledge of a foreign language.
• Knowledge of applied computing.
• Ability to manage information.

Other competences

• Ability to design and manage projects.