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Studies & Degrees in Modern Studies

Modern studies is an interdisciplinary field in the humanities and social sciences that examines the modern world: how present-day ways of thinking, living and organising society came about and how they are changing. It does not have one fixed definition, and the name is used for three different things. Knowing which one a course means is the first step in choosing.

  • A degree on modernity. The University of Akureyri in Iceland describes modern studies as a cross-cultural discipline that applies the theories and concepts of comparative literature, philosophy, history and sociology to understand modernity, meaning the ways of thought, ways of living and social structures that began to take root in the Western world in the late 18th century.
  • A school subject in Scotland. Modern Studies is a National Qualification offered from National 3 to Advanced Higher. It develops knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United Kingdom and international contexts. It is a secondary-school subject, not a university degree.
  • A research area or an area-based programme. At the University of York, the Centre for Modern Studies is a research centre for the interdisciplinary study of the period from 1830 to the present. At the University of British Columbia (UBC), Modern European Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate programme about Europe.

In all three senses students read across subjects. They study history, philosophy, literature, politics and sociology side by side, learn to judge sources and arguments, and write extended essays. The Akureyri programme names secularisation, the industrial revolution, the advance of ideas of freedom, globalisation and the progress of democracy among the processes its students study.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's level. The BA in Modern Studies at the University of Akureyri has 180 ECTS credits and takes three academic years of full-time study. Students complete 120 ECTS credits in the core of modern studies and 60 credits of electives. Teaching is in Icelandic and English. Admission requires the Icelandic matriculation examination or an equivalent qualification, and all undergraduate courses are available as flexible courses that do not require daily attendance on campus.
  • A major within a bachelor's degree. At UBC, students can take a Major in Modern European Studies. They work across disciplines and become familiar with European history, journalism, law and international relations as well as cultural and literary studies, and they choose a research concentration.
  • Master's level. There is rarely a master's degree with this exact name. At the University of York, members of the Centre for Modern Studies, which was launched in 2009, teach a number of MA programmes in the arts and humanities, such as the MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture and MA programmes in modern history.

For comparison, official bachelor's degrees in Spain have 240 ECTS credits, against 180 for the Akureyri degree. In Spain this content is normally found inside degrees in history, humanities, philosophy or sociology.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists ten schools for modern studies: four in the United States, two in Spain, two in the United Kingdom and one each in Canada and Iceland. The list includes the University of Akureyri, The University of York, the University of London, the University of British Columbia, Brown University, the University of Florida and the University of California, Davis.

Programmes listed under this subject differ widely. Some centre on the history of ideas, others on modern culture and media, others on one region or on current politics. Read the list of modules of each programme, and check the language of instruction: the Akureyri degree is taught partly in Icelandic, while the programmes in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada are taught in English.

Careers

Modern studies does not lead to one regulated profession; the Akureyri course description gives its professional status as not applicable. What it trains is a set of general skills: reading critically, weighing evidence, writing clearly and carrying out independent research. Graduates use them in education, journalism and media, publishing, cultural organisations, public administration and non-governmental organisations. The Akureyri degree gives access to graduate studies in the humanities and social sciences, and many graduates continue with a master's degree in a more specific field.

Frequently asked questions

What is modern studies?

At university it is an interdisciplinary study of modernity that combines history, philosophy, literature and sociology. In Scotland the same name is used for a school subject about contemporary political and social issues.

How long does a degree in modern studies take?

The BA in Modern Studies at the University of Akureyri takes three academic years of full-time study and has 180 ECTS credits.

Is Scottish Modern Studies a university degree?

No. It is a National Qualification for secondary-school pupils, offered at levels from National 3 to Advanced Higher.

What can I do after a degree in modern studies?

The degree builds general skills in analysis, research and writing rather than preparing for one profession. The Akureyri BA gives access to graduate studies in the humanities and social sciences.