Course Catalogue

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, engagement with practitioners, a range of work-based learning opportunities and an optional study abroad, or work placement in an international relations-related organisation. The distinctive and domestic politics features of the programme are: Its core emphasis on the ability to reflect critically on the international system, the methods used by International Relations and Politics 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 and Politics. Its commitment to internationalisation, in terms of the broad geographical and thematic range of modules but also the opportunity to engage in a year-long work placement or study abroad with partner institutions for one to two semesters, alongside field trips to relevant places. 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 also interrogate a range of issues and themes related to the domestic identity of states. 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 engaging with a range of work related activities throughout the duration of the programme.

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 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 Level 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 (February 2023), 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. 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 and programme level learning outcomes. Critical awareness is achieved through interactive lectures, workshops, case studies, presentations by experts, student presentations, fieldtrips, seminar and group discussions, internships (where available), and study abroad (where applicable), and individual reading and research. A blended learning approach will be adopted on the programme with resources to support learning provided via Canvas (VLE). The development of transferable skills is a core aim of the programme, with the study of International Relations and Politics enabling students to apply their knowledge and aptitude in a variety of employability settings. The relationship between formative and summative assessment enables tutors to provide feedback which will support students in their development and enable them to make the most of their academic potential. Students are required to consider different means of communicating their research findings, formulate their response to critical issues and contemporary and past debates, and evaluate contemporary trends across a range of different types of assessment. Attention is paid to those students with needs (SENDA compliant) and alternative assignments will be given if required. We are also introducing alternative assessments in some modules in order to be fully inclusive from the outset. Students will be allocated a personal tutor in L4 that they will retain over degree.  All assessments encourage students to develop their communication skills and to present arguments and ideas with precision and clarity. The extent to which students have developed these skills will be assessed through a variety of formative and summative assessment including. Specific details of these can be found in the module guides. Achievement of good time management and organisational skills is demonstrated by students completing work on time to a satisfactory standard. The programme and individual modules will utilise Canvas, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and students will need to use it.

Employability skills development and articulation of what students learn on the programme and how they relate to the workplace are integral to the design of the programme. 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. We have also incorporated group-based projects at L5 and L6 for all students and developed a L5 Teaching Politics module, offering the students an opportunity to teach at College and Secondary School. 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 their achievements inside and outside of university and think about future career paths.