Picking my next BA (honours) History module: Decisions Decisions.

I have a dilemma.  Not so much ethical as practical.

If you do not know the structure of how the Open University works let me elaborate.  Each qualification is divided into a succession of modules which students are free to choose as it suits them.  You do not have to take every module on the list, but the modules required to gain the qualification must total a certain number of credits:  in my case its 360 and the module I am taking will take me a 3rd of the way there.  I’ve been doing fairly well and getting consistent B grades and now I am past the half way point of the module it is time for me to pick the next one.  My snag is that both of the level three modules that interest me are set to end.  That is, they are being taken off the OU syllabus (Oh noes!!!) though they will still apply to the degree for sometime afterwards. I can neither afford both at once (at potentially £700 ea), nor do I have time with 2 small children to care for.

I will have to choose one if I want to do either of them, whether through personal interest or through practical purposes and I have to choose and register from 27th March.  There is an option to pre-register and save a space but I only want to do that if I’m sure about taking that module.  It would not be fair of me to hold a space on a course I won’t be taking.

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Pros and Cons

The first one to be on the dead-list is ‘Religion in History‘.  The last start date is 1 September 2012 and will give me a very welcome 2 and a half month break from a rather gruelling schedule of study, housework and other obligations.  It overlaps the module I am taking nicely and is of greater personal interest than the other module.  I’m not sure how this one will serve my ambition to become a teacher but I do feel it is an important aspect of social history and should be covered in some specific detail as a part of my final degree qualification.  It would also be incredibly useful when it comes to my blog and my involvement of the UAF.

The second, ‘Total War and Social Change 1914-1955‘ has an execution date set for 2 February 2013.  This has a much longer gap between the finish of my current module in June this year.  I’m anxious about leaving this long a gap between modules especially for a Level 3 module.  It follows on nicely from my current the course description and the content sounds extremely interesting.  On the downside, t seems to consist of a more rigorous and detailed training in critical analysis of historical sources.  While this training is invaluable, there are other modules which do this just as well, so I don’t feel that is the best reason to choose it over the other.

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