Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide students with an intellectually stimulating environment within which they can develop knowledge, understanding and skills in both History and International Relations.
• To encourage a sense of enthusiasm for History and International Relations; to foster critical, creative and independent thinking; and to develop a sensitive and disciplined approach.
• To stimulate productive reflection on the similarities and differences between modes of study in both subjects.
• To develop competence and practical skills which are transferable to a wide range of professions and employment as well as life experiences.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• QAA Subject Benchmarking Statement - History
• QAA Subject Benchmarking Statement – Politics and International Relations

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the idea of academic disciplines as dynamic, plural and contested; developed within the broader framework of the social sciences and humanities;
• the potential applications of concepts within a broader critical framework;
• the main methodologies used in the analysis and interpretation of texts, other sources and data;

and within the History portion of the programme:

• past societies and historical processes over a chronological and geographical range;
• the use of primary evidence in historical argument;
• History as an academic discipline, its schools of interpretations, and the variety of methodological approaches and theoretical foundations;

and within the International Relations portion of the programme:

• how states, international organisations and other transnational actors interact (both cooperatively and conflictually) within regional and global arenas;
• related questions of power, conflict, justice, order, legitimacy, decision-making and governance at the global and regional levels
• approaches derived from international political theory and political analysis;
• appropriate research methods and methodologies and how to apply these.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate a reflexive approach to learning;
2. abstract and synthesise information;
3. assess the merits of contrasting theories, explanations and arguments;
4. critically evaluate and interpret a range of evidence, including texts, other sources and data;
5. undertake problem-solving and decision-making;
6. develop a reasoned argument;

and within the History portion of the programme:

7. appreciate the complexities and diversity of past events and mentalities;
8. show a critical awareness of the problems inherent in historical sources and in interpreting the past;
9. solve problems with imagination and creativity;

and within the International Relations portion of the programme: 

10. describe, evaluate and, where appropriate, critique political events, ideas and institutions operating at regional and global levels of analysis;
11. relate theory and political analysis to questions of ethical, moral and public concern at regional and global levels of analysis. 

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. locate and retrieve information using a variety of research methods;
2. select, combine, and interpret different types of source material;
3. recognise and critically debate moral and ethical issues underpinning particular debates or enquiries;
4. deploy bibliographic skills including accuracy in the citation of sources and the use of proper conventions in the presentation of scholarly work;
5. present cogent and persuasive arguments in oral, written and practical form;
6. undertake independent learning and research

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should have developed skills in the areas of communication, presentations, self-organisation, working with others and time-management, and gained experience of using information and communication technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information.

4. Programme structure

4.1

(1)      Candidates normally study a total modular weight of 60 credits in both History and International Relations in each academic year (Parts A, B and C).  However, candidates may take 20 credits of Language options in each Part, chosen from a list produced by the School of Social Sciences, depending on their previous qualifications.  These candidates must take at least 50 credits in both History and International Relations in Parts A, B and C.

(2)       Candidates must take at least 20 credits in History and 20 credits in International Relations in each Semester.

(3)       Candidates must take a total modular weight of 120 in each Part with a minimum module weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules.

4.2          Content

Part A – Introductory Modules

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

History Component

(i) Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 40 Credits)

(ii)  Optional Modules (total modular weight 20 Credits)

International Relations Component

(i)  Compulsory Modules (total module weight 40 Credits)

 (ii)  Optional Modules (total module weight 20 Credits)

(2)  Part B – Degree Modules 

EITHER

(a)  Standard Route

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

 (i) COMPULSORY MODULES (30 Credits)

* Please note that this module counts as 10 of the 30 credits in Semester 2 for either the History component or the Politics component.

History Component

Optional Modules (total modular weight 50 credits, no more than 30 credits in either Semester, including EUB800 Research Design if chosen for this component.)

Candidates should note that combinations of modules of the same titles but with different credit-weightings are mutually exclusive.

International Relations Component

Optional Modules (total modular weight 50 credits, no more than 30 credits in either Semester, including EUB800 Research Design if chosen for this component.)

Candidates should note that combinations of modules of the same titles but with different credit-weightings are mutually exclusive.

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. Candidates must register for a total of 30 credits in History and 30 credits in International Relations in Semester 1.  Candidates should note that combinations of modules of the same titles but with different credit-weightings are mutually exclusive. 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.

  Compulsory Modules

Optional Modules (40 Credits)

Semester 2

Compulsory Module (total modular weight 60 Credits)

(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

Students must be registered for a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 70 credits in each Semester. Credit from either Dissertation module must be split equally (20:20) across both Semesters.

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

(ii)          OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 80 credits) 

Candidates should take 60 credits in the History Component and 60 Credits in the International Relations Component.  The Dissertation weight of 40 credits will be split equally between the two components, so candidates will need to choose 80 credits of option modules, 40 in each component.

History Component

International Relations Component

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.