Key facts

Type	Online and Distance Learning
Location	Online
Dates	Wed 2 Oct to Fri 13 Dec 2013
Subject area(s)	History
CATS points	10
Fees	From £220.00
Application status	Applications being accepted
Course code	O13P361HIV
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email onlinecourses@conted.ox.ac.uk.

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Overview

Sir Winston Churchill is regarded as one of Britain's greatest statesmen. His impact on the course of twentieth century history was profound yet his name still provokes controversy and debate. The aim of this course is to study Churchill's life in detail, to assess his successes and failures and to gain some insights into the complex personality of this fascinating politician.

This course was written by Annette Mayer who specialises in nineteenth and twentieth century British history. Annette is the author of three online courses for OUDCE.

Description

Winston Churchill was a controversial figure whose larger than life figure dominated for many years the stage of British politics. He was in his time reckless, brave, irresponsible, disloyal, rude, single-minded, insightful and persistent, an impressive orator but above all, a great statesman. From being the lone voice in the wilderness he came to lead his country at a moment of great crisis, providing the people with the determination to resist the threat of fascism. What was it that enabled this incredibly energetic and charismatic man to become one of the most famous prime ministers of all time?

This course will examine his life from that of a lonely schoolboy, cavalryman and journalist to that of politician and world leader. We will assess his writing and speeches in order to appreciate his mastery of the English language and his skill in swaying public opinion. We shall also seek to understand the private man whose complex personality tested both the love and friendship of those who knew him.

Programme details

1. Introduction to Churchill
2. The Radical Politician
3. The First World War
4. The Outspoken Politician of the 1920s
5. The ‘Wilderness Years’
6. His ‘Finest Hour’: 1939-1940
7. The ‘Big Three’
8. Churchill the Individual
9. The Post-War Era 1945-1955
10. The End of an Era

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Course aims

This course aims to:
• study and evaluate the life of Sir Winston Churchill.

Course Objectives:
This course will enable participants to:
• form critical and balanced judgements about the successes and failures of Churchill as a politician, prime minister and world statesman;
• gain an understanding of Churchill as a private individual;
• develop a range of historical skills through the evaluation of primary sources and analysis of historical interpretations.

Certification

This course is accredited and you are expected to take the course for credit. To be awarded credit you must complete written contributions satisfactorily. Successful students will receive credit, awarded by the Board of Studies of Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. The award will take the form of 10 units of transferable credit at FHEQ level 4 of the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). A transcript detailing the credit will be issued to successful students.

Assessment methods

Assessment for this course is based on two written assignments (approx 1000 words in total). Students will have about two weeks to complete each assignment.

Level and demands

FHEQ level 4, 10 weeks, approx 10 hours per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

Recommended reading

To participate in this course you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need to buy the following books:

• Best, Geoffrey, Churchill: A Study in Greatness (Penguin, London, 2002) ISBN 014101122X
• Jenkins, Roy, Churchill (Pan Books, London, 2002) ISBN 0330488058

Teaching outcomes

By the end of this course students will be expected to understand:
• The main achievements and failures of Churchill as a politician, prime minister and world statesman.
• The nature of Churchill as a private individual.
• How to use primary sources in order to develop and support historical arguments.

By the end of this course students will be expected to have gained the following skills:
• The ability to write both critical and balanced analysis in order to evaluate Churchill’s main achievements and failures as a politician, prime minister and world statesman.
• The ability to describe the characteristics of Churchill as a private individual, together with an assessment of his abilities other than those of a politician.
• The ability to compare, evaluate and interpret primary sources in order to develop and support historical arguments and to communicate their own ideas successfully to debates about Churchill.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Home/EU Fee: £220.00

Non-EU Fee: £295.00

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