Studying History provides us with an insight into our own lives and of the society and the wider world in which we live. Through an understanding of the concept of continuity, you can better appreciate change and its significance, both in your own times and in the past. It is also intended to enable you to develop skills in explaining historical developments and events, evaluating sources and drawing conclusions.
The skills you learn in History are valuable in a wide range of career sectors, including public administration, business management, law, museum work, teaching and journalism.
Career Pathways
To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:
Arts, Social Sciences and Languages
Information, Culture and Heritage
Teaching and Classroom Support
Entry is at the discretion of the school or college, but you would normally be expected to have achieved:
In this course you will study Scottish, British, European and world contexts in a variety of time periods, which will include elements of political, social, economic and cultural history. You will develop important skills on this course such as: researching and investigating themes and events; synthesising information from a wide range of sources to produce detailed and reasoned lines of argument; and drawing well-reasoned conclusions supported by evidence.
The course consists of three areas of study.
Scottish History
Topics may include: The Wars of Independence, 1249-1328; the age of the Reformation, 1542-1603; the Treaty of the Union, 1689-1740; Migration and empire, 1830-1939; the impact of the Great War, 1914-1928.
British History
Topics may include: Church, state and feudal society, 1066-1406; The century of revolutions, 1603-1702; The Atlantic slave trade; Britain, 1851-1951; Britain and Ireland, 1900-1985.
European and World History
Topics may include: The Crusades, 1701-1204; The American Revolution, 1763-1787; the French Revolution, to 1799; Germany, 1815-1939; Italy, 1815-1939; Russia, 1881-1921; USA, 1918-1968; Appeasement and the road to war, to 1939; The Cold War, 1945-1989.
The course assessment has three components totalling 110 marks:
For the assignment component, you will choose a historical topic to research and investigate using a range of information sources, and present your findings in a well-reasoned conclusion supported by evidence.
Both question papers are set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.
The course assessment is graded A-D.
Successful completion of this course may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
