A level history gives students the opportunity to study the principal political, social, cultural and economic developments of different time periods in history. With the introduction of the new specifications at A Level, the History department has deliberately taken the opportunity to choose modules that will allow students to build on and expand the knowledge and skills that they gained at GCSE. Students will continue to investigate interesting and relevant aspects of twentieth century European and Irish History. The fact that students will be building on knowledge which they have already have, rather than beginning to study entirely new topics, will be a tremendous boost to both their historical insight and confidence.
A good A level History student must:
· enjoy reading
· be able to read with understanding from an extensive variety of books
· enjoy active participation in discussion
· enjoy the challenge of forming and developing opinions
· enjoy interpreting and evaluating source material as historical evidence
· be aware of the importance of home study
· be self-motivated and determined

Syllabus
The new specifications offered at A level are those produced by CCEA (NI). The new course offers a gradual and enjoyable progression from the demands of GCSE to the demands of A level. The syllabus does so by offering a modular approach that allows students at the end of the first year of the course to obtain an AS level that bridges the gap between GCSE and A level. The courses that have been chosen make this progression more manageable by building on a knowledge base already developed at GCSE. Furthermore the new syllabus will allow history to develop and address the key skills of communication, Information Technology, working with others, improving own learning and performance, working with others and problem solving.
Module 1:
The Nazis and Germany 1919 - 1945
Module 2:
Fascism and Italy 1918 - 1943
Module 3:
Revolutionary change in Russia 1917 - 1941
Module 4:
The causes of the Second World War 1918 - 1941

Module 5:
This module is known as the synoptic module and requires the students to follow a period of history over 100 years. The study will centre upon the constitutional changes within this period and will test the students ability to draw together knowledge and skills in order to demonstrate overall historical connections between the essential characteristics of the historical study. It will be Nationalism and Unionism in Ireland 1800-1900.
Module 6:
The Partition of Ireland 1900-1925
This final paper will be a source-based paper where students will use sources as evidence to respond to and support the historical argument.
Careers Implications
A level History is a subject with a long tradition of academic distinction. As such it provides students with the opportunity to follow a range of career paths. Law, journalism, teaching and media are the most well known of these. However, these are not the only possible careers for students of History. Many have gone on to follow successful careers in business, advertising and social services. This is because A level History provides students with an excellent opportunity to develop skills which are vital in the “world of work”. Skills and talents such as the ability to discuss, argue, evaluate, organise and select information, to work independently and as a team member. All of these attributes are recognised as skills likely to be found in a good student of History.