Programme Specification
BA (Hons) Politics with Economics
Academic Year: 2018/19
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:
- Reg. XX (Undergraduate Awards) (see University Regulations)
- Module Specifications
- Summary
- Aims
- Learning outcomes
- Structure
- Progression & weighting
Programme summary
Awarding body/institution | Loughborough University |
Teaching institution (if different) | |
Owning school/department | School of Social Sciences - pre 2019 |
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body | |
Final award | BA (Hons)/BA (Hons) + DPS/BA (Hons) + DIntS |
Programme title | Politics with Economics |
Programme code | EUUB16 |
Length of programme | The duration of the programme is either 6 semesters (three-year programme), or 8 semesters (four-year programme, including a placement year). The three-year programme allows, at Part B (Semester Two), for a course of study to be taught in English at a foreign University. |
UCAS code | L2L1, L2LA |
Admissions criteria | BA (Hons) - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/l2l1 BA (Hons) + DPS/DIntS - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/l2la |
Date at which the programme specification was published | Wed, 05 Sep 2018 11:29:28 BST |
1. Programme Aims
- To introduce the concepts and principles that underpin politics, informed by research that fosters critical and independent thought.
- 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.
- 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.
- To familiarise students with the methodological and theoretical assumptions which underpin political arguments.
- To familiarise students with key concepts in critical political analysis, including power, justice, accountability, order, dissent, violence, sovereignty, governance and decision-making.
- To familiarise students with a selection of concepts and examples in economics.
- 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 economics.
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 economics;
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 economics;
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
Part A – Introductory Modules
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 120 Credits)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
EUA001 |
Smart Scholarship |
10 |
1 |
EUA803 |
The Making and Unmaking of the World Order |
10 |
1 |
EUA601 |
Contemporary World Arena (20 credit) |
20 |
1 |
EUA610 |
Conceptions of Democracy |
10 |
2 |
EUA607 |
Understanding Democratic Institutions |
10 |
2 |
EUA801 |
Power, Politics & Ideology in Modern Europe |
20 |
2 |
ECA001 |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECA002 |
Principles of Microeconomics |
20 |
1 & 2 |
Part B – Degree Modules
Students must be registered for a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 70 credits in each Semester.
(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (TOTAL MODULAR WEIGHT 40 Credits)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
EUB605 |
Theories and Methods in Political Research |
10 |
1 |
EUB628 |
History of Political Thought |
20 |
1 |
EUB800 |
Research Design |
10 |
2 |
(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES – POLITICS AND LANGUAGES (TOTAL MODULAR WEIGHT 40 Credits)
Candidates not studying a Foreign Language must take 40 credits of Politics modules from those listed below. Candidates studying a Foreign Language 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.
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
Politics |
|
||
EUB601 |
The European Union (20 credits) |
20 |
1 |
EUB625 |
The European Union (10 Credits) |
10 |
1 |
EUB630 |
British Politics |
20 |
1 |
EUB633 |
Enterprise, Employability and Personal Development |
10 |
1 |
EUB604 |
Comparative European Politics (20 Credits) |
20 |
2 |
EUB620 |
Comparative European Politics (10 Credits) |
10 |
2 |
EUB632 |
Politics of Developing Countries |
20 |
2 |
EUB634 |
The American Century: US Politics & Society in the 20th Century |
20 |
2 |
SSB352 |
Political Communications |
10 |
2 |
Foreign Language |
|
||
French, German, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese |
One 10-credit module in each Semester from a list produced by the Language Centre, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications |
10 + 10 |
1 & 2 |
(iii) OPTIONAL MODULES – ECONOMICS (total modular weight 40 Credits)
Candidates must choose 40 credits from their minor subject listed below.
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
Economics |
|
||
ECB001 |
Intermediate Macroeconomics |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECB002 |
Intermediate Microeconomics |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECB004 |
Introduction to Financial Economics |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECB005 |
International Economic Relations |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECB015 |
Economics of the Financial System |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECB136 |
Transport Economics |
20 |
1 |
ECB035 |
The Economics of Social Issues |
20 |
2 |
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.
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
Students must be registered for a minimum of 50 credits and a maximum of 70 credits in each Semester.
(i) COMPULSORY MODULE (TOTAL MODULAR WEIGHT 40 Credits)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
EUC800 |
Dissertation |
40 |
1 & 2 |
(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 80 Credits)
Candidates choose a total of 80 credits from the following:
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.
(a) modules to a minimum value of 20 credits and a maximum value of 40 credits from the following list:
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
Politics |
|
||
EUC604 |
State Violence and Terrorism |
20 |
1 |
EUC628 |
The Asia Pacific in Global Politics |
20 |
1 |
EUC660 |
Contemporary Political Philosophy |
20 |
1 |
EUC679 |
1968 - World Revolution? |
20 |
1 |
EUC680 |
The Populist Challenge to Western Democracies |
20 |
1 |
EUC682 |
International Politics of the Middle East |
20 |
1 |
EUC716 |
Empire, War and Popular Culture in Britain c. 1880-1930 |
20 |
1 |
EUC665 |
Postwar Britain: The Start of the Decline |
20 |
2 |
EUC666 |
Gender & Politics |
20 |
2 |
EUC677 |
Britain and the European Union |
20 |
2 |
EUC684 |
War in the 21st Century |
20 |
2 |
EUC685 |
Power, Politics & Participation in the Digital Age |
20 |
2 |
EUC686 |
International Conflict Management |
20 |
2 |
EUC687 |
The Politics of Militarism |
20 |
2 |
EUC720 |
After Empire: South Asia since 1945 |
20 |
2 |
Foreign Language |
|
||
French, German, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese |
One 10-credit module in each Semester from a list produced by the Language Centre, depending on candidates’ previous qualifications |
10 + 10 |
1 & 2 |
(b) modules to a minimum value of 20 credits and a maximum value of 40 credits from the following list:
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
Economics |
|
|
|
ECC012 |
Introduction to Financial Economics |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECC013 |
International Economic Relations |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECC014 |
Economics of the Financial System |
20 |
1 & 2 |
ECC019 |
Transport Economics |
20 |
1 |
ECC017 |
The Economics of Social Issues |
20 |
2 |
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.