UDINRPOL - BA International Relations and Politics

The Teaching and Learning strategy of the BA International Relations and Politics degree is designed to: ensure that the subject content meets, and improves, on the benchmarks set out by the QAA; encourage the acquisition and understanding of knowledge by students, engendering an enthusiasm for the subject and life-skills learning, including the progression from surface learning to deep learning; facilitate students to develop independent skills and responsibilities for their own learning;incrementally strengthen the subject specific knowledge and skillsgained by a students, in combination with the awareness and application of skills needed successfully to thrive in the workplace.

The degree has a growing reputation for pedagogical innovation as well as utilising traditional teaching methods. The latter includes a mixture of lectures, seminars, and workshops. Within this a combination of whole group, small group, and student-led and tutor-led teaching occurs. This can included face to face teaching and discussion, but there is also an increasing emphasis on the use of blended learning opportunities. Many modules already are paper free, with considerable learning materials and resources being placed on relevant module Weblearn sites, e.g. lecture notes, module handbooks, video links, recorded lectures, podcasts, first hand documents, and blogs. Some teaching staff are already experimenting with electronic feedback,the electronic submission of formative assessments, and on-line office hours. A growing number of materials are also available on-line through the University library, including access to journals and e-books. Students may take up to 30 credits of language at levels 5 and 6 as extension-of-knowledge modules.

This is all designed to open up the learning space for students to enable them to have continuous access to degree materials, improving the student learning experience, whilst increasing cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

An additional, and important part of the teaching and learning strategy, is the academic research which is carried by Governance and International Relations staff. This is used to support teaching through the transferring of staff research skills and knowledge to enhance the student learning experience, i.e. the research is effectively feedback to students through teaching.

Staff research specialisms are an essential component of the International Relations and Politics curriculum, with students benefitting from being taught by specialists.

The BA in International Relations and Politics is a cornerstone degree offered by the Faculty of Law, Governance and International Relations. The degree aims to provide students with a broad perspective on the philosophical, theoretical, historical, and economic aspects of international relationsand politics to enhance their ability to understand the complex forces shaping the contemporary world. In particular, the course aims to:

• examine the concept and nature of international relations and politics and the institutions and structures engaged in decision-making;
• ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in areas of International Relations and Political theory and analysis;
• enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches, key research methods and methodologies of the disciplines, and develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in International Relations and Politics;
• develop in students the capacity to think critically about events, ideas and institutions;
• encourage students to relate the academic study of International Relations and Politics to questions of public concern;
• assist students to develop a range of cognitive and social skills relevant to their intellectual, vocational and personal development, with a particular emphasis on employability, e.g students can apply the knowledge gained from the course in a work experience situation through the level 6 work placement or project;
• provide a curriculum supported by scholarship, staff development and a research culture that promotes breadth and depth of academic inquiry and debate.

Accordingly, the syllabus seeks to assist students’ understanding of the key issues of international relations and politics whether matters of philosophy, ethics, power, rights, justice, democracy, obligation, representation, freedom, security and peacekeeping, conflict and competition within and between states, the key concerns of states, issues of government, governance and public policy and administration, the foreign policy of major powers, the strength and success of international organisations, the international political economy and issues like trade and relations between the developed world and the 'Global South' or 'Third World', terrorism, the media, regional problems like the conflicts in the Middle East, area studies such as in China and Asia, Europe, the United States or Africa, or the salience of ethical issues like environmentalism, democratisation and human rights.

Course Learning outcomes include the following:

a. Subject Specific.

By the end of their course students are expected to have developed the following skills:

• understand the nature and significance of international relations and politics;
• apply concepts, theories, research methods and methodologies used in the study of international relations and politics to the analysis of ideas, practices and contemporary issues in political systems;
• demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the origins, evolution and current nature of political systems, including the tension between power and ethics in the local, regional, national, supranational, international and global arenas;
• be aware of the contested nature of inquiry within the disciplines of International Relations and Politics and be able to evaluate different interpretations of key issues.

b. Cognitive skills.

By the end of their course, students should be able to:

• gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of primary, secondary and electronic sources;
• construct a reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information, exercise critical judgement and manifest ethical awareness, in both oral discussion and written work;
• identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to issues and problems in international relations and politics;
• demonstrate a capacity for critical review of the literature and awareness of differing approaches to the study of international relations and politics;
• manage their own learning in a reflective and self-critical fashion and make use of constructive feedback.

c. Transferable skills, including those of employability and professional practice.

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• communicate effectively and fluently in both oral and written form;
• use communication and information technology, including the internet, for the retrieval and presentation of information, including, where appropriate, statistical and/or numerical information;
• work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time management;
• engage in collaborative learning and demonstrate the ability to inter-relate with other students who may hold different views;
• think critically about data and evidence and show awareness of ethical considerations (including, where appropriate, ethical diversity);
• conduct analysis of international relations issues using a variety of theoretical perspectives;
• design, plan, organise and deliver an individual research project or work placement dissertation and learning log;
• assess international relations and political issuesin a reasoned manner and apply such knowledge to hypothetical and ‘real world’ situations.

1. understand the nature and significance of Politics and International Relations:

e.g. GI4005 Introduction to International Relations; GI4008
Politics and Government

2. Be aware of the contested nature of inquiry within the disciplines of Politics and International Relations and be able to evaluate different interpretations of key issues:

e.g. GI5009 Political Theory;
GI5005 Approaches to International Relations and Foreign
Policy.

3. Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics and international relations to the analysis of ideas, practices and issues in political systems:

e.g. GI6009 The Politics of Modern States

4. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the origins, evolution and current nature of political systems, including the tension between power and ethics in political arenas at a variety of tiers of governance:

e.g. GI4005 Introduction to International Relations;
GI4008 Politics and Government

5. Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of primary, secondary and electronic sources:

e.g. GI5061 American Government;
GI5064 The Politics of the European Union

6. Construct a reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information, exercise critical judgement and manifest ethical awareness, in both oral discussion and written work:

e.g. GI6051 Modern British Politics

7.) Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to issues and problems in international relations and politics:

e.g. GI5005 Approaches to International Relations and
Foreign Policy; GI5007 Governance and Public Policy

8. Demonstrate a capacity for critical review of the literature and awareness of differing approaches to the study of international relations and politics:

e.g. GI5062 Media and Culture

9. Manage their own learning in a reflective and self-critical fashion and make use of constructive feedback:

All International Relations and Politics Modules

10. Communicate effectively and fluently in both oral and written form:

All International Relations and Politics Modules

11. Use communication and information technology, including the internet, for the retrieval and presentation of information, including, where appropriate, statistical and/or numerical information:

e.g. GI5007 Governance and Public Policy

12. Work independently, demonstrating initiative, selforganisation and time management:

GI6P01/51 Project and GI6W01/51Placement Modules.

13. Conduct analysis of international relations and political issues using a variety of theoretical perspectives:

e.g. GI5009 Political Theory; GI6009 The Politics of
Modern States

14. Design, plan, organise and deliver an individual research project or work placement dissertation:

GI6P01/51 Projects and GI6W01/51 Placement Modules.

The International Relations and Politics degree embeds the key components of the QAA benchmarks within its degree structure.

With regards to “Knowledge and understanding”, all students should be able to fulfil the criteria of identified by the QAA, including:

“students should be able to:demonstrate a familiarity and engage critically with the nature and significanceof …politics and international relations, including definitions of the boundaries of thepolitical; the contested nature of knowledge and understanding; approaches tothe study of …politics and international relations; a range of key concepts, theories and methods employed in the study of … international relations and politics; and thestrengths and weaknesses of these approaches; demonstrate a familiarity and engage critically with international relations, politics andpolitical phenomena, including … the structure and operation of different political systems; apply different concepts, theories and methods to the analysis of political ideas, institutions and behaviour; examine and evaluate different interpretations of political issues and events.”

In terms of generic intellectual skills, again the degree is designed to meet the standards determined by the QAA. Thus, ongraduating with an honours degree in international relations and politics,students should be able to fulfil the following QAA benchmarks: “describe, evaluate and apply different approaches involved in collecting, analysingand presenting political information, including how to identify issues for politicalenquiry; assess their ethical implications; and gather, organise and deployevidence, data and information from a variety of sources;identify, investigate, analyse and advocate solutions to problems;develop a reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercisecritical judgement;reflect on their own learning and seek to make use of constructive feedback;manage their own learning self-critically.”

Personal transferable skills are also central to the degree. For example, on graduating, students should be able to meet the following QAA benchmarks: “communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing;use communication and information technologies for the retrieval, analysisand presentation of information. Presentational skills may include a focus upondelivery (in addition to content), time management, usage of audiovisualresources and an ability to stimulate debate;work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and timemanagement;collaborate with others and contribute effectively to the achievement ofcommon goals.”

The course combines both formative and summative assessment opportunities, embracing a variety of methods including: essays, reports, learning logs, exams, seminar performance, seminar presentations (both individual and group), portfolios, blogs, policy documents, dissertations, and book reviews. The majority will be tutor assessed, but a number will be peer-reviewed in seminars.

The strategy is designed to maximise the development of subject specific skills and employability skills appropriate to each level of the degree.

Employability and work experience are central to the course. All modules have employability embedded within them. (See each module specification for further details).

A study-abroad semester (or, in exceptional circumstances two semesters) can be undertaken as part of the degree programme. The Course Leader (or a delegated representative) must approve the programme of study proposed at the overseas host institution. The Governance and International Relations section has Socrates exchange links with a number of European Universities including – Bologna, Italy; Bordeaux, France; Madrid, Spain; Stockholm, Sweden; and Istanbul, Turkey. It is also possible to study in the United States. The University has exchange links with a number of universities, such as the State University of New York, City University New York, East Carolina, Roosevelt University (Chicago) and a number of colleges in the University of California state system. These exchanges are arranged through the University’s International Office.

At Level 6 students have the option to take a work placement module designed to introduce them to the world of work and develop employability skills.

You could follow in the footsteps of our graduates who now work for the UK Department for International Development, the United Nations, national diplomatic services, leading non-governmental organisations, businesses and have even become Members of Parliament.

The degree is also excellent preparation if you want to go on to further study or research in subjects including politics, government and international relations.

Whichever path you choose, our teaching staff have nationally-recognised expertise in developing student employability to help you promote yourself effectively in the competitive job market.

In addition to the University’s standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum grade BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification)
• GCSE English at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent)
• Mathematics GCSE is not required

Applicants with international qualifications and mature applicants are also welcome.

If you don’t have traditional qualifications or can’t meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the International Relations and Politics Extended Degree BA (Hons).

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.