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

• School 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 School of Social Sciences, 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.  Due to timetabling constraints, not all option combinations may be available.

4.2  Content

Students must be registered for a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 70 credits in each Semester.

(1)       Part A – Introductory Modules

(i)        COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight of 100 credits)

(ii)       OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 20 Credits)

Candidates must choose 20 credits from one optional subject group which must be followed through Part A from:

(2)       Part B – Degree Modules

Students must be registered for a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 70 credits in each Semester.

EITHER

(a)  Standard Route

(i)        COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 20 Credits)

(ii)  OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 100 credits)

In addition to the compulsory modules EUB605 and EUB800, candidates must choose modules in Politics and International Relations, with a minimum modular weight of 40 credits each from groups 1 and 2.  Modules in Group 3 count as either subject.  Candidates also have the option of selecting 20 credits of elective modules from Group 4.  Candidates should note that combinations of modules of the same titles but with different credit-weightings are mutually exclusive.

Group 1 – Politics

Group 2 – International Relations

Group 3 – Politics and International Relations

Group 4 – Elective Modules (maximum modular weight 20 Credits)

Candidates may take up to 20 credits of electives from those subjects listed below.  Choice of elective modules will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications.

OR

(b)  INTERNATIONAL SEMESTER ROUTE

Candidates may replace the modules required for Part B Semester 2 with an approved course of study taught in English at a foreign University.  In Semester 2, candidates will undertake assessed work equivalent to 50 credits, as required by the School of Social Sciences, along with a Distance Learning Research Design module.  Candidates who opt for this route must ensure that they have selected a total of 60 credits in Semester 1, including 20 credits in Politics and 20 credits in International Relations.

(i)  COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 70 credits)

(ii)  OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 40 or 50 credits)

In addition to the compulsory module EUB605, candidates must choose a minimum modular weight of 20 credits each from Groups 1 and 2.  Modules in Group 3 count as either subject.  Candidates should note that combinations of modules of the same titles but with different credit weightings are mutually exclusive.

Group 1 - Politics

Group 2 – International Relations

Group 3 – Politics and International Relations

(iii)  ELECTIVE MODULES (maximum modular weight 10)

Candidates may take 10 credits of electives from the following subjects.  Choices of elective subject modules will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications.

(3)       Part I

Candidates following the four-year programme are required to undertake a Part I placement, which occurs between Parts B and C and may be EITHER (i) an academic year abroad 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; OR (ii) an academic year abroad on 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; OR (iii) an approved Teaching 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 XI; OR (iv) an approved placement in the UK or abroad leading to the Diploma in Professional Studies in accordance with Senate Regulation XI.  Participation in a Part I study abroad or placement is subject to School approval and satisfactory academic performance during Parts A and B.

(4)  Part C – Degree Modules

(i)        COMPULSORY MODULE (total modular weight 40 Credits)

In choosing optional subjects, candidates must ensure that they study a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 70 credits in each Semester; credit from the Dissertation module must be split equally (20:20) across both semesters.

(ii)       OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 60 or 80 Credits)

In addition to the compulsory module EUC800, candidates must choose a minimum modular weight of 60 from Group 1 modules over Semesters 1 and 2.  The remaining 20 credits may be chosen from Groups 1 or 2.  Choices of subject modules from Group 2 will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications.

Group 1

Group 2

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 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 not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also achieve a module mark of at least 30% in all modules in each Part.

5.2 Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of reassessment in any Part of the programme to undergo re-assessment in the University's special assessment period.

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.