detail

BA International Studies and Politics

Academic Year 2017/18

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

BA International Studies and Politics

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Bachelor of Arts

Programme Code

INT-BA-JS

UCAS Code

L290

JACS Code

L200 (DESCR) 34

Criteria for Admissions

Entrance Requirements
A-level: ABB
Additional Relevant Information
For general information, see www.qub.ac.uk/pisp
•

ATAS Clearance Required

Health Check Required

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Joint Honours Single

Length of Programme

3 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

360

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Awarding Institution/Body

Queen's University Belfast

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level
www.qaa.ac.uk

Level 6

QAA Benchmark Group
www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

Politics and International Relations (2015)

Accreditations (PSRB)

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

Programme Specific Regulations

On completing Level I a Single Honours student in either International Studies or Politics who has completed 40 CATS at Level I in the other subject and has achieved an average mark across the 40 CATS of 60 or above may be admitted to this Joint Honours programme subject having obtained the approval of the advisor of studies of the subject in which they only have 40CATS.

A Single Honours student wishing to be admitted to the Joint Honours programme must have passed the following modules: PAI1001; PAI1006 OR PAI1007; PAI1009.

The admission requirement of ABB is waived provided students have achieved an average mark across the 40 CATS of 60 or above.

Students with protected characteristics

The School works with internship and placement providers and partner institutions to ensure that students with disabilities are able to complete residence abroad requirements.

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

• The Joint Honours Programme in International Studies and Politics provides students with an in depth, interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary politics, international affairs and conflict situations in their political, historical, cultural, economic and legal dimensions.

• Dedicated modules introduce students to core concepts and debates in International Relations and the study of conflict, as well as to the particular European experience of regional integration.

• Students will acquire familiarity with the experiences of differing national polities and societies, facilitating the development of culturally sensitive cross-national comparisons.

• The degree fosters an attitude of self-motivated and independent learning; equips students with a set of key, subject, employability and transferable skills; and encourages a professional attitude towards self-organisation.

• To provide students with the intellectual tools to reflect upon Politics both by theoretical explorations of the nature of politics and by comparisons with other societies

• To encourage, support and foster critical, independent and analytical thinking to enable students to come to their our understanding of politics;

• To foster an attitude of self-motivated and independent learning;

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides the opportunity for students to acquire and develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme will enable learners to develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Methods of Assessment

These general cognitive skills will be assessed by a variety of traditional and innovative methods including essays, exams, journals, portfolios, dissertations and presentations.

The learner will be able to solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will be introduced to problem solving and information processing strategies, as well as general methodological and theoretical approaches.

Methods of Assessment

These general cognitive skills will be assessed by a variety of traditional and innovative methods including essays, exams, journals, group-work, portfolios and tutorial contributions. A currently ongoing Academic Year Review process forms the basis for extending innovation in assessment, including the range and types of coursework elements offered, across modules on the programme.

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The modules within the programme are laid out to foster the development of the above cognitive skills, and are delivered through a variety of teaching methods including formal lectures, small group tutorials and seminars, many of which will be enhanced by learning aids such as power point presentations and hand-outs.

Methods of Assessment

At the end of the programme learners will have the capacity to be self reflexive and practice sound judgement and critical thinking.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will gain both skills and confidence through oral and written assignments, discussion groups and team tasks.

Methods of Assessment

The learner will understand the general methodological and theoretical approaches of the discipline as well as its basic history. This includes knowledge of its specific concepts, issues and vocabulary.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Self-reflection and evaluation will further enhance the critical thinking and sound judgement of the learner.

Methods of Assessment

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Learning methods to this effect include locating and organizing information, small group work and teamwork, tutorial participation, presentations, written assignments, debate and discussion.

Methods of Assessment

The programme fosters an attitude of self-motivated and independent learning; equips students with a set of key, subject, employability and transferable skills; and encourages a professional attitude towards self-organisation.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

While these teaching and assessment methods are intended to deliver information to the students and test their knowledge of that information, it is expected that students engage with knowledge on their own terms and develop the skills and confidence to independently process and understand that knowledge.

Methods of Assessment

Students will acquire familiarity with the experiences of differing national polities and societies, facilitating the development of culturally sensitive cross-national comparisons.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Learners will participate in teaching methods that include formal lectures, small group tutorials and seminars, many of which will be enhanced by learning aids such as power point presentations and hand-outs.

Methods of Assessment

Dedicated modules introduce students to core concepts and debates in International Relations, Security and Conflict as well as to particular experiences of regional areas.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

It helps them to build on their existing knowledge and understanding acquired at 2nd level education (or equivalent).

Methods of Assessment

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides students with an in depth and extensive interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary international affairs and conflict situations in their political, historical, cultural, economic and legal dimensions.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme enables learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding of International Relations and comparative Politics.

Methods of Assessment

Learners will be assessed by a variety of traditional and innovative means, including essays, exams, journals, portfolios, dissertations and presentations.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

At the end of the programme learners will have the capacity to be self reflexive and practice sound judgement and critical thinking.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Methods of Assessment

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics encourages learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding about specific areas in the discipline.

Methods of Assessment

The learner will be able to solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Learning methods to this effect include locating and organizing information, small group work and teamwork, tutorial participation, presentations, written assignments, debate and discussion.

Methods of Assessment

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides the opportunity for students to acquire and develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will gain both skills and confidence through oral and written assignments, discussion groups and team tasks.

Methods of Assessment

Upon completion of the program the learner will be well versed with the methodology, the historiography and the basic approaches to International Relations and Conflict Studies, and be able to communicate using the expert language of the subject.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Methods of Assessment

The programme will provide a firm understanding of comparative methods, theoretical models, political sociology and historical textual analysis.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will gain both skills and confidence through oral and written assignments, discussion groups and team tasks.

Methods of Assessment

The learner will acquire competency in areas such as the analysis of political decision-making, International History, International Security, and regional organizations areas such as the European Union.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Self-reflection and evaluation will further enhance the critical thinking and sound judgement of the learner.

Methods of Assessment

The programme will furthermore provide a firm grounding in approaches to the study the emerging structures of governance beyond the nation-state.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will be introduced to problem solving and information processing strategies, as well as general methodological and theoretical approaches.

Methods of Assessment

It will introduce the learner not only to the classic literature of the field, but to key debates in contemporary international relations theory, comparative politics and methodology.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The teaching methods used to embed this knowledge and understanding include formal lectures, small group tutorials and seminars, many of which will be enhanced by learning aids such as power point presentations and hand-outs.

Methods of Assessment

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides students with in depth and extensive knowledge of the generic skills of the subject.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics encourages learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding about specific areas in the discipline.

Methods of Assessment

The methods used to assess this knowledge include a variety of traditional and innovative methods including essays, exams, journals, portfolios, dissertations and presentations.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme enables learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding of International Relations and comparative Politics.

Methods of Assessment

Learners will be assessed by a variety of traditional and innovative means, including essays, exams, journals, portfolios, dissertations and presentations.

Dedicated modules introduce students to core concepts and debates in International Relations, Security and Conflict as well as to particular experiences of regional areas.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

It helps them to build on their existing knowledge and understanding acquired at 2nd level education (or equivalent).

Methods of Assessment

Students will acquire familiarity with the experiences of differing national polities and societies, facilitating the development of culturally sensitive cross-national comparisons.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Methods of Assessment

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Methods of Assessment

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Learning methods to this effect include locating and organizing information, small group work and teamwork, tutorial participation, presentations, written assignments, debate and discussion.

Methods of Assessment

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides students with the opportunity to acquire and develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills which will be beneficial in terms of employment or further study.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours programme enables learners to develop a broad portfolio of skills which will enhance their employability and/or provide them with a sound basis for progression to further research at postgraduate level (either MA or doctoral work) or elsewhere. The learner will develop skills in the following areas:

Methods of Assessment

Transferable skills will be assessed by a variety of traditional and innovative methods including essays, exams, journals, portfolios and presentations.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides the opportunity for students to acquire and develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will gain both skills and confidence through oral and written assignments, discussion groups and team tasks.

Methods of Assessment

The programme will provide a firm understanding of comparative methods, theoretical models, political sociology and historical textual analysis.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The learner will gain both skills and confidence through oral and written assignments, discussion groups and team tasks.

Methods of Assessment

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics encourages learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding about specific areas in the discipline.

Methods of Assessment

The programme will furthermore provide a firm grounding in approaches to the study the emerging structures of governance beyond the nation-state.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme will enable learners to develop generic analytical, reasoning, literacy and communication skills.

Methods of Assessment

It will introduce the learner not only to the classic literature of the field, but to key debates in contemporary international relations theory, comparative politics and methodology.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Methods of Assessment

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics programme provides students with in depth and extensive knowledge of the generic skills of the subject.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics encourages learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding about specific areas in the discipline.

Methods of Assessment

The methods used to assess this knowledge include a variety of traditional and innovative methods including essays, exams, journals, portfolios, dissertations and presentations.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The Joint Honours International Studies and Politics encourages learners to develop in depth and extensive knowledge and understanding about specific areas in the discipline.

Methods of Assessment

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

This broad portfolio of skills will be delivered through a variety of teaching methods including formal lectures, small group tutorials and seminars, many of which will be enhanced by learning aids such as power point presentations and hand-outs.

Methods of Assessment

Transferable skills will be assessed by a variety of traditional and innovative methods including essays, exams, journals, group-work, portfolios and tutorial contributions. A currently ongoing Academic Year Review process forms the basis for extending innovation in assessment, including the range and types of coursework elements offered, across modules on the programme.

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

and the ability to work independently.

Methods of Assessment

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

career management (including building a learning portfolio and developing a CV);

Methods of Assessment

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

time management skills (working to deadlines, prioritizing demands);

Methods of Assessment

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

IT skills (including powerpoint, use of the internet as a research tool, Queens Online);

Methods of Assessment

....

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

interpersonal skills (small group or team work activities, debate, discussion);

Methods of Assessment

At the end of the programme learners will have the capacity to be self reflexive and practice sound judgement, and will possess the necessary skills to enhance their ability to think critically, work in collaboration, demonstrate initiative, and use communication and information technology where appropriate.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

writing skills (note-taking, organizational skills, logical progression of argument, the ability to gather information from a wide range of both contemporary and archival sources, prioritizing information);

Methods of Assessment

The learner will be able to solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

communication (presentations, written assignments, teamwork);

Methods of Assessment

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title	Module Code	Level/ stage	Credits	Availability		Duration	Pre-requisite			Assessment
				S1	S2			Core	Option	Coursework %	Practical %	Examination %
Perspectives on Politics	PAI1007	1	20	YES		12 weeks	N	YES		90%	10%	0%
Comparative Politics	PAI1009	1	20		YES	12 weeks	N	YES		90%	10%	0%
Contemporary Europe	PAI1001	1	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
World Politics	PAI1006	1	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Issues in Contemporary Politics	PAI1003	1	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Politics and Policy of the European Union	PAI2001	2	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Modern Political Thought	PAI2005	2	20		YES	12 weeks	N	YES		90%	10%	0%
The Politics of Deeply Divided Societies	PAI2011	2	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Irish Politics	PAI2013	2	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	35%	10%	55%
International Relations	PAI2017	2	20	YES		12 weeks	N	YES		90%	10%	0%
Studying Politics	PAI2043	2	20	YES		12 weeks	N	YES		90%	10%	0%
American Politics	PAI2018	2	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Security and Terrorism	PAI2055	2	20		YES	12 weeks	N	YES		90%	10%	0%
International Organisations	PAI2056	2	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
British Politics in crisis?	PAI2002	2	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
The Politics of Irish Literature	PAI3005	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
		3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Contemporary Political Philosophy	PAI3025	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Internship	PAI3097	3	40	YES	YES	12 weeks	Y		YES	100%	0%	0%
Women and Politics	PAI3008	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Middle Eastern Politics	PAI3011	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Scotland and N Ireland: Points of Political Comparison	PAI3014	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	35%	10%	55%
Dissertation (Politics and International Studies)	PAI3099	3	40	YES	YES	24 weeks	Y		YES	100%	0%	0%
The Politics of Sustainable Development	PAI3026	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
European Cultural Identities	PAI3027	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	0%	10%
War and Visual Culture	PAI3044	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Ethics, Power and International Politics	PAI3057	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Political Parties and Elections in Northern Ireland	PAI3058	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
National and Ethnic Minorities in European Politics	PAI3059	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Northern Ireland: A Case Study	PAI3064	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	65%	0%	35%
Challenges to contemporary party politics	PAI3067	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Politics, Public Administration and Policy-Making	PAI3068	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
US Foreign Policy	PAI3038	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Arms Control	PAI3039	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Security and Technology	PAI3073	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	90%	10%	0%
Global Resource Politics	PAI3012	3	20		YES	12 weeks	N		YES	35%	10%	55%
The Placement	PAI3089	3	20	YES		12 weeks	N		YES	100%	0%	0%

Notes

Students are required to take 120 CATS of modules. Students planning to complete either PAI3099 Dissertation or PAI3097 Internship must take PAI2043 Studying Politics. Students must take the following core modules: PAI2017, PAI2055, PAI2005, PAI2043.

Students are required to take 120 CATS of modules. Students will take either: (a) PAI3097 Internship plus 80 CATS of modules from those listed below; (b) PAI3099 Dissertation plus 80CATS of modules from those listed below; or (c) 120 CATS of modules from those listed below

Students are required to take the following two core modules PAI1009 and PAI1007. Students must also chose two modules from the following three modules PAI1001, PAI1003, PAI1006. PLUS students take up to two other modules offered within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.