History

Asia in Global and Transnational Perspectives; Modern and Contemporary China; Sino-Southeast Asian Interactions; Chinese Diaspora and Migration; History of Singapore; South Asia; History of Science, Technology, and Medicine; Business History; Environmental History 

MA Students 

  • Coursework Requirement: 3 Courses or 9 AUS 
  • Submit a Thesis before graduation.
  • Students on scholarship will usually submit their thesis one year before the maximum period of candidature. 

Requirements: 

  1. Completing 3 courses with a CGPA of 3.00 or more
  2. Passing the Confirmation Exercise 
  3. Satisfactory completion of a dissertation of approximately 30,000 words. 40,000 is the maximum word limit for an MA thesis at NTU. 

 

PhD Students 

  • Coursework Requirement: 6 Courses or 18 AUs 
  • Submit a Thesis before graduation 
  • Students on scholarship will usually submit their thesis one year before the maximum period of candidature. 

Requirements: 

  1. Completion of 6 courses with a CGPA of 3.50
  2. Passing the Confirmation Exercise
  3. Satisfactory completion of a dissertation of 75,000 to 85,000 words.
HH7101 Approaches to the Past

This course will offer an introduction on major theories, ideas, methods, practices and problematics associated with the transnational turn in the historical analysis (and the humanities in general). There are 3 main components to this course. The fi rst, a critical review on the conventional nation-state history that emerged in the 19th century and has dominated much of historiography until recently. The second part examines the emergence and characteristics of the "transnational turn" and the key themes in transnational history. The third part will uses cases from various world regions to show how transnational history has been applied to the study of globalization, regionalization, technological transformations and provide an alternative to national history.

  • Display a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theories of recent historiography, particularly from the transnational perspective.
  • Offer constructive criticism of existing works based upon not only nation-state paradigms but also transnational history.
  • Develop a new and fresh angle in approaching regions, especially the Asian region.
  • Enhance critical thinking and analytical capacities.

HH7109 Special Topics in Historiography

This course provides graduate students with an advanced introduction to the current debates on historiography. The course focuses primarily on discussion of the major topics that form historical studies of the twenty-first century. Books, articles and themes will be discussed in the context of global history and the history of localities.

In any given year in which the course is offered, the topic(s) chosen for discussion may include, but not necessarily limited to one or more of the following:
  • Economic History
  • Social and Cultural History
  • Historical Globalisation and Local History
  • Theories of History
HH7113 Advanced Directed Readings in History

This course is designed to provide a student with a more individualized course of reading that goes beyond the existing graduate courses. In this course, students are expected to read widely in their chosen field under the guidance of their supervisor/instructor. HH9016 is intended to provide students with a more advanced reading course than HH7888. Students whose research speaks to multiple audiences within and beyond history may also explore another sub-field or a differing approach to history than they examined in HH7888. The content and requirements of each directed reading course are determined by the student in consultation with his/her supervisor/instructor. The reading list, written work, and meeting times will be negotiated between the supervisor/instructor and the student. The final detailed syllabus will be subject to the approval of the Head of Division, prior to the commencement of the course.​
HH7114 Crafting Research: Archives, Theories, and Methods

This course introduces students to archival methods, practices and theories. It will address a broad range of different approaches to archives that have emerged in recent decades. Students will explore both conventional, institutional archives—which have been the mainstay of the historical profession—as well as a much wider range of archival practices. Key questions include: how do historians hink about archives and how has this shifted over time? How do power relations shape the formation and operation of archives? How do archives construct particular narratives? How has digitization impacted upon historical research? How do historians make their own archives in the absence of, or in addition to, ‘brick-and-mortar’ archives? What is the relationship between the history discipline and family, community, organisational and activist archives?
HH7888 Directed Reading in History

The course is designed to provide students with a more individualized course of reading that goes beyond the existing graduate courses. In this course, students are expected to read widely in their chosen field under the guidance of their supervisor.

The content and requirements of each Directed Reading course are determined by the students in consultation with his/her supervisor. The reading list, written work and meeting times will be negotiated between the supervisor and the student.
For a list of required admissions materials, please click here.