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PgCert Geopolitics

Academic Year 2021/22

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

PgCert Geopolitics

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

Postgraduate Certificate

Programme Code

POL-PC-GE

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

100668

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Part Time or Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

Part Time - 3 Academic Year(s)
Full Time - 1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

60

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

N/A

Accreditations (PSRB)

REGULATION INFORMATION

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

No

Programme Specific Regulations

This programme follows the University's Regulations.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

The overall aim of the programme is to provide students with a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of contemporary geopolitical issues by developing the knowledge and skills necessary to engaging the intersections of space, power and politics. This is particularly important in relation to pursuing careers in all sectors of government, NGOs, regional and international organisations, media, and many other fields.

In particular the programme will:
1) Provide advanced conceptual and analytic skills needed to engage the intersections of space, power and politics in a range of historic and contemporary issues.
2) Encourage students to develop a critical and analytical approach to problems shaping environments, places and landscapes; to challenge accepted wisdom about the role of spatiality in relation to political power in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
3) Enable students to engage with advanced research and analysis that registers the everyday and global geographies of power at work in a range of issues.
4) Enhance students transferable and intellectual skills and employability skills through independent learning and the pursuit of originality in tackling and solving problems.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

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

retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire cognitive skills on all their taught modules through preparatory work and engagement in seminar debate and discussion.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

comprehend and be able to deploy qualitative and quantitative research design

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Engaged particularly in the Research methods module (HAP7001) and integrated in other modules.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

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

Demonstrate an appropriate familiarity with the range of key thinkers in the field of Geopolitics

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

All core modules would expose students to an extensive study of the leading thinkers in Geopolitics and students would be asked to demonstrate their understanding of this scholarship in their independent research.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Demonstrate an awareness of different methodological approaches, and a conceptual grasp of current research and advances of scholarship in the study of Geopolitics

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will be taught a wide range of research methods in the field and would need to identify, critically evaluate and apply a range of methodologies

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Demonstrate an appropriate awareness of theoretical debates, and an appreciation of analytical frameworks and historical evolution of the area

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

In their taught modules particular emphasis would be given to the study of theory. Students would then be required to reflect on their own theoretical approaches in their independent study.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Demonstrate comprehensive and systematic knowledge and understanding of the key issues in the study of Geopolitics

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students would be exposed to these issues through their study of the scholarship in this field. Their selection and development of an independent research would allow them to demonstrate and be assessed on their understanding of such issues.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

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

Show evidence of understanding of the range of methodological approaches available to engage geopolitical issues; and be able to select appropriate techniques relative to overall research design.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire subject-specific skills (e.g. critical reasoning, identifying and solving problems) through participation in group seminars where they will engage in debate, discussion and listening, and in their assessments.
The modules will tap their ability to engage with key debates in the philosophy of social science and humanities, their ability to elaborate and critique a variety of social science and humanities research designs, their ability to communicate effectively the merits and demerits of qualitative and quantitative research and also to demonstrate an application of their knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to real world geopolitical issues and problems.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Locate political problems in particular spatial contexts and critically reflect on their production and possibilities for intervention.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire subject-specific skills (e.g. critical reasoning, identifying and solving problems) through participation in group seminars where they will engage in debate, discussion and listening, and in their assessments.
The modules will tap their ability to engage with key debates in the philosophy of social science and humanities, their ability to elaborate and critique a variety of social science and humanities research designs, their ability to communicate effectively the merits and demerits of qualitative and quantitative research and also to demonstrate an application of their knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to real world geopolitical issues and problems.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

To apply conceptually informed forms of analysis to contemporary geopolitical problems and identify their practical political implications.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire subject-specific skills (e.g. critical reasoning, identifying and solving problems) through participation in group seminars where they will engage in debate, discussion and listening, and in their assessments.
The modules will tap their ability to engage with key debates in the philosophy of social science and humanities, their ability to elaborate and critique a variety of social science and humanities research designs, their ability to communicate effectively the merits and demerits of qualitative and quantitative research and also to demonstrate an application of their knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to real world geopolitical issues and problems.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

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

Constructively and critically engage the work of others

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Class discussions and debates and their independent preparation and coursework will develop skills in constructively and critically engaging the work of others, as well as self-reflection on their own work.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Find, analyse, synthesis and evaluate information from a range of different sources.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Through independent study and class preparations, peer engagement in class.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Work independently and in groups

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their independent study (e.g. writing a dissertation; module coursework) will require working to deadlines, effective written communication, locating, sifting and prioritizing information, and time management. Seminars will include collaborative working and discussion.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Problem Solving

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their experience in applying qualitative and quantitative approaches to real world political puzzles will be of invaluable use for them - either in further research or in their careers - when they conduct research into any social phenomenon.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Communication Skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will be able to structure and communicate their ideas effectively both in oral and written form; through participation in all class activities and completion of the coursework.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

Global Terrorism

PAI7007

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

The Politics and Institutions of Northern Ireland

PAI7021

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

The Politics of the Republic of Ireland

PAI7022

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Conflict Intervention

PAI7027

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

International Political Economy

PAI7030

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Gender and Politics

PAI7032

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Philosophy of Conflict and War

PHL7038

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Energy Transitions

PAI7036

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Ethnic conflict and consensus

PAI7050

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Contemporary Security

PAI7051

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Democratic Challenges

PAI7098

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Engaging citizens in democratic institutions

PAI7100

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

90%

10%

0%

APPROACHES TO RESEARCH DESIGN

HAP7001

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Conflict Mediation and Transformation

CSJ7008

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Theories in Comparative Politics

PAI7038

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

90%

10%

0%

Gender, Peace and Security

PAI7039

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

90%

10%

0%

Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond

ANT7023

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

80%

20%

0%

Critical Geopolitics

GGY7001

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Geo-power: States, Sovereignty, Territory

GGY7002

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Culture and the Geopolitics of the Everyday

GGY7003

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Social Injustice

PHL7057

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Notes

Students must take 60 credits (3 MODULES)