Programme Specifications

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Politics and International Relations

September 2021

Students studying the Politics and International Relations degree scheme will gain an in-depth understanding of the international system, relationships between nation states, global resources, international cooperation, inequality and conflict. They will also learn to study, analyse and evaluate the organisation and working of structures of governance, and will also learn how to compare between the structures and procedures of different forms of government in order to understand how particular political institutions (such as parliaments, ministries and cabinets) work and to illuminate the social and ideological context on which they draw.

Politics and International Relations relates to 'who gets what, where, and how' and its study encompasses philosophical, theoretical and empirical questions and concerns. The multiple dimensions of this question are considered in a core framework of modules that provide the foundations of an undergraduate specialism in Politics and International Relations. Students taking this degree scheme gain a firm grounding in the core principles and concepts of the discipline as well as being provided with the opportunity to specialise in key sub-fields of their choice, or, to engage with the full spectrum of issues that can be considered relevant to contemporary politics.

Politics and International Relations is fundamentally interdisciplinary, drawing on several subjects including Politics, History, Philosophy, Law, Geography and Sociology.

The learning outcomes of this programme are designed to meet the expectations of the Benchmarking Statement for Politics and International Relations. The structure and the delivery of the degree scheme recognizes the need to achieve an appropriate balance between the acquisition of subject specific knowledge, and the development of discipline specific and generic skills. Integrating these two components is a central feature of the learning outcomes. The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge, understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:

• A1 The major issues, core concepts and differing theoretical approaches in the study of Politics and International Relations and how they help us to explain and understand events and dynamics in the world approaches.

• A2 The key debates in Politics (ideas of justice, freedom, power, citizenship, democracy, and the morality of political decision-making) and International Relations (ethics of war, the role of international agencies, the politics of the internet, emergence of new powers and actors).

• A3 The key actors in Politics and International Relations and their changing roles.

• A4 The key dynamics, processes and problems facing contemporary Politics and International Relations.

• A5 The evolution of the international system from Westphalia to contemporary times.

• A6 The main structures and politics, including knowledge of comparative and regional dynamics, regimes and institutions.

Learning and Teaching:

Acquisition of 1-6 is through lectures, seminars, assessed coursework, exams and independent research. Students also learn through participation in discipline-specific student societies and public lectures as well as through other public resources such as newsprint media, TV, radio and online sources. Throughout, students are encouraged to undertake independent reading to supplement, consolidate and broaden individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Assessment Strategies and Methods:

Knowledge and understanding (1-6) is tested through a combination of unseen and pre-seen written examinations (1-6), essays (1-6), dissertation (1-6, depending upon topic) and may, depending on option choices, include seminar presentations, reports, literature searches, book or film reviews, e-portfolios, learning logs or blogs.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills:

• 1. Select, describe and evaluate different approaches

• 2. Select issues and research them

• 3. Apply concepts, theories and ideas to real cases

• 4. Identify, explore and formulate solutions to intellectual problems

• 5. Reasoning, analyzing and interpreting data and ideas critically

• 6. Express and exercise independence of opinion

• 7. Reflect on the experience of learning and as a result, adapt intellectual strategies

• 8. Be able to use knowledge learned to solve hypothetical or real problems

• 9. Being able to distinguish between the relevant and the irrelevant

• 10. Realize that there is often more than one solution to problems

Learning and Teaching Methods and Assessment:

While lectures present topics and ideas to students, intellectual skills are developed when students tackle the subject themselves, and interact with others in the intellectual learning community during discussions (in seminars, where tutors devoted to cultivating and developing intellectual skills, and in wider public debates.) and also in the process of reading and writing notes, essays or exams. In addition, reflection and self-assessment are essential for learning intellectual skills. Tutors form their impressions of students' ability and progress and assess them through their contact with them in seminars and when assessing written work. Intellectual skills (1-10) are mainly assessed according to essay and exam performance, as well as the other assessment methods stated above. there is the assessment criteria published highlight these intellectual skills, and in turn these are reflected in the feedback to students. Students can assess their own performance by measuring the degree of their progress when comparing it with the progress of their peers, and in the light of the tutor's comments. Students are free to discuss the development and informal assessment of such skills during staff working hours. Personal learning (7) is not formally assessed but relative success is reflected in a student's ability to improve over a period of time. Personal learning is also enhanced through involvement in the CDP process. and in the light of the tutor's comments. Students are free to discuss the development and informal assessment of such skills during staff working hours. Personal learning (7) is not formally assessed but relative success is reflected in a student's ability to improve over a period of time. Personal learning is also enhanced through involvement in the CDP process. and in the light of the tutor's comments. Students are free to discuss the development and informal assessment of such skills during staff working hours. Personal learning (7) is not formally assessed but relative success is reflected in a student's ability to improve over a period of time. Personal learning is also enhanced through involvement in the CDP process.

10.2.2 Professional Practical Skills:

• 1. Seek and select information, and make effective notes on information from various sources

• 2. Prioritize and organize information and present it as evidence in an argument

• 3. Plan, produce and complete written work (by strict deadlines) that is appropriate for different audiences or tasks

• 4. Identify and retrieve relevant and up-to-date information

• 5. Gather information and arguments at short notice to answer specific questions

• 6. Express an intelligent opinion through written work and discussion.

• 7. Listen to the opinions of others and respond appropriately

• 8. Formulate questions and explore the connections between various topics

• 9. Learning from the experience of Methods

Learning and Teaching and Assessment:

All the core modules, and especially those taught in Part One, contain elements that deal directly with the development of practical skills (1-8). The process of writing essays, reports and presentations (1-6) and preparing for exams (1-6, 9) is a means for the student to sharpen skills through practice, with the tutors' feedback ensuring guidance for them. Discussing in seminars or debating in public forums is a means for students to improve their intellectual communication skills (2, 5-9). In addition to this, students learn and improve such skills by individually reflecting on their learning experiences and adapting their learning methods to a purpose; a process that receives considerable attention in all modules. Students can also learn through self-reflection when completing their forms to the Careers Department Development Programme.

After completing the programme, the students will be able to take responsibility for themselves and their work. They will be able to:

• Work independently

• Work in a team

• Respect other people's views and opinions

• Listening

• Verbal communication

• Communication on paper

• Communicate electronically

• Word processing

• Using the Web

• Time management and working within deadlines

• Investigate issues

• Problem solving

• Adapt to changes

• Develop career awareness