BA (Hons)
Political Science
Degree Programme

Core courses

• INTR 4101 Introduction to International Relations

  This course introduces students to both the study of International Relations (IR) and key issues in contemporary global politics. Conflict, cooperation, and power are unpacked and addressed while the course introduces and reflects on the fundamental approaches, concepts, and theo-ries used in the discipline. Issues to which these are applied then include migration, the rela-tionship between humans and the environment, terrorism, security, and disinformation. Throughout, different actors, institutions and ideas are engaged with as the course assesses con-temporary global politics through an array of contemporary case studies.

• POLS 4101 Rich World, Poor World

  Rich World, Poor World provides students with an introduction to development studies, seeking to explain both the existence of and persistence of a Poor World in the context of the international order. The course addresses numerous issues as they affect the Poor World, and studies relations both within and between Poor World and Rich World. Theories of development are reflected upon along with the legacies of colonialism, and a range of other social, political and economic themes in development studies.

• POLS 4102 Modern Political Thought

  This course provides students with an introduction to modern political thought as it developed in the Western World. It critically examines concepts at the core of political life, including freedom, equality, power, difference, and the state. The origins of political ideologies are dis-covered and explored through the study of major authoritarian, liberal, radical and conservative political thinkers from the C15th onwards, such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Marx, J.S. Mill, and Nietzsche.

Complete L4 Academic Literacies required course:

• LIBA 4301 Academic Research and Writing (Required)

  This course is designed to develop students’ critical research and writing skills to be effec-tive in the academic and professional world. It focuses on principles of good scholarship and academic practice that will be required throughout university study and in a future profes-sional work environment. These skills are enhanced throughout the course. Upon comple-tion of this course, successful students will become confident in using available resources to produce well-researched writing that demonstrates critical engagement with a self-selected research topic.

Complete L4 Arts/Humanities required course:

• HIST 4102 The Global Cold War (Required)

  This course introduces students to the major events and themes of the Cold War, demon-strating how it shaped the modern world system. In addition to providing students with a foundational understanding of the major themes and events of the Cold War, this course explores the interpretive controversies surrounding them. Students are encouraged to en-gage with the changing historiography of the multifaceted, multi-polar Cold War from a variety of challenging perspectives, with particular emphasis given to its global context. Students will examine the period in the light of changing historiographical interpretations and with reference to its economic, cultural, ideological, military, political and social di-mensions.

Complete L4 Social/Behavioural Science required course:

• ECON 4101 Introduction to Economics and Finance (Required)

  This module provides students with an introduction to various economic and financial con-cepts, demonstrating how these can be applied to better comprehend the world around them. It enhances students' understanding of the external factors that influence businesses, as well as financial aspects that are significant within a business context. It starts with an understanding of economic thought and development, and it expands on modern economic and financial issues the firms face. It is a solid foundation course for the basic ideas and applications of economics and finance.

Complete L4 Data/Numeracy required course:

• MATH 4101 Probability and Statistics (Required)

  This course in probability and statistics includes theoretical and applied approaches which are primarily designed for business, data science, social science and psychology majors. The course coverage will include: descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory, random variables and expectations, discrete probability distributions (Binomial and Poisson distribu-tions), continuous probability distribution (Normal distribution), sampling distributions, es-timation and hypothesis testing about the mean and proportions of up to two populations, Chi-square tests, One-way ANOVA and F Distribution, linear, multiple and non-linear re-gression and Non-parametric methods. SPSS lab sessions will be included targeting appli-cations of statistical concepts to business, data science, social science and psychology. All practical work will be produced using SPSS statistical software.

Choose one L4 Science course from the following:

• ENVR 4101 Earth System Science

  This course introduces the major concepts studied in Earth System Science, addressing the Earth’s origins and evolution as an active planet within the solar system. The fundamental pro-cesses and interrelationships between the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere and lithosphere are investigated to serve as a basis for understanding natural systems, particularly near or at the Earth’s surface, and the ways in which human activities impact those systems. There is mounting concern about global warming, biodiversity, energy and sustainable development, all of which if not governed poses a threat to the delicate balance of the Earth system. Thus the need to un-derstand the Earth as an interrelated system is more so than ever before.

• ENVR 4102 Ecology and Conservation

  This course provides an examination of the principles of ecology and their application to con-servation. Students will explore the complex relationships between organisms and their envi-ronments, including population dynamics, species interactions, ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural/anthropogenic causes of species’ decline and extinction. The course covers key topics such as habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, and conservation strategies at lo-cal, regional, and global scales. Special emphasis is placed on understanding and addressing the threats to biodiversity and developing practical solutions for conservation. Through case studies students will gain the skills necessary to critically evaluate conservation challenges and design effective conservation strategies.

• ENVR 4103 Introduction to Environmental Science

  This course covers environmental science topics such as global warming/climate change, ozone depletion, acid rain, pollution, population issues, energy issues, land and water issues, and an introduction to environmental ethics. All topics are addressed from scientific, economic, polit-ico-sociological and ethical standpoints. An awareness and appreciation of global, local, and personal environmental problems are developed, together with the implications of possible solutions. The concept of interrelatedness is a unifying theme throughout the course. Students are encouraged to become aware of/develop an understanding of their own environmental identity.

Core courses

• POLS 5102 British Politics: Inside Parliament

  This course will introduce students to the main political institutions in the United Kingdom (the monarchy, the executive, parliament, political parties and electoral systems) and to important debates in contemporary British society, such as constitutional reform, the political impact of Brexit and Britain’s role in international affairs, the power of the media, gender debates and the political management of ethnic and cultural diversity. The class combines theoretical, em-pirical, and active-learning approaches (the course includes visits to political institutions like Parliament and the Supreme Court provided they are accessible at the time the course runs). The course is co-taught with a Member of Parliament. Some of the sessions led by the MP take place in the parliamentary estate.

• POLS 5103 Capitalism and its Critics

  This course examines the historical development of thought about capitalism. Liberal, mer-cantilist and radical political economy in the 18th and 19th centuries is covered, along with a range of 20th century scholars, such as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, J.M. Keynes and Joseph Schumpeter. The object of study in the course is theories of capitalism, and addressed themes include the nature of market society, the relationship between state and market, economic growth and economic crises, market failure and government failure. These themes enable the course to engage with the relations between capitalism and other sys-tems such as democracy, fascism, communism, racism, anti-Semitism, slavery and patriar-chy.

• POLS 5101 Democracy and Its Enemies

  This course analyses the rise of democracy as an idea and as a practice using both theoretical and historical approaches, and processes of democratization in both theoretical and empirical terms. The course aims to provide an introduction to the central models of democracy (i.e. classical democracy, liberal democracy, deliberative democracy and cosmopolitan democracy). Students are then enabled to analyse problems associated with the practice of liberal democra-cy, namely political engagement, the relationship between capitalism and democracy, the ad-vent of post-democracy, the rise of populism and anti-democratic ideas. Finally, the course ex-amines the practices of democracy and experiences with democratisation in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

• INTR 5103 Globalisation, Development and Environment

  This course addresses the complex interactions between the phenomenon of globalization and both environmental concerns and objectives for international development. The concept of globalization and the history of this phenomenon are interrogated, along with the political, economic, ideological, and social dilemmas associated with environmental issues. The theory, strategy and methods of global development are addressed in this context, while engaging with a range of relevant global actors and institutions.

Complete L5 Research Methods required course:

• POLS 5301 Research Methods in Political Science (Required)

  Introduces students to research methodology, key research methods, and research practices used in the discipline of Political Science, with an emphasis on qualitative methods. Students will learn research skills that translate directly into the workplace, including in NGOs, charities, the corporate sector, and intergovernmental and development agency contexts. This course also trains students for practically undertaking academic research such as that required to com-plete a dissertation. Students are prepared to carry out a range of methods (i.e. textual and vis-ual analysis, interviews, focus groups, and ethnography) and learn principles of data collection and analysis. Writing research proposals and literature reviews, and pitching research are both taught and assessed, and students are introduced to widely used and newer creative and partic-ipatory modes of research.

Complete L5 Service-Learning required course:

• LIBA 5301 Service Learning: Global Citizenship and Migration (Required)

  This course helps students make a real difference in the world. Service Learning as experiential learning combines community service with academic study. This course will apply service-learning to the theoretical, political and sociological conceptions of citizenship and their limitations. Students will work on live projects and challenges to ad-dress real-world issues and critically reflect on their role as agents in communities and as legal and social citizens. Skills will be gained from working on a project with charities, NGOs, or non-profit organisations on citizenship concepts which will enable the student to critically reflect through service-learning. This course builds professional, entrepreneurial and personal skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders. This course is underpinned by JEDI approaches to justice, equality, diversity and inclusion across the global community.

Plus two Level 5 electives from across the curriculum.

These electives can be selected to support a minor in an area outside of your subject discipline.

Core courses

• POLS 6101 Policy-Making in a Globalised World

  This course investigates the process of policymaking in modern states. It explores the role of ideas and institutions in policymaking, how in the new globalized world governments “import” and “borrow” policy ideas from each other, while analyzing how the different ac-tors (i.e. states, bureaucrats, think-tanks, policy-networks, lobby groups, global civil society, and citizens) participate and influence the policy-making process. Through active learning activities (such as mapping the agenda-setting of ideas, identifying policy networks, advis-ing a President) students will understand the complexities of policy-making and the chal-lenges that the modern state faces in the era of globalization.

• POLS 6102 Sustainable Development

  This course introduces students to the process of development project evaluation, in the context of the theory and practice of sustainable development. The course enables students to focus on the political, social and economic complexity of managing a specific sustainable development in the developing world. Methods of evaluation are explored, decided upon and utilised in the production of a Project Evaluation Document (PED) for a sustainable de-velopment project of choice. Issues such as livelihoods, gender, environmental impact, measurement, participation and consultation processes are raised, though the context var-ies across urban/rural and blue-green-brown issues depending on the specific project cho-sen for evaluation.

• HIST 6101 Cultures of Empire

  This course examines the causes and consequences of empires from a broad range of com-parative and international perspectives, including the economic, political, social, and (by way of postcolonial theory) the cultural. It investigates why empires are significant, who are the empire-makers, how and why empires rise and fall, whether they are good or bad, how they are defined, and how they can be resisted. Where possible the course will make use of some of the excellent museums and collections within London.

• POLS 6110 Senior Dissertation in Political Science

  Senior Dissertation in Political Science is the capstone course of the major. Students produce a dissertation of between 6,000 to 8,000 words in length, on a topic relevant to the discipline. Students are guided through the various stages of the dissertation by a supervisor. Students orally present their research according to conference standards.

EITHER:

• POLS 6401 Internship in Political Science

  The Internship in Political Science is a student work placement that aims to provide students with the experience of working in a discipline-related industry. It provides students with an experiential learning opportunity in which to develop intellectual, professional, and personal skills and prepares students to function effectively in culturally diverse working environments across a range of career paths and employment sectors. Internships are supervised by faculty and each student will also complete a series of learning activities throughout the internship. These activities are designed to help students reflect on personal development and key skills attained, the benefits gained from the internship experience, and to shape and determine goals for future career pathways.

OR choose TWO of the following Major Options:

• COMM 6101 Contemporary Issues in Global Media

  This course examines current media issues in relation to cultural, social, economic, and political aspects of global society. It views media as a key player in public culture and democracy, ex-ploring how its role as vital source of entertainment and information is impacted by an evolving technological landscape, and by new challenges posed, such as sustainability and promotion of equality, inclusivity, and diversity, within the global village. It looks at media practices and pro-fessionals, considering the impact of celebrity politics and influencers on the media environ-ment, while also addressing the relationship between the public, government, and media insti-tutions, as it discusses ethics, law, and regulation. Ultimately, it seeks to consider the place of media in achieving a sustainable and just world.

• CRIM 6101 Counter-Extremism and Counter-Terrorism

  This course explores some of the main national and international efforts to counter terror-ism, extremism and transnational crime. We examine types of terrorism and extremism and the theories and strategies underpinning state responses. We explore the phenomenon of transnational organised crime and consider where it intersects with terrorism and ex-tremism. We discuss these phenomena from the perspectives of victims and perpetrators, processes of violent radicalisation, typologies of terror, and the strengths and weaknesses of strategies to counter and/or limit terrorism and extremism, including de-radicalisation. We also consider the capacity of institutions and international cooperations to thwart and restrict transnational crime, and explore the intersections between traffick-ing, terrorism and the commission of atrocities.

• ECON 6102 Public Economics

  This is a course in theoretical and applied public economics using microeconomic theory. The course addresses the theoretical analysis of market failure, public finance, taxation and ex-penditure systems in modern economies and discusses philosophical issues of economic wel-fare. Inequality, social mobility, and welfare frameworks are part of this course.

• HIST 6102 Warfare, Gender and Society

  Narratives about war have traditionally been centred on men’s roles, while women have often been cast as passive bystanders or victims. This course will challenge that view by exploring the active participation of women in wars, decolonisation, civil conflicts, and ter-rorist campaigns, both as combatants and civilian supporters. This course explores the changing nature and history of warfare from the Modern period to the beginning of the twentieth-first century, focusing on the social, cultural, and gendered dimensions of con-flict. A key premise of the course is that warfare reflects the societies and cultures that wage it. This idea will be tested through diverse examples of warfare across different his-torical periods, geographic regions, and social contexts, investigating how war has shaped—and been shaped by—societal structures, technology, gender relations, and politi-cal developments.

• BUSM 6102 Project Management Skills and Methods

  This module provides a comprehensive overview of programme management principles, processes, and techniques. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to ef-fectively manage complex programmes within a variety of organizational contexts. Con-temporary project management methods will be explored. The module emphasizes the strategic alignment of programmes with organizational objectives and the importance of stakeholder engagement, risk management, and benefits realization. Furthermore, it ex-plores a range of programme management methodologies, equipping students with the ability to select and apply the most appropriate approach for diverse project scenarios.

• INTR 6101 Diplomatic Studies

  This course offers an overview of the history and practice of contemporary diplomacy. It be-gins with analysis of what a modern diplomat currently does, both at home and abroad, set within the context of diplomatic history and theory. The normal practice of diplomacy and the various techniques of international negotiation will be addressed by using both histori-cal and contemporary examples. It will familiarize students with the activities of a modern diplomat within a wider historical and theoretical context.

• INTR 6102 Rethinking International Relations

  This course provides students with a set of conceptual and analytical tools in order to ac-quire a deep and nuanced understanding of the discipline of International Relations (IR) and global politics. It does so by examining IR theories and approaches to international politics, scrutinizing and problematizing their historic foundations, and exploring contemporary chal-lenges and critiques. The course begins by introducing philosophical debates regarding the purpose of theorizing and the importance of understanding ontological and epistemological assumptions and examines the difference between and implications of ‘understanding’ and ‘explaining’ in international relations theory. The course then critically evaluates grand and middle range theories of IR as well as approaches focused on everyday global politics. Throughout, the course scrutinizes challenges presented by a multitude of multidisciplinary interventions into IR including post-positivist critiques and approaches centralizing gender and colonialism as key variables in global politics.

Plus one elective of your choice, which may support a minor.