Partner Details

Beaconhouse Group

Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Arts with Honours - BAH
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

DL-BDL-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

To understand the world we live in today, and to develop opinions and determine how we want to engage with the world, this programme provides students with a thorough understanding of international relations. Alongside this knowledge of the world, this programme develops the necessary transferable skills essential to succeeding in the work place. The programme supports these aims through a grounding of the subject alongside an in-depth research project and engagement with practitioners. The distinctive features of the programme are: Its core emphasis on the ability to reflect critically on the international system, the methods used by International Relations scholars and the subject’s function in society. The close relationship between research and teaching. Staff research outputs and analysis employed for learning and teaching, and students have direct experience of the work conducted at the frontiers of International Relations. Its commitment to internationalisation, in terms of the broad geographical and thematic range of modules. Within this context the aims of the programme are: To offer a balanced and coherent programme of study to students from varied backgrounds choosing International Relations and Politics. To provide students with a range of concepts, theories and methods used in the field of International Relations and Politics. To encourage critical engagement with the concepts, theories and methods in order to support the student’s own political development. To provide an intellectually challenging programme that develops knowledge and critical insight into the origins, evolution and contemporary dynamics of the international system, and the challenges to it. To support the student’s development of subject-specific and transferable skills within a practical and critical environment that progressively encourages increased responsibility for autonomous learning. To encourage students to engage with the development of employability skills.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of a range of concepts, theories and methods used in the field of International Relations and Politics.
2.
Reflect on their own learning and make constructive use of feedback
3.
Identify, investigate, analyse and advocate solutions to problems in the field of International Relations and Politics.
4.
Effectively and fluently communicate information in written and oral forms.
5.
Work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation, collaboration, and time management.
6.
Use communication and information technologies for the retrieval, analysis and presentation of information.
7.
Work in a flexible and independent way, showing self-discipline and reflexivity.
8.
Plan and implement tasks in a professional manner.
9.
Develop independent judgements on issues and topics examined
10.
Retrieve and generate information, and critically evaluate sources, in carrying out independent research.
11.
Communicate ideas clearly, deliver work to a given length, format, brief and deadline, properly referencing sources and ideas and adapting a problem-solving approach.
12.
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the origins, evolution and contemporary dynamics of the international system and the challenges to it.
13.
Critically analyse issues and topics using appropriate methodological methods.
14.
Present material with fluency, clarity and reasoned argument.
15.
Competently use communication and information technologies.
16.
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of world political events and issues.
17.
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of different political systems; the nature and distribution of power in them; the social, economic, historical and cultural contexts within which they operate; and the relationships between them in order to better understand the relations between multiple polities in the international system.
18.
Critically reflect on the nature and significance of politics as a human activity, and the political significance of multiple polities coexisting and of political boundary drawing and transforming practices.
19.
Describe, evaluate and apply, as well as engage critically with a range of concepts, theories and methods relating to the field of International Relations and Politics, including the analysis of political ideas, institutions, practices and issues regarding the international system.
20.
In employing the different concepts, theories and methods learned, examine and evaluate different interpretations of world political events and issues.
21.
Locate, gather and critically analyse evidence from relevant sources.
22.
Conduct detailed research, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement in order to develop reasoned arguments in written and oral forms.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The programme follows a three-stage progression through L4, L5 and L6. Via core modules at L4, students will be introduced to a variety of conceptual, theoretical and methodological issues. They aim, through a varied assessment matrix, to develop the key skills and practices necessary for them to advance at Levels 5 and 6. Including for example, developing the ability to understand a range of appropriate concepts, theories and methods used in the field of International Relations and Politics, work independently and in a group, understand how to use sources and critically analyse them, and be able to understand relevant texts. Level 5 is a bridge between Level 4 and 6 as it builds on the subject-specific, intellectual and transferable skills developed in the first year and prepares students for their final year. In line with the QAA subject benchmark statement for Politics and International Relations (December 2019), students will further develop understanding of the various concepts, theories and methods used alongside real world events and issues by offering a broad range of modules. Level 6 is the culmination of the International Relations and Politics degree at which point students, building upon their independent learning and research skills developed at Levels 4 and 5 take increasingly more responsibility for their learning. Driven by the research knowledge and output of the academics, the optional modules in Level 6 enable students to develop a high degree of specialisation in their chosen topics. Students at Level 6 also utilise the research and independent learner skills developed in Levels 4 and 5 to pursue an original and independent research project in International Relations and Politics in a yearlong module. In acknowledging that International Relations and Politics 'reach[es] out to out to other subjects such as anthropology, cultural studies, economics, sociology, geography, history, languages, law, literature, international development, philosophy, marketing and media, this  programme has co-validated a number of modules from other subjects including, in particular History, MCC, Sociology and Law (QAA Politics and International Relations benchmark statement 2019, p. 4).  The programme has an integrated teaching, learning and assessment strategy. The assessment strategy is underpinned by appropriate learning and teaching strategies which are relevant and provide a structured set of learning opportunities enabling achievement, of individual module, and programme level, learning outcomes. Please see Curriculum Map for specific details. Critical awareness is achieved through interactive lectures, workshops, case studies, presentations by experts, student presentations, fieldtrips, seminar and group discussions, and individual reading and research. A blended learning approach will be adopted on the programme with resources to support learning provided via the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). International Relations and Politics students will be encouraged to engage in both primary and secondary research, and through the networking events and field trips talk to practitioners and experts about their experiences and research. Active learning in a constantly changing world provides an opportunity for reflection and critical literacy. Lectures will act as a guide to the area of study and will focus on conceptual frameworks, areas or case studies. In workshops and seminars students will be expected to work both collegially and independently. These small group settings are intended to be interactive and group activities will be a significant part of student-led and defined discussion. Students will be provided with opportunities to strengthen their presentation skills and communicate within an academic community in a professional manner. They will be supported throughout the programme to formulate ideas and responses to past and current debates and research so that they can develop an advanced understanding.

Opportunities for work related learning

All LJMU undergraduate programs are required to incorporate into a L4 module an assessment item of the submission of a personal Self Awareness Statement; this is administered through the Being Politically Engaged module. Students have the opportunity to choose from work-based/related/transferrable skills modules at L5 and L6, while the programme’s PDP system provides opportunities for students to reflect on and document their achievements inside and outside of university and think about future career paths.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

Students must take 120 credits of International Relations and Politics modules at each level of the programme (Levels, 4, 5 and 6). Each level of programme will normally be completed in one academic year. There are two module types: core and optional. Modules are all of 20 credits, apart from … For more content click the Read More button below.

Structure

Entry Requirements

A levels
Alternative qualifications considered
BTECs
International Baccalaureate
Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH15-03) politics
(CAH15-03) politics