Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

BA (Hons) Politics

Academic Year: 2019/20

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 School of Social Sciences - pre 2019
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body
Final award BA(Hons)/BA(Hons) + DPS/DIntS
Programme title Politics
Programme code EUUB11
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 L202/L203
Admissions criteria

BA(Hons) - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/l202

BA(Hons) + DPS/DIntS - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/l203

Date at which the programme specification was published Wed, 07 Aug 2019 11:46:42 BST

1. Programme Aims

  1. To introduce the concepts and principles that underpin politics, informed by research that fosters critical and independent thought.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. To familiarise students with the methodological and theoretical assumptions which underpin political arguments.
  5. To familiarise students with key concepts in critical political analysis, including power, justice, accountability, order, dissent, violence, sovereignty, governance and decision-making.
  6. To combine the study of politics 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 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.

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 political phenomena and events;

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;

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

Politics

This is a three-year long full-time degree programme.  In each of the three parts (years) of the degree (A, B and C), students take modules amounting to 120 credits with a minimum modular weight of 50 credits in each Semester, taking into account compulsory, optional and elective modules.

 

In addition, students have the opportunity to undertake a Placement Year (Part I) after Part B.

 

Important Note: No module may be taken and passed more than once.  Optional module availability is subject to timetabling constraints and optional modules may be subject to change.

 

Part A – Introductory Modules

The split of credits between Semesters in this Part will typically be 60:60 

(i) Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 100 Credits)

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUA001

Smart Scholarship

1

10

EUA601

The Contemporary World Arena

1

20

EUA801

Power, Politics & Ideology in Modern Europe

1

20

EUA610

Conceptions of Democracy

2

10

EUA617

International Political Theory

2

10

EUA800

The Making and Unmaking of the World Order

2

20

EUA805

British Politics & Government

2

10

 

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

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

Geography

 

 

GYA004

Geographies of Global Economic Change

1

10

GYA104

Geographies of Identity

2

10

Languages

 

 

One or two 10-Credit modules, one from each semester, from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications. Languages offered are: French; German; Mandarin Chinese; Spanish

1 & 2

10/20

Social & Policy Studies

 

 

SSA001

Identities & Inequalities

1

10

SSA002

Global, social and Cultural Change

2

10

SSA201

Introducing Criminology

1

10

SSA202

Understanding Social Policy

2

10

 

 

Part B – Degree Modules

 

EITHER

 

(a) Standard Route

 

(i) Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 20 Credits)

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUB605

Theories and Methods in Political Research

1

10

EUB800

Research Design

2

10

 

(ii) Optional Modules (modular weight 100 Credits)

The remaining 100 Credits may be chosen from Groups 1 and 2, of which a maximum of 20 Credits can be from Group 2. Choice of modules from Group 2 will be subject to satisfying any pre-requisites set out in individual module specifications. Modules of the same titles but with different credit-weightings are mutually exclusive.

 

Group 1

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUB601

The European Union (20 Credit)

1

20

EUB604

Comparative European Politics (20 Credit)

1

20

EUB620

Comparative European Politics (10 Credit)

1

10

EUB625

The European Union (10 Credit)

1

10

EUB628

History of Political Thought (20 Credit)

1

20

EUB629

History of Political Thought (10 Credit)

1

10

EUB632

Politics of Developing Countries

2

20

EUB634

The American Century: US Politics & Society in the 20th Century

2

20

EUB637

Political Simulation

2

10

EUB638

The Politics of Star Wars

2

20

EUB639

From Rebellion to Partition: British India 1857-1947

2

20

SSB352

Political Communication (10 wgt version)

2

10

 

Group 2

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

Business

 

 

BSB555

Organisation Studies

1

10

BSB580

Operations Management

2

10

BSB532

Accounting for Managers

2

10

BSB590

The Contemporary Business Environment

2

10

Geography

 

 

GYB211

Globalization A

1

10

GYB224

Geographies of Global Difference A

1

10

GYB212

Globalization B

2

10

GYB222

Geographies of Global Difference B

2

10

Languages

 

 

One or two 10-Credit modules, one from each semester, from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications. Languages offered are: French; German; Mandarin Chinese; Spanish

1 & 2

10/20

Social & Policy Studies

 

 

SSB023

Religion and Society

1

10

SSB216

Women and Crime: Victims, offenders and Survivors

1

10

SSB360

The Media in Global Context

1

10

SSB234

Media, Culture and Crime

2

10

 

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 Politics and International Studies, 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 1.

 

(i) Compulsory Modules (total modular weight 70 Credits)

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUB605

Theories and Methods in Political Research

1

10

EUB001

International Semester

2

50

EUB801

Research Design (Distance Learning)

2

10

 

(ii) Optional Modules (total modular weight 50 Credits)

In addition to the Compulsory Modules EUB605, EUB001 and EUB801, candidates must choose a minimum modular weight of 40 and a maximum modular weight of 50 from Group 1 modules in Semester 1.  If a weight of 40 is chosen from Group 1, candidates should choose a 10 Credit module from Group 2.  Choice of modules from Group 2 will be subject to satisfying any pre-requisites set out in individual module specifications. Candidates should note that combinations of modules of the same titles but with different credit weightings are mutually exclusive.

 

Group 1

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUB601

The European Union (20 Credit)

1

20

EUB604

Comparative European Politics (20 Credit)

1

20

EUB620

Comparative European Politics (10 Credit)

1

10

EUB625

The European Union (10 Credit)

1

10

EUB628

History of Political Thought (20 Credit)

1

20

EUB629

History of Political Thought (10 Credit)

1

10

 

Group 2

Choice of elective subject modules will be subject to satisfying any pre-requisites set out in individual module specifications.

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

Business

 

 

BSB555

Organisation Studies

1

10

Geography

 

 

GYB211

Globalization A

1

10

GYB224

Geographies of Global Difference A

1

10

Languages

 

 

One 10-Credit module, from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications. Languages offered are: French; German; Mandarin Chinese; Spanish

1

10

Social & Policy Studies

 

 

SSB023

Religion and Society

1

10

SSB216

Women and Crime: Victims, offenders and Survivors

1

10

SSB360

The Media in Global Context

1

10

 

Part I

Candidates will undertake one of the following approved study and/or work placements leading to the Diploma in International Studies (DIntS) or Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) in accordance with Regulation XI.

 

Code

 Title

EUI003

Diploma in Professional Studies (work placement)

EUI004

Diploma in International Studies (study abroad)

LAN900

Diploma in International Studies (overseas work placement in a foreign language)

GYI100

Year in Enterprise (DPS)

GYI200

Professional Training Placement & Overseas Study (DIntS)

 

 

Part C – Degree Modules

 

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

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUC800

Dissertation

1 & 2

40

 

(ii) Optional Modules (total modular weight 80 Credits)

 

Students should choose a minimum modular weight of 60 Credits from Group 1 modules over Semesters 1 and 2.  The remaining credits may be chosen from either Group 1 or Group 2. Choice of modules from Group 2 will be subject to satisfying any pre-requisites set out in individual module specifications.

 

Group 1

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

EUC604

State, Violence & Terrorism

1

20

EUC628

The Asia-Pacific in Global Politics

1

20

EUC660

Contemporary Political Philosophy

1

20

EUC677

Britain and the European Union

1

20

EUC680

The Populist Challenge to Democracy

1

20

EUC686

International Conflict Management

1

20

EUC666

Gender & Politics

2

20

EUC684

War in the 21st Century

2

20

EUC685

Power, Politics & Participation in the Digital Age

2

20

EUC687

The Politics of Militarism

2

20

EUC720

After Empire: South Asia since 1945

2

20

 

Group 2

 

Module Code

Module Title

Semester

Modular Weight

Business

 

 

BSC522

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

1

10

BSC524

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Planning

2

10

BSC575

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

2

10

Economics

 

 

ECC012

Introduction to Financial Economics

1 & 2

20

Geography

 

 

GYC226

Geographies of Work and Life

1

10

GYC309

Geographies of Home

1

10

History

 

 

EUC703

Revolution in the Head: The Beatles and Sixties Britain

1

20

EUC713

Jim Crow, Bootleggers and Okies: American Cultural History 1890-1930

1

20

EUC719

Convicts and Kangaroos: Australia 1788-1868

2

20

Languages

 

 

One or two 10-Credit modules, one from each semester, from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications. Languages offered are: French; German; Mandarin Chinese; Spanish

1 & 2

10/20

Social & Policy Studies

 

 

SSC024

Gender, Sex & Society

1

20

SSC212

Poverty, Pay and Living Standards

2

20

 

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 percentage mark.

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