Faculty Minor
Would you like to do a Master that does not fit your current Bachelor? Or are you interested in another academic field? The Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) could ease your transfer to another master within the Faculty of Arts, or allows to take a look into other Bachelors of Arts. Each Faculty Minor consists of courses where the theory and methodology of the newly chosen academic field are introduced, it also included some deepening modules.
Jean-Paul Vaarkamp
Minor: Journalism
Study year: 2022-2023
Journalism was actually not my first choice, but I am happy that I stayed with my second choice. If you are interested in doing research for newspapers and writing news articles about them, this the minor you have to choose.
The Journalism minor at the RUG is a hands-on experience, instead of just learning the theory behind it. You get to explore different research tactics, how to research, write and then present articles. The best part about it, is that you have a lot of creative freedom! The articles can be about subjects that you yourself have chosen and done research about.
Next to that, the minor is also a great way to examine whether the Master of the same programme is something for you. In conclusion, this minor is great if you are ready for a practical experience, combined with the theory behind it and the will to do examine news-
worthy events.
Kaz van de Nieuwenhof
Minor: Classics and Ancient Civilizations
Study year: 2020-2021
If you’re interested in ancient history, and would like to take a more multidisciplinary approach, the minor Classics and Ancient Civilizations might just be for you. Do you want to combine history and archaeology? Delve deeper into the ancient philosophers? Or maybe you want to learn either ancient Greek or Latin? This minor gives you a lot of opportunities to make your own choices. It should be mentioned that there is some overlap with the history programme, however these are courses in which you’ll be able to delve deeper into the ways in which other disciplines approach things.
This minor gave me the opportunity to really combine my interest in history and archaeology in a meaningful way. The multidisciplinary approach helped me in gaining new insights into the way we study ancient history as well as coming into contact with students from other Bachelors programmes from studies so close to our own.
Anyway, if you want to stay close to studying the most interesting period in history (ancient history of course) then I couldn’t recommend this minor more. Whether you want to expand on what you’re already doing in the history programme, learn a new language, or you want to take a new approach to the study of ancient history this minor’s for you
Monique Osinga
Minor: IRIO
Study year: 2018-2019
I have chosen to take a faculty pre-master minor International relations and International organisations in my third year. This pre-master minor prepares you for taking a master’s in international Relations. Because the study IRIO is housed within the same faculty as history, the studies have a lot in common. Hence, by taking this minor while studying within the same faculty you will be allowed to take a master’s in international relations.
I have chosen to take this minor, because I am interested in taking a master’s in International Relations and because I find the study very interesting. I have found the minor to be very doable! You are expected to do more work, but the material isn’t harder than the study material within history. I had to get used to submitting substantial assignments weekly, but you will get used to this soon and in my opinion the assignments are doable. The pre-master minor is in English entirely, as a non-native speaker I had to get used to this, but I quickly got used to it.
I have found the difference in perspective between IR and history particularly interesting. In addition to this, you’ll be joined by people from different studies within one workgroup: from psychology to Middle Eastern studies. There is much to talk about, and I had a great time between the seminars. It is a lot of fun to write essays from another perspective.
The courses are very interesting as well. You’ll take three courses of ten ECTS each, that cross the entire semester. You’ll take one theoretical course, a methodological course and a more general course. You’ll write one essay for each course, so writing is a substantial part of the courses. Hence, you’ll predominantly take seminars and for the more general course you’ll have lectures as well. At these lectures’ subjects will be explained to you that you’ll use in the seminars to answer questions.
I have had a great time and hopefully I have gotten you a bit more excited for taking a pre-master minor. It is especially interesting and useful when you’re considering taking another master than a history master.
