Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations (2017 entry)

Academic Year: 2017/18

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different)
Owning school/department Department of Politics, History and International Relations - pre 2018
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body
Final award BA(Hons)/BA(Hons) + DPS/DIntS
Programme title Politics and International Relations
Programme code EUUB10
Length of programme Six semesters or eight semesters for DPS/DIntS
UCAS code 1L27/7L27
Admissions criteria

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/s tudy/undergraduate/cours es /departm ents /phir/

Date at which the programme specification was published Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:28:10 BST

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. Due to timetabling constraints, not all option combinations may be available.

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 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 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 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)

Code

Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUA001

Introduction to Academic Studies

1

10

EUA601

Contemporary World Arena

1

20

EUA607

Introduction to Democratic Government

1

10

EUA702

Modern Europe

1

10

EUA610

Conceptions of Democracy

2

10

EUA613

Political Ideologies

2

20

EUA617

International Political Theory

2

10

EUA621

International Organisations

2

10

 (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:

 

Code

Title

Semester(s)

Modular Weight

Economics

 

 

ECA001

Principles of Macroeconomics

1 & 2

20

English

 

 

EAA777

Narrative Forms and Fiction

1

20

French

 

 

Two x 10 credit modules, one from each Semester from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.

1 & 2

20

German

 

 

Two x 10 credit modules, one from each Semester from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.

1 & 2

20

Geography

 

 

GYA004

Geographies of Global Economic Change

1

10

GYA104

Geographies of Identity

2

10

History

 

 

EUA701

Modern Europe: from the Enlightenment to the Present (20 Credit)

N.B. Candidates choosing this elective subject take the 20-credit version of Modern Europe (EUA701) and do not take EUA702

1

20

EUA707

Modern World History: New Perspectives (10 Credit)

2

10

Business

 

 

BSA505

Organisational Behaviour

1

10

BSA506

Management of Human Resources

2

10

Mandarin Chinese

 

 

Two x 10 credit modules, one from each Semester from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.

1 & 2

20

Social Sciences

 

 

SSA001

Introduction to Sociology: Identities and Inequalities

1

10

SSA002

Introduction to Sociology: Global, Social and Cultural Change

2

10

SSA201

Introduction to Criminology & Social Policy A

1

10

SSA202

Introduction to Criminology & Social Policy B

2

10

SSA301

Introduction to Communication and Media Studies: Contemporary Trends and Issues

1

10

SSA302

Introduction to Communication and Media Studies: Historical Debates and Perspectives

2

10

Spanish

 

 

Two x 10 credit modules, one from each Semester from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.

1 & 2

20

 

(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)

Code

Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUB605

Theories and Methods in Political Research

1

10

EUB608

Research Design

2

10

 

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

 In addition to the compulsory modules EUB605 and EUB608, 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.

Groups 1, 2 and 3 Politics and International Relations modules are likely to cover:

  • European Politics

  • Security & Governance

  • Foreign Policy Analysis

  • US Politics

  • Third World Politics

Group 4 Elective Subject modules can be chosen from a range offered by:

  • Business

  • Economics

  • English

  • Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese)

  • Geography

  • History

  • Social Sciences

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 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 selected a total of 60 credits in Semester One, including 20 credits in Politics and 20 credits in International Relations.

 

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

Code

Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUB605

Theories and Methods in Political Research

1

10

EUB001

International Semester

2

50

EUB614

Research Design (Distance learning)

2

10

 

(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.

Groups 1, 2 and 3 Politics and International Relations modules are likely to cover:

  • European Politics

  • Security & Governance

  • US Politics

Group 4 Elective Subject modules can be chosen from a range offered by:

  • Business

  • Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese)

  • Geography

  • History

  • Social Sciences

(3)          Part I

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.

 

Candidates following the four-year thick sandwich programme are required to spend the third academic year (Part I) EITHER undertaking an approved 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 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) Part C – Degree Modules

 

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

Code

Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUC643

Dissertation in Politics and International Relations

1 & 2

40

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 in Politics and International Relations 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 EUC643, 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.

Politics and International Relations Group 1 modules are likely to cover:

  • British Politics

  • Security and Governance

  • Global Politics

  • Western Democracies

Group 2 Elective Subject modules can be chosen from a range offered by:

  • Business

  • Economics

  • English

  • Languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese)

  • History

  • Geography

  • Social Sciences

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.

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