Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

1. To introduce the concepts and principles that underpin politics, informed by research that fosters critical and independent thought.
2. To introduce students to debates about power and distribution which lie at the heart of politics (‘who gets what, when, how and why’) and hone the analytic skills required to determine the legitimacy of distributions.
3. To engage students in debates about political events, institutions and ideas as a route to their engagement in politics as citizens and actors in the global political arena.
4. To familiarise students with the methodological and theoretical assumptions which underpin political arguments.
5. To familiarise students with key concepts in critical political analysis, including power, justice, accountability, order, dissent, violence, sovereignty, governance and decision-making.
6. To combine the study of politics with related disciplines in humanities and social sciences and to enable students to extend, apply and/or reflect on their learning through training in the UK or abroad and/or through the study of a modern language.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• QAA Benchmarking statement for Politics and International Relations
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• University Learning and Teaching Strategy
• Departmental Learning and Teaching policies
• The research interests and specialisms of the teaching staff and their professional involvement in the discipline

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:

K1. discuss the nature and characteristics of a variety of political issues, ideas and phenomena;

K2. analyse the social, economic and historical context in which political systems evolve and operate;

K3. explain competing interpretations of political issues and events;

K4. apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics to analyse political ideas, institutions and practices;

K5. explain and evaluate concepts of political change such as revolution, war, crisis, protest, agency, and modernity.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:

C1. choose appropriate methods in explanatory and normative political theory and political science to investigate key issues and events in politics;

C2. evaluate political opinions, ideas and events and defend personal preferences through reasoned argument;

C3. use supporting evidence and illustrative examples to discuss and/or explain complex political phenomena and events;

C4. use sophisticated argument and analysis to propose solutions to complex problems.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:

P1. use information technology to retrieve information from a variety of primary and secondary sources and to communicate ideas orally, visually and in writing;

P2. evaluate sources and the ethical issues relating to research in politics;

P3. undertake independent research under supervision;

P4. organise personal learning and development self-critically.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:

T1. use constructive criticism to improve and strengthen work;

T2. work independently, demonstrating initiative and the ability to manage time and resources effectively;

T3. apply research skills and practices to offer interpretations of complex and unfamiliar ideas, abstract concepts, political phenomena and events;

T4. summarise academic debates drawn from a range of introductory and specialist research literatures, fluently and with sophistication, to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences;

T5. evaluate alternative solutions to complex problems.

T6. work with others for collective benefit and knowledge advancement

4. Programme structure

Candidates following the four-year programme are required to undertake an academic year abroad (Part I) which occurs between Part B and Part C at a French-, German- or Spanish-speaking university, following an approved course of study leading to the Diploma in International Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation X1. Candidates may also follow an approved course of study at a foreign university where teaching is in English leading to the Diploma in International Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation XI.

Candidates following the four-year thick sandwich programme are required to spend the third academic year (Part I) EITHER undertaking an approved Assistantship at a school or other approved placement in a French-, German- or Spanish-speaking country, leading to the Diploma in International Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation X1, OR undertaking an approved placement in the UK or abroad leading to the Diploma in Professional Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation X1. Participation in study abroad or a placement is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic performance during Parts A and B.

(1) Part A - Introductory Modules

Semester 1

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 40)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 20)

As a result of option choices, candidates may not be registered for more than 70 or fewer than 50 credits in any one Semester.

Candidates choose two minor subject groups, which must be followed throughout Part A from:

Communications and Media Studies: SSA301

Economics: ECA001

English: EAA101

Geography: GYA004

International Relations: EUA701 – candidates choosing this minor subject take the 20 credit version of Modern Europe: From the Enligtenment to the Present, and do not study EUA702.

Business: BSA505 

Criminology and Social Policy: SSA201

Social Psychology: SSA102

Sociology: SSA001

Either:              Spanish: 10 credit module from a list produced by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications

or                     French: 10 credit module from a list produced by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications

or                     German: 10 credit module from a list produced by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications

or                     Mandarin Chinese: EUL401

Semester 2

(iii) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 40)

(iv) OPTIONAL MODULES  (total modular weight 20)

Communication and Media Studies: SSA302

Economics: ECA001

English: EAA201

Geography: GYA104

International Relations: EUA617

Business: BSA506  

Criminology and Social Policy: SSA202

Social Psychology: SSA101

Sociology: SSA002

Either:            Spanish: 10 credit module from a list produced by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations depending on candidates’ previous qualifications and experience

or                    French: 10 credit module from a list produced by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications

or                    German: 10 credit module from a list produced by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications

or                    Mandarin Chinese: EUL422

(2) Part B - Degree Modules

(a) EITHER – Standard Route

Semester 1

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 30)

Semester 2

(ii) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 10)

Semesters 1 & 2

As a result of option choices, candidates may not be registered for more than 70 credits or fewer than 50 credits in any one Semester.

(iii) OPTIONAL MODULES - POLITICS (total modular weight 40)

(iv) OPTIONAL MODULES - MINOR SUBJECT (total modular weight 40)

Candidates must choose 40 credits from one of the minor subject groups listed in section 1 (ii) of these Regulations.  Candidates studying French, German, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese must study 20 credits from one of the minor subject groups along with 20 credits of their Language modules.  Lists of available modules will be published each year by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations.  Choices of minor subject modules will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications. 

(b) OR – International Semester Route

Candidates may replace the modules required for Part B Semester Two with an approved course of study taught in English at a foreign University.  Candidates will undertake assessed work equivalent to 50 credits, as required by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, along with a Distance Learning Research Design module.  Candidates who opt for this route must ensure that they have taken a total of 60 credits in Semester One.

Semester 1

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 40)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES

Candidates must choose 20 credits from one of the minor subjects groups listed in section 1(ii) of these Regulations.  Candidates studying French, German, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese choose 10 credits from one of the minor subject groups and one 10-credit Language module.  Lists of available modules will be published each year by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations.  Choices of minor subject modules will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications.

Semester 2

COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)

(3)  Part I

i) Four Year Programme – candidates will undertake assessed work leading to the Diploma of International Studies (DINTS)

ii) Four Year Thick Sandwich Programme (DINTS route) – candidates will undertake an approved Assistantship in a French-, German- or Spanish-speaking school or other approved placement leading to the Diploma of International Studies (DINTS)

iii) Four Year Thick Sandwich Programme (DPS route) – candidates will undertake an approved placement leading to the Diploma of Professional Studies (DPS)

Participation in study abroad or a placement is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic performance during Parts A and B.  Students choosing to study on the Semester Abroad will only be allowed to take the Year Abroad in exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Department of Politics, History and International Relations.

(4) Part C - Degree Modules

Semesters 1 & 2

(i) COMPULSORY MODULE (total modular weight 40)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES

As a result of option choices candidates may not take more than 70 or fewer than 50 credits in any one semester.

Candidates choose a total of 80 credits from the following:

(a) modules to a minimum value of 40 credits and a maximum value of 60 credits from following list:

(b) modules to a minimum value of 20 credits and a maximum value of 40 credits from the one of the minor subject groups listed in Section 1 (ii) of these Regulations.  Candidates studying French, German, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese may choose their language plus one other subject group.  A list of the minor subject modules will be published by the Department of Politics, History and International Relations.  Choices of minor subject modules will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40%, Part C 60% to determine the final programme percentage mark.