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 familiarise students with a selection of concepts and examples in a cognate discipline.
7. 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
• 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 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;

K6. discuss key concepts and examples from a cognate discipline.

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 phenomena and events in politics and a cognate discipline;

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 and a cognate discipline;

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

4.1 Notes

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

4.2 Content

Part A – Introductory Modules

(i)           COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 100 Credits)

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

 The following are available as 20-credit electives only:

Part B – Degree Modules

(a) EITHER – Standard Route

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

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

(ii)          OPTIONAL MODULES – POLITICS AND LANGUAGES (total modular weight 40 Credits)   

 Candidates not studying a Foreign Language must take 40 credits of Politics modules listed below.  Candidates studying a Foreign Language should take 20 credits of Politics modules.

 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) MINOR SUBJECT MODULES (total modular weight 40 Credits)

Candidates must choose 40 credits from their minor subject listed below.

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.

 (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 School of Social Sciences, along with a Distance Learning Research Design module. Candidates who opt for this route must ensure they have taken a total of 60 credits in Semester One.

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 80 Credits)

(ii) LANGUAGE AND POLITICS OPTIONS (total modular weight 20 Credits)

Candidates not studying a Foreign Language must study 20 Credits from the Politics modules listed below.

(iii) MINOR SUBJECT MODULES (total modular weight 20 Credits)

Candidates must choose 20 credits from their minor subject group

Part I – 4-year programme

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.

Students choosing to study on the Semester Abroad at Part B will only be allowed to take the Part I study abroad year in exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the School of Social Sciences.

 Part C – Degree Modules

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

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES – POLITICS, LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (total modular weight 80 Credits)

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

 Candidates must choose modules to a value of 80 credits from the list below.

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.