Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

1)   To introduce the concepts and principles that underpin politics and IR informed by research that fosters critical and independent thought, enabling students to engage in politics as citizens and actors in the global political arena.

2)   To introduce students to debates about ‘who gets what, when, how and why’ in domestic and international realms and hone their analytic tools to determine the legitimacy of these distributions.

3)   To engage students in debates about national and international events , institutions and ideas and the methodological and theoretical assumptions which underpin political arguments .

4)   To familiarise students with key concepts in politics and international relations , including power, justice, accountability, order, conflict, cooperation, violence, sovereignty, governance and decision-making.

5)   To combine the study of politics and IR 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 statements 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 should be able to:

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

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

K3. explain competing interpretations of national and international political issues and events;

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

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

C1. choose appropriate methods to investigate key issues and events in politics and international relations;

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

C3. illustrate analyses of politics and international relations with appropriate evidence and examples;

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

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

P1. use information technology to retrieve information from a variety of primary and secondary sources;

P2. use information technology to communicate ideas orally, visually and in writing;

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 should 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. comprehend unfamiliar ideas through individual research and effort;

T4. express abstract ideas, political phenomena and events, fluently and with sophistication, to lay and specialist audiences;

T5. evaluate alternative solutions to complex problems;

T6. collaborate with others for collective benefit and knowledge advancement.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Notes

4.1.1 Modules with a total modular weight of at least 50 must be studied in each academic year (Parts A, B and C) from both Politics and International Relations. Candidates may take 20 credits of Electives in each Part: candidates choose modules derived from a list produced by the Department of Politics , History and International Relations , depending on the candidate’s previous qualifications .

4.1.2 Candidates must take a minimum module weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules.

4.1.3 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 XI. 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.

 4.1.4 Candidates following the four-year thick sandwich programme are required to spend the third academic year (Part I) EITHER undertaking an approved Assis tantship at a school or other approved placem ent in a French-, German- or Spanish-speaking country, leading to the Diploma in International Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation XI, OR undertaking an approved placement in the UK or abroad leading to the Diploma in Professional Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation XI.

Participation in study abroad or a placement is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic performance during Parts A and B.

4.2 Part A

EITHER - STANDARD ROUTE:

Compulsory Modules (all Politics and International Relations)

Semester 1 (total modular weight 50)

Semester 2 (total modular weight 50)

Elective Modules (total modular weight 20)

Candidates choose an elective subject, which must be followed throughout Part A, from :

• Communication and Media Studies (SSA301 and SSA302)

• Criminology and Social Policy (SSA201 and SSA202)

• Social Psychology (SSA101 and SSA102)

• Sociology (SSA001 and SSA002)

• Geography (GYA004 and GYA104)

• Business (BSA505 and BSA506)

• Economics (ECA001)

• English (EAA101 and EAA102)

• French  (modules depend on candidate’s previous qualifications)

• German (modules depend on candidate’s previous qualifications)

• Spanish (modules depend on candidate’s previous qualifications)

• Mandarin Chinese (modules depend on candidate’s previous qualifications)

 4.3 Part B

Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 20)

Semester 1

One module from:

Semester 2

Optional Modules (total modular weight 80 or 100)

Candidates choose modules in Politics and International Relations, with minimum 40 credits of each subject (modules in Group C count as either subject) from:

Group A: Politics

Semester 1

Group B: International Relations

Semester 1

Semester 2

Group C: Politics and International Relations

Semester 1

Semester 2

 Elective Modules (maximum modular weight 20)

 Candidates may take up to 20 credits of electives from those subjects listed at Part A above.

OR: INTERNATIONAL SEMESTER ROUTE

Candidates may replace the modules required for Part B Semester Two with an approved course of  tudy 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, including 20 credits in Politics and 20 credits in International Relations .

Semester One

Compulsory Module (total modular weight 10)

One module from:

Optional Modules (total modular weight 40 or 50)

Candidates choose modules in Politics and International Relations, with minimum 20 credits of each subject (modules in Group C count as either subject) from:

Group A: Politics

Group B: International Relations

Semester 1

Group C: Politics and International Relations

Semester 1

 Elective Modules (maximum modular weight 10)

 Candidates may take 10 credits of electives from those subjects listed at Part A above.

Semester 2

COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)

4.3 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 sati factory acade ic 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 .

4.4 Part C

Semesters 1 and 2

Compulsory Module

(a) Candidates choose between 60 and 80 credits from the following list. All modules are 20 credits

(b) If fewer than 80 credits are chosen under (a), candidates chose up to a value of 20 credits from those subjects listed at Part A above, A list of elective 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

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

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.