University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 60

ECTS credits : 30

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: Full Year

Availability restrictions: Available only to students in the Second Year of the Honours Programme.

Planned timetable: See http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/infoug/ugtimetable

Madness is a source of fascination and dread in the modern world. The period between the end of the middle ages and the early years of the nineteenth century is seen as particularly important in forming our attitudes: because of changing understandings of and attitudes to insanity; and because of new types of care such as the origins of the asylum movement. In addition, analysing perceptions of mad behaviour allows unique insights to be gained into the social and cultural priorities of the sane. The module will allow students to use original documents to examine British society from an unusual perspective and to gain unique insights into the mental world of early modern people. In addition to the skills of critical reading, and documentary analysis, it will encourage an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, and will introduce students to quantitative research methodologies.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 x 3-hour seminar, plus 1 office hour.

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2 x 3-hour Written Examinations = 60%, Coursework = 40%


Re-assessment: New Coursework: 1 x source exercise (2,500 words) and 1 x 5,000-word essay = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor R A Houston
Module teaching staff: Prof R A Houston