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Programme Specification
Awarding Body/Institution Queen Mary, University of London
Teaching Institution Queen Mary, University of London
Name of Final Award and Programme Title BA International Relations
Name of Interim Award(s)
Duration of Study / Period of Registration 3 Years FT
QM Programme Code / UCAS Code(s) L
QAA Benchmark Group Politics and International Relations
FHEQ Level of Award Level 6
Programme Accredited by na
Date Programme Specification Approved 17 Feb 2012
Responsible School / Institute School of Politics and International Relations
Schools which will also be involved in teaching part of the programme
Institution(s) other than Queen Mary that will provide some teaching for the programme
Programme Outline
The programme is designed to provide students with a strong grounding in International Relations, including international political theory, international security, international development and debates around globalisation. The programme is also designed to provide students with some grounding in the relationship between international and comparative politics, providing students with the opportunity to examine the international politics of specific regions. The programme is designed to provide students with a grounding in all key areas of international relations, especially at levels 4 and 5, but at the same time provide sufficient flexibility for students to specialise in particular topics, regions, and so on (especially at level 6 but also level 5). The programme is designed to help students develop a strong sense of intellectual integrity, acquire substantial knowledge in the broad fields of International Relations and apply these skills to wider situations.
Aims of the Programme To:
The programme aims to:
- Provide students with a coherent, wide-ranging and intellectually stimulating programme including themes and issues in
international relations, theories of international relations, international political economy, IR and security, development, nationalism and national identity, cosmopolitanism, and comparative politics including regional specialisms.
- Introduce students to, and encourage them to employ, a range of methodological approaches.
- Enable students to develop independent critical thinking and judgement and to undertake independent research tasks.
- Develop a range of skills necessary to the effective communication of ideas and arguments.
- Provide a basis for further study in International Relations or related disciplines.
What Will You Be Expected to Achieve?
Students who successful complete the programme will be able to;
Academic Content:
A 1
the nature of international relations, including a range of principles, concepts and terminologies associated with the study of international relations and international politics;
A 2 historical and contemporary international political phenomena, including political texts, issues and problems within the field of study;
A 3 appropriate theoretical and/or methodological approaches in the field of international relations
Disciplinary Skills - able to:
B 1
demonstrate systematic and critical knowledge and understanding of a range of principles, concepts and terminologies associated with the study of international relations;
B 2 apply knowledge and understanding, selecting and using established techniques and a range of sources to evaluate texts, issues and problems in the field of study;
B 3 select appropriate theoretical and/or methodological approaches to a range of issues within the field of study
Attributes:
C 1
identify and critically evaluate appropriate information in specific contexts in a self-directed way, and reflect on how this might be used and adapted to different contexts;
C 2 work independently, demonstrating clarity, initiative, self organisation and time management;
C 3
establish a skills and learning agenda through negotiation, participation and communication in group discussions.
C 4 develop a global perspective and reflect on how this might be adapted to local contexts
C 5
develop a reasoned argument and synthesise information, and communicate this clearly and effectively;
C 6 select and use information, including from IT sources;
C 7
exercise critical judgement and self-reflection on their own learning, and to use this to adapt to new situations in professional settings
Politics of the Developing World (30 credits), POL241 War and Security in World Politics (30 credits). In addition, students can choose from the following four 30 credit modules: POL206 Modern Political Thought (30 credits), POL245 Theories of State, Economy and Society (30 credits), POL 243 British Politics (30 credits), and POL246 Representative Democracy in Practice ( credits). *'Where a student is unable to take a the compulsory module at the normal point due to an approved study abroad period, the student may instead take the required modules at the next available opportunity.
Through meetings with advisers, students are supported in their module choices, and helped to develop a cognate programme of study. This approach is sufficiently prescriptive to support the idea that there are certain key things that all Politics students need to study, but also flexible enough to enable students to pursue their studies in accordance with their developing intellectual interests. Students may also select 30 credits from other Schools, in modules appropriate to the field of study.
In order to progress from year two to year three, students must have taken modules to the value of 240 credit points across years one and two and passed modules to the value of 180 credit points, where at least 90 credit points are at level 5 and no more than 150 credit points at level 4.
Year 3 (Level 6)
In the final year students undertake a self-designed research project in the field of international politics (topic and title to be agreed with dissertation module convenor and with supervisor) worth 30 credit points, along with modules worth 90 credit points from across the range of modules provided by the School.* The POL310 Research project is a 12,000 word dissertation, and students are provided with one-to-one supervision, additionally supported by a programme of dissertation workshops. All module choices are made with the guidance of the student’s personal adviser in the department. Level 6 is designed to allow students to specialise in areas of specific interests, both in their dissertation topic and their module choices. Students may also select 30 credits from other Schools, in modules appropriate to the field of study. **level 6 15 credit modules can be offered in either semester to cover sabbatical leave and ensure an even provision across both semesters.
In order get the award of BA (Hons) International Relations, students must have taken modules to the value of 360 credit points across years one, two and three and passed modules to the value of 270 credit points, where at least 90 credit points are at level 6 and no more than 150 credit points at level 4.
Academic Year of Study
Module Title
Module
Code
Credits Level
Module
Selection
Status
Academic
Year of
Study
Semester
Introduction to Politics POL100 30 4 Compulsory 1 Semesters 1& 2
Comparative Government and Politics POL103 30 4 Elective 1 Semesters 1 & 2
Political Analysis POL105 30 4 Compulsory 1 Semesters 1 & 2
Introduction to International Relations POL106 30 4 Compulsory 1 Semesters 1 & 2
Modern Political Thought POL206 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
Module Title
Module
Code
Credits Level
Module
Selection
Status
Academic
Year of
Study
Semester
International Relations: Theories and Contemporary Issues POL240 30 5 Compulsory 2 Semesters 1 & 2
War and Security in World Politics POL241 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
International Politics of the Developing World POL244 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
Global Governance POL242 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
British Politics POL243 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
Representative Democracy in Practice POL245 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
Theories of State, Economy and Society POL246 30 5 Elective 2 Semesters 1 & 2
Politics Research Project POL310 30 6 Compulsory 3 Semesters 1 & 2
Ideology and Political Critique POL308 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
European Integration and the EU as a Political System POL330 30 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 & 2
French Politics POL333 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
The Politics of Economic Ideas POL337 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
Select Topics in British Politics I POL352 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
Select Topics in British Politics I POL353 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
Globalisation: Issues and Debate POL355 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
US Foreign Policy POL358 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
Gender and Politics POL361 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
Electoral Behaviour POL325 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
Theories of the Self POL326 15 6 Elective 3 Semesters 1 / 2
How Do We Listen and Act on Your Feedback?
The Staff-Student Liaison Committee provides a formal means of communication and discussion between the School and its students. The committee consists of student representatives from each year in the School together with appropriate representation from staff within the School. It is designed to respond to the needs of students, as well as act as a forum for discussing programme and module developments. The Staff-Student Liaison Committees meet regularly throughout the year.
The School also has a Learning and Teaching Committee, which advises the Colleagues on all matters relating to the delivery of taught programmes within the School including monitoring the application of relevant QM policies and reviewing all proposals for module and programme approval and amendment before submission to Taught Programmes Board. Student representative are also present at this Committee’s.
The School operate an Annual Programme Review of its taught undergraduate and postgraduate provision. The process is organised at School-level with the Head of School responsible for the completion of the school's Annual Programme Reviews. Schools are required to produce a separate Annual Programme Review for undergraduate programmes and for postgraduate taught programmes using the relevant Undergraduate or Postgraduate Annual Programme Review pro-forma. Students’ views are considered in this process through analysis of the NSS and individual module evaluations.
Academic Support
The School runs induction and welcome back meetings at the start of each semester, to update students on School/QM policies and advise them on studies. Each student is assigned a dedicated Personal Adviser throughout their years of study to assist them in choosing their modules and advising them on their studies. The School has 1st, 2nd and Final year dedicated Senior Tutors to deal with Extenuating Circumstances, the Senior Tutors are assisted by the Student Support Manager. To assist with their final year project students are assigned a superviser whose research matches the topic/subject they wish to focus on.
Programme-specific Rules and Facts
NA
Specific Support for Disabled Students
Queen Mary has a central Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS) that offers support for all students with disabilities, specific learning difficulties and mental health issues. The DDS supports all Queen Mary students: full-time, part-time, undergraduate, postgraduate, UK and international at all campuses and all sites.
Students can access advice, guidance and support in the following areas:
- Finding out if you have a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia
- Applying for funding through the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
- Arranging DSA assessments of need
- Special arrangements in examinations
- Accessing loaned equipment (e.g. digital recorders)
- Specialist one-to-one "study skills" tuition
- Ensuring access to course materials in alternative formats (e.g. Braille)
- Providing educational support workers (e.g. note-takers, readers, library assistants)
- Mentoring support for students with mental health issues and conditions on the autistic spectrum.
Links With Employers, Placement Opportunities and Transferable Skills
The BA (Hons) International Relations programme is not connected to a particular employment path and the department does not have links with a particular set of potential employers. However the subject specific and generic skills that are generated by the programme’s learning outcomes prepare students for a wide range of employment opportunities. By providing a coherent and thorough overview of the discipline of politics, students are prepared for politics-related careers such as the civil service, journalism, political research, social work, local government and working for a non-governmental organisation. More broadly, the emphasis on written and oral communication in the degree, along with the critical and analytical approaches to problem-solving, equip students for a wide variety of careers, including finance and banking, management training, PR and advertising. By providing a robust academic grounding in the subject students can also progress into higher levels of study, including MSc and research degrees, and professional qualifications in law and teaching.
Programme Specification Approval
Person completing Programme Specification Professor Ray Kiely
Person responsible for management of programme Professor Ray Kiely
Date Programme Specification produced/amended
by School Learning and Teaching Committee
25th Jan 2012
Date Programme Specification approved by
Taught Programmes Board
17 Feb 2012
