Programme Specifications
International Politics / History
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
Some modules do provide work-based learning, for example, GQ30120 Gwleidyddieth ar Waith. We also encourage students to participate in the Year in Employment Scheme, the Go Wales scheme and alert students to a wide range of a range of internship opportunities.
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
The relevant QAA benchmark statement for Politics and International Relations can be found here: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Subject-benchmark-statement-Polictics-and-international-relations.aspx
The relevant QAA ‘Framework for Higher Education Qualifications” can be found here: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/The-framework-for-higher-education-qualifications-in-England-Wales-and-Northern-Ireland.aspx
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
January 2016
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
Joint programmes allow students to develop an in-depth knowledge of both International Politics and another subject, taking half of their modules in each discipline/Department. With regards to the International Politics component, students gain a firm grounding in the core principles and concepts of International Politics, as well as exploring key sub-fields of their choice within a spectrum of modules on global politics. All modules in the Department of International Politics are taught by research-active staff who thrive on the opportunity to engage students with their work (published, and in progress). The programme aims to produce students with the necessary skills to analyse and reflect on the subject matter of the degree scheme as well as acquire a broad range of transferable skill. The department is keenly aware of the inter-relationships that exist between academic subjects and the value society places upon students who have been able to master the requirements of two academic subjects. These programmes allow students to combine subjects in innovative and effective ways ensuring throughout that they receive a disciplined academic training that broadens their intellectual horizon. These programmes enable students to enter a variety of rewarding careers.
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
The Joint Honours Programme aims to develop learners’ interest in History, and to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the subject in relation to another cognate subject area. It offers learners a wide range of choice with regard to historical periods and themes from prehistory to the present, which include opportunities to study aspects of political, social, cultural or economic history. Other modules focus on the acquisition of fundamental historical research skills and an understanding of historiographical issues. In this way, the Programme aims to produce graduates who possess high level research and interpretative skills, and who have acquired a lifelong appreciation of History’s value to society.
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
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:
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
the programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
A knowledge and understanding of:
1. The evolution of the international system from Westphalia to the present day
2. Key debates in the history of International Relations as a discipline
3. The core theories and concepts in the field
4. The main structures and processes in world politics, including knowledge of regional dynamics, regimes and institutions
5. The key actors in international relations
6. The key dynamics, processes and problems facing contemporary Global Politics.
7. How these approaches help us to explain and understand events in the world
Teaching/learning and assessment methods:
Acquisition of 1-7 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 the internet. Throughout, students are encouraged to undertake independent reading to supplement, consolidate and broaden individual knowledge and understanding of the subject. Knowledge and understanding (1-7) is tested through a combination of unseen and pre-seen written examinations (1-7), essays (1-7), dissertation (1-7, 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. Students also learn through self-reflection when completing their entries to the Careers Development Programme.
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
Knowledge and understanding
|
A1 |
Knowledge and understanding of human societies in the past through the study of a range of historical periods and themes in more than one country, and in different cultural contexts |
|
A2 |
The ability to frame historical questions, and to search for and locate appropriate secondary and primary evidence in diverse forms, including the electronic. |
|
A3 |
The ability to read and use, critically and empathetically, a range of secondary texts and primary sources |
|
A4 |
The appreciation of the complexity and diversity of situations, events and ways of thinking in the past. |
|
A5 |
The understanding of the difficulties inherent in historical interpretation, and the means whereby historians deal with ambiguity, incomplete evidence and differences of viewpoints |
|
A6 |
The appreciation of the basic critical skills of the historian in establishing and using rules of evidence and testing the validity of statements by developing a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to produce and interpret historical knowledge |
|
A7 |
Intellectual independence in the setting and solving of problems, the acquisition of bibliographical skills, the ability to gather, sift, select, organise and synthesise historical evidence, and the ability to formulate appropriate questions and to provide answers to them using valid and relevant evidence and argument. |
|
A8 |
Reflexive and critical awareness of the forces of historical change and the ways in which they are explained in historiographical debates |
|
A9 |
The marshalling of lucid and coherent arguments in written and oral forms. |
|
A10 |
The ability to listen and to respond to the arguments of others. |
|
A11 |
The understanding of the social value of History, and the fostering of a life-long enjoyment of History as a subject. |
Learning/teaching methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 is through lectures, seminars (which include formal presentations, directed and student-led discussions), assessed coursework and individual essay tutorials. Additional support is provided by the resources of the University Library and the National Library of Wales. Acquisition of 2-11 is through a combination of Option and Survey modules with a range of skills and historiographical modules in Year 2 and Special Subject, Dissertation and general Historical Problems modules in Year 3. Throughout, learners are required to consolidate and broaden their knowledge by means of independent reading.Assessment:
Assessment is by coursework (1, 3, 4-9), for which learners are offered regular feed-back, and by a combination of closed unseen examinations (1, 4-10), take-away examination (8) and where appropriate, projects (6) and dissertation (1-9). Trials are currently being conducted for oral assessment by means of formal presentations (9).
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
Intellectual Skills:
1. Identify, describe and evaluate different approaches
2. Identify and research issues
3. Apply concepts, theories and ideas to concrete cases
4. Identify, investigate and formulate solutions to intellectual problems
5. Critically reason, analyse and interpret data and ideas
6. Demonstrate and exercise independence of mind
7. Reflect on experience of learning and adjust intellectual strategies accordingly
8. The ability to apply acquired knowledge to solving hypothetical or actual problems
9. The ability to distinguish relevance and irrelevance
10. Recognition that problems often have more than one solution
Teaching and learning methods and assessment:
While lectures introduce students to topics and ideas, the development of intellectual skills takes place when students engage with the topic themselves and interact with others in the intellectual learning community both during discussions (in seminars, where tutors seek to guide and develop intellectual skills, and wider public debate), and in the process of reading and writing notes, essays or examinations. Reflection and self assessment are also integral to the learning of intellectual skills. Tutors form impressions of, and assess, a student's ability and progress through contact with students in seminars and in the assessment of written work. Intellectual skills (1-10) are assessed primarily in essay and examination performance, plus the other methods of assessment set out above. The published assessment criteria reflect these intellectual skills that in turn are mirrored in the feedback to students. Students can assess their own performance by gauging their rate of progress in comparison to that of their peers, and in the light of tutor's comments. Students are free to discuss the informal development and assessment of such skills during staff office hours. Personal learning (7) is not formally assessed but relative success is reflected in a student's ability to improve over time. Personal learning is also enhanced through engagement with the Careers Development Programme process.
Professional Practical Skills:
1. Seek, extract and effectively annotate information from a range of sources
2. Prioritise and organise information and deploy it as evidence in argument
3. Plan, undertake and complete written work (to strict deadlines) suitable for different audiences or tasks
4. Identify and retrieve relevant and up to date information
5. Collate information and arguments at short notice to answer specific questions
6. Express informed opinions through written work and discussion.
7. Listen and respond appropriately to the opinions of others
8. Formulate questions and explore links between divergent topics
9. Learn from experience
Teaching and learning methods and assessment:
All core modules, and in particular those taught at Part One, contain elements which directly address the development of practical skills (1-8). The process of writing essays, reports and presentations etc (1-6) and preparing for examinations (1-6, 9) allows the student to hone skills through practice, guided by feedback from tutors. Discussion in seminars or engagement with debate in public fora leads students to improve their intellectual communication skills (2, 5-9). Students also learn and improve such skills through personal reflection on their learning experience and purposeful adaptation of their learning methods; a process reflected upon in all modules. Personal learning is also enhanced through engagement with the Careers Development Programme process.
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
Intellectual (thinking) skills – able to:
|
B1 |
engage with the complexity and diversity of the subject |
|
B2 |
reason critically |
|
B3 |
apply historical methods and concepts |
|
B4 |
demonstrate independence of mind |
|
B5 |
communicate knowledge and ideas to others, in written and spoken forms |
Learning/teaching methods and strategies
Intellectual skills are developed throughout the Programme in a variety of ways. These include the development of listening skills in lectures and comprehension skills in reading and note-taking (1), seminars, tutorials, dissertations and coursework (1-5)
Assessment
All forms of assessment measure learners’ abilities in each of the 5 intellectual skills by means of written responses in a variety of formats. Oral presentation is not yet formally assessed, but is developed in seminar and tutorial work.
C. Practical skills – able to
|
C1 |
search out, sift, assimilate and deploy bodies of historical evidence from a variety of sources |
|
C2 |
demonstrate self-discipline in time-management and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively |
|
C3 |
read secondary sources critically |
|
C4 |
analyse primary sources in complex ways, including an ability to establish their provenance, analyse their content and language, and cross-reference them with other primary and secondary sources |
Information provided by Department of International Politics:
On completion of the programme the student will be able to take responsibility for themselves and their work. S/he will be able to:
• Work independently
• Work in a team
• Respect the views and beliefs of others
• Listen
• Communicate orally
• Communicate in writing
• Communicate electronically
• Word-process
• Use the Web
• Manage time and work to deadlines
• Research issues
• Solve problems
• Adapt to change
• Develop career awareness
Information provided by Department of History and Welsh History:
Transferable skills – able to:
|
D1 |
demonstrate initiative, self-direction and self-motivation |
|
D2 |
demonstrate flexibility and independence of mind |
|
D3 |
demonstrate effective presentation and communication skills, orally and in writing |
|
D4 |
manage time and work to deadlines |
|
D5 |
search for and locate information in a wide variety of sources |
|
D6 |
contextualise, evaluate and cross-reference diverse forms of (often incomplete) information |
|
D7 |
work constructively in groups, and to assess the value and relevance of the ideas and arguments of others. |
Learning/teaching methods and strategies
The Programme develops these qualities cumulatively, and in a number of ways. 1 and 2 are learned principally in essay and seminar preparation and individual essay tutorial and seminar discussion, while 3 and 4 are learned in essay/project writing, tutorial and seminar presentation. 5 is developed in all research-based exercises, from essay and seminar preparation to the Dissertation. 6-7 feature strongly in all aspects of the Programme.
Assessment The Programme’s marking criteria reward quality demonstrated in 1-3 and 5 and 6. 4 is not formally assessed, but penalties are imposed on coursework delivered after the agreed submission date. 7 is not formally assessed.BA International Politics / History [LVF1]
Academic Year: 2024/2025Joint Honours scheme - available from 2014/2015
Duration (studying Full-Time): 3 yearsLast intake year: 2020/2021
Introduction to History
Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills
Behind the Headlines
The Making of the Modern World: War Peace and Revolution since 1789
Concwest, Uno a Hunaniaeth yng Nghymru 1200-1800
Medieval and Early Modern Britain and Europe, 1000-1800
The Modern World, 1789 to the present
Cydio mewn Hanes: Ffynonellau a'u Haneswyr
Ewrop a'r Byd, 1000-2000
Cymdeithas, Pobl a Gwleidyddiaeth: Cymru, 1800-1999
'Hands on' History: Sources and their Historians
Europe and the World, 1000-2000
People, Power and Identity: Wales 1200-1999
Making History
International Relations: Perspectives and Debates
Gwrando ar Hanes: Y mudiad Hawliau Sifil yn America
Memory, Myth and History: Investigating Medieval Chronicles, c. 1000-1250
Interdisciplinary and decolonial history
Victorian Visions: Exploring Nineteenth-Century Exhibitions
Recounting Racism: Oral History and Modern American Race Relations.
Y Meddwl Cymreig mewn Syniadaeth Ryngwladol
Gwleidyddiaeth mewn Cymdeithasau Amrywiaethol
Pobl a Grym: Deall Gwleidyddiaeth Gymharol Heddiw
Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
Climate Change Politics
Science, Technology, and International Relations
The European Union: Politics, Policies, Problems
The Second World War in Europe
International Politics and Global Development
Intervention and Humanitarianism
The BRICS in World Politics
Total War, Total Peace
Politics in Diverse Societies
People and Power: Understanding Comparative Politics Today
Russian intelligence from Lenin to Putin
Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics
Datganoli a Chymru
Militaries and Crisis: Where Strategy Meets Society
Political Theory
The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
Devolution and Wales
Warfare after Waterloo: Military History 1815-1918
Questions of International Politics
A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
Contemporary Latin America
Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
Capitalism and International Politics
War Crimes
Rhyfel Cartref America
Stori yr Unol Daleithiau ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1865-2008
The Tudors: A European Dynasty?
Magic in the Middle Ages: From Antiquity to the Eve of the Witch Craze
Media and Society in Twentieth Century Britain
African-American History, 1808 to the Present
Science, Religion and Magic
Cymru a Brenhinoedd Prydain: Gwrthdaro, Grym a Hunaniaeth yn Ynysoedd Prydain, 1039-1417
Trosedd, Terfysg a Moesoldeb yng Nghymru 1750-1850
The Making of Europe: Christendom and beyond, c. 1000-1300
Germany since 1945
The Atlantic World, 1492-1825
Southeast Asia at the crossroads (c.1400 to the present)
Crime, Riot and Morality in Wales 1750-1850
Y Meddwl Cymreig Mewn Syniadaeth Ryngwladol
Gwleidyddiaeth mewn Cymdeithasau Amrywiaethol
Dulliau Ymchwil + Traethawd Estynedig
Dissertation
Climate Change Politics
Science, Technology, and International Relations
The European Union: Politics, Policies, Problems
The Second World War in Europe
Intervention and Humanitarianism
The BRICS in World Politics
Total War, Total Peace
Politics in Diverse Societies
Russian intelligence from Lenin to Putin
Dulliau Ymchwil + Traethawd Estynedig
Datganoli a Chymru
Dissertation
Militaries and Crisis: Where Strategy Meets Society
Political Theory
Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
Devolution and Wales
Questions of International Politics
A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
Contemporary Latin America
Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
Capitalism and International Politics
War Crimes
Rhyfel Cartref America
Stori yr Unol Daleithiau ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1865-2008
The Tudors: A European Dynasty?
Magic in the Middle Ages: From Antiquity to the Eve of the Witch Craze
Media and Society in Twentieth Century Britain
Science, Religion and Magic
African-American History, 1808 to the Present
Cymru a Brenhinoedd Prydain: Gwrthdaro, Grym a Hunaniaeth yn Ynysoedd Prydain, 1039-1417
Trosedd, Terfysg a Moesoldeb yng Nghymru 1750-1850
The Making of Europe: Christendom and beyond, c. 1000-1300
Germany since 1945
The Atlantic World, 1492-1825
Southeast Asia at the crossroads (c. 1400 to the present)
Crime, Riot and Morality in Wales 1750-1850