BA(Hons) Politics and International Relations Programme Specification from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (subject to departmental ratification) Version: 2015/6.1 Last updated: August 2015
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION Key Facts 1. Study mode(s) and period of registration 2. Frequency of Intake Annually in September Full-time or part-time Minimum 3 years maximum 6 years (full-time) Minimum 4 years maximum 10 years (part-time) 3. Awarding body Liverpool Hope University 4. Teaching location(s) Hope Park or Creative Campus or NOH location 5. Final award(s), including any interim awards 6. Relationship with Subject Benchmark Statement BA Politics and International Relations; Diploma HE (240 credits, achieved by successfully completing two full years of study); Certificate HE (120 credits, achieved by successfully completing one full year of study) 1 The benchmark for BA Politics & International Relations 2007 (the national expectations of what a good degree in this subject should contain) has been fully used in the development of this provision. See below for more. 7. FHEQ level(s) 4, 5 6 (first, second and third year at University) 8. Date of initial validation 2012 9. Date of first intake 2012 10. Date of last Review (if 2013 applicable) 11. Additional Costs to Students 200 purchase of key texts ( estimate) Optional field trips in Britain and Europe to evaluate political institutions and operations; costs vary but will be clearly set out in the planning 12. Professional Statutory or Regulatory Body (PSRB)(s) (if applicable) with date/outcome of last PSRB approval Relationship to Subject Benchmark Statement stages of any such activity. n.a. The appropriate benchmark statement is that for Politics and International Relations 1 Note that interim awards are only given if for some reason students end their studies without completing the full degree.
(2007). It has been fully used in the design of the programme. Note that this programme was created from two separate Majors, each of which still continues in its own right. Teaching is thus combined for the Politics part of the programme Single Honours students will study alongside those taking the Politics Major in conjunction with other majors, and likewise for International Relations. This shared experience is regarded as beneficial to all concerned. Aims and Learning Outcomes PROGRAMME AIMS: The programme aims to provide student with: 1. Opportunities to develop their theoretical, conceptual and practical understanding of Politics and International Relations by means of critical engagement with a range of appropriate texts and through guided and independent study 2. Opportunities to develop a range of academic skills which will enable them to communicate their understanding of: political questions of history, theory and identity the importance and impact of politics in the contemporary world local, national and international political movements and trends the historical evolution of political movements and ideas and the relationship between politics and other aspects of humanities and social sciences 3. Opportunities to build up a detailed knowledge and understanding of political issues drawn from a range of sub-disciplines. 4. Knowledge and understanding in appropriate areas of theory and analysis in Politics and International Relations 5. Critical awareness of the concepts, approaches and methods associated with International Relations and a developed understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline 6. Theoretical and empirical knowledge and understanding to a point that each student can relate, with sophistication and confidence, the academic study of Politics and International relations to questions of public concern 7. Capacity to think critically and independently about events, ideas and institutions 8. The ability to develop and conduct structured analysis which places political and international 9. order A range and of decision-making cognitive and social at the skills centre relevant of analysis to their intellectual, vocational and personal development LEARNING OUTCOMES for this provision These are stated according to the learning outcomes for each of the two majors.
By the end of this year all students on Politics Major and Politics and IR Single Honours should be able to: Year One understand key concepts in Politics - Lo1 present a basic critical analysis of textual and nontextual political material Lo2 understand the relationship between political theory and the practical application of politics Lo3 Year Two possess and use a developed critical vocabulary to enhance political analysis Lo1 engage in critical and in-depth analysis of political theory and argument Lo2 assess the engagement of politics with local, national and international issues Lo3 conduct comparative political analysis Lo4 show that they have acquired transferable skills, such as, independent enquiry, formulating questions and bringing together ideas from different academic disciplines Lo5 Year Three critically analyse political theory and the practical application of politics Lo1 argue confidently and with sophisticated insight when exploring political issues Lo2 critique subtle variations in political ideologies Lo3 undertake Honours-level primary and secondary academic research and present sustained arguments independently Lo4 display a high level of transferable skills in written and, when appropriate, oral communication Lo5 show a sophisticated awareness of the breadth and depth involved in political analysis Lo6 By the end of this year all students on the International Relations Major and Politics and IR Single Honours should be able to: Year One Year Two 1 Display introductory-level fluency in traditional and contemporary theories of International 2 Relate essentials Relations. of theory Lo1 to empirical occurrences in International Relations 3 Display growth Lo2 personal development/communicative skills through oral presentation 1 Demonstrate and developing written work. appreciation Lo3 of reflective theories and, thus, essential issues in epistemology and ontology in the theoretical development of International Relations (e.g. the contested nature of knowledge, hegemonic
Year Three narratives). Lo1 2 With greater nuance analyse advantages and pitfalls in selected methodological approaches and, in so doing, relate the challenges of where and 3 Display wider theoretical range using a more nuanced academic vocabulary and adherence to analytical structure in textual and oral communication - when evaluating both theoretical and empirical 1 Critically evaluate positivistic and post-positivistic theories and approaches to 2 Evaluate with confidence and fluency either: 1. contemporary problems in the policy making, management and analysis of peace and security, from discursive or other perspectives; 2. emerging evidence of interconnectivity between contemporary economic collapse and political conflict, 3 Conduct a research project in International Relations or one of its subfields which, as a key honours assessment, successfully underpins empirical Teaching and assessments The normal pattern of teaching is that lectures, where all students are taught together, provide six hours of contact time in the first year, and four in subsequent years; seminars, in smaller groups (typically 15-20) provide four hours per week, and tutorials (smaller groups, typically no more then 10) two separate hours, in all years. In addition tutors are available every week at designated times for one-to-one discussions. Assessments, as is usual in Humanities subjects, include a number of essays, for which guidance is given in seminars and tutorials. Formal written examinations take place at the end of each year. Curriculum The subjects studied on the IR Major and by the Politics and IR Single Honours students are : Level C Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Key concepts in the study of Seminar 2 International Relations Weekly International Relations Briefing: Lecturers guide students through contemporary empirical developments. May include guest speakers & field trips Level I Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Debating New Agendas in International Relations Seminar 2 Explorations in the Philosophy and Methods of International Relations (
Level H Two seminar strands, students take both Security, Peace & Conflict Studies: contemporary approaches Economic crisis and political conflict Those studied on the Politics major, and by the Politics and IR Single Honours students, are: Level C Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Political Institutions Seminar 2 Political Actors Level I Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Explorations in Indic Traditions Seminar 2 Contemporary Religious Ethics Level H Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Presidency and American politics Seminar 2 Britain and the World Further Information Development of Key Generic (transferable) and Subject-specific skills at each level. Level 4 (C) students will be able to: Demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of key concepts in both Politics and International Relations theory Present a basic critical analysis of textual or non-textual material relating to case studies examined in this course Demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between International Relations theory and its application in political and historical environments Understand the key functions and duties of selected political and international organizations Understand areas of contemporary debate on globalization and International Relations Display competence when presenting ideas in written and oral presentations Develop time management and organizational skills Develop basic presentation skills Level 5 (I) students will be able to: Further develop their ability to critically evaluate core issues in Politics and International Relations Demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the detail of Politics and International Relations theory Engage in critical analysis of historical issues in Politics and International Relations Demonstrate an understanding of the engagement of international issues with those in the state, regional and local environments Show that they have acquired transferable skills, such as, independent enquiry, formulating questions and bringing together ideas from different
academic disciplines Apply research to classroom discussion, essay writing and exam work Show a competence when addressing the components of undergraduate work, including meeting assignment deadlines, a satisfactory attendance, commitment to staff and other students, identification of areas for future study and development Demonstrate an ability to gather resources from a number of mediums, including those involving electronic means and material from electronic journals and archival sources Level 6 (H) students will be able to: Demonstrate a sophistication in understanding Politics and International Relations theory and its practical application to international issues Display an increased confidence when exploring Political and International Relations issues Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate conflicting issues and interpretations of debate in Politics and International Relations Understand subtle variations in historical interpretations of International Relations and appropriate political linkages Demonstrate a development in autonomous learning when undertaking academic research and presenting sustained arguments Display a high level of transferable skills in written and, when appropriate, oral communication Special Features of the programme Through the integration of the Politics major and the IR major the Politics and International Relations programme has the following special features which make it distinctive and appealing in the current academic market place: Politics and International Relations allows students the opportunity to examine issues through core teaching, and to address issues central to an understanding of the national and international political environment. Moreover, while conforming to best practice benchmarks, Politics and International Relations at Hope grants students the opportunity to look at and address issues beyond a tight political science remit; to look at issues from a historical, geographical and sociological perspective, including Peace and Conflict Studies. This gives an additional element of student choice and makes the programme distinctive and unique to Liverpool Hope. The Award will provide opportunities for fieldwork visits both within and outside the UK. The Department has much experience in organising and running fieldwork visits. Students graduating will have the opportunity to pursue postgraduate study in this subject area within the Department and in other comparable institutions. The Department maintains very productive links with National Museums Liverpool, providing rich resources for the study of historical and cultural aspects of this
subject. Liverpool Hope attracts international students from a number of countries, and continues to solidify its provision in this area. At present a number of taught elements of Politics and International Relations have international students on them. This enhances the international context of the programme and allows students to engage in debate and form friendships with students from other nations. As a programme that is research-led the Politics and International Relations programme is particularly advantaged both by the research specialties of its teaching team and by the siting within the Department of Politics, History, Media and Communication of the Centre for Applied Research in Security Innovation and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for the Study of War and Peace. As such the learning experience of each student is one that involves coming into contact with theoretical and applied research, at least some of which is, as both QAA Benchmarks and FHEQ framework encourage, at the leading edge. The two research centres bring about unique opportunities for students to engage and, indeed, network with major figures in the discipline and practice of International Relations. The Award will provide opportunities for fieldwork visits both within and outside the UK. The teaching team has much experience in organising and running fieldwork visits to locations of high relevance including the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the European institutions in Brussels. The multi-disciplinary nature of the department provides to the teaching team and to students rich opportunities for learning outside of the discipline and for cross pollination of perspectives. This can occur through guest lectures by colleagues from elsewhere in the University as well as in off-timetabled events. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS http://www.hope.ac.uk/undergraduate/howtoapply/entryrequirements gives full details. There are no special requirements. In certain circumstances the University also permits study that students have already carried out at University level to be taken into account see http://www.hope.ac.uk/aboutus/governance/qualityassurance/accreditationofpriorlearning / This specification last updated: August 2015 Updated by: