Politics with International Relations (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

You are introduced to the historical and contemporary development of social science disciplines, exploring examples of theoretical challenges and ways in which research is practically applied in society. Gain an understanding of both similarities and differences between disciplines, and how interdisciplinary research is fostered through collaboration. Explore academic standards, ethical guidelines and research protocols, personal development, and both study and transferable skills relevant to your studies and career.

This is a 40-credit module.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, explore crime through history, politics, English and creative writing, criminology, sociology, psychology and education to investigate the problems within society and culture.

This is a 20-credit module.

Identify and explore an area of interest related to your area of study through small-scale research using secondary data or desk-based research. You analyse an appropriate area of focus for your project using academic support.

This is a 20-credit module.

You develop your personal and academic skills to help prepare you for searching and retrieving information, evaluating different types of evidence, critical thinking and reading skills, note-taking and summarising evidence, presentation skills, groupwork, digital literacy and employability.

This is a 40-credit module.

The US is more divided now than it has been for quite some time – or so goes a popular theory. Explore the factors that have led to the current political situation in the US, where republicans and democrats are embroiled in a political struggle and culture war that centres on issues surrounding women’s rights, immigration, healthcare, climate change and science, taxation, the media, the powers of congress, and the presidency. You examine the idea that the divisions among the political elite and most politically active, are mirrored within US society as a whole.

This is a 20-credit module.

Gain an overview of Britain and Europe from 1870 to the present. Take a chronological approach, from the unification of Germany and Italy, through to two world wars, the Cold War and the European Union. Within the British political history strand of the module, you investigate colonialism, the impact of two world wars on British politics and society, the implications of the introduction of the welfare state and Keynesian economic policies during the consensus period, and the shift towards neo-liberal forms of governance and politics in the late twentieth century and beyond. Within the European political history strand of the module, the chronological approach is shared, but you investigate these years with a more international, European focus. Beginning with a study of the major unifications in 1870, the strand investigates, WW1, the emergence of authoritarian and totalitarian dictatorships in interwar Europe, WW2, the Cold War, and post-Cold war military and economic integration.

This is a 40-credit module.

Politics and international relations are central to our everyday lives, exploring both people and power. Gain an introduction to the skills and analytical frameworks needed to study contemporary global politics and international relations. Investigate why politics matters and explore different approaches to the discipline, including political power, authority and the state, elections and political institutions, democracy and political obligation, civil society, and the frameworks of global politics. Acquire an understanding of the development of international relations, and the core concepts and theories for studying it. Understand how the political ideas and international organisations that shape global politics reflect and embody core values such as freedom, justice, security, order and welfare. Key theories examined include liberalism, realism, international political economy, social constructivism and post-positivism.

This is a 40-credit module.

Understanding the political ideologies that motivate political actors is key to understanding politics. You gain an introduction to the core political ideologies that have shaped, and continue to shape, the political world in which we live, and the political debates going on around us. You study various themes including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism, feminism, green politics, multiculturalism and secularism. You also look at how recent developments have overturned the idea that we live in a post-ideological world.

This is a 20-credit module.

Develop graduate skills in preparation for further study, employment or lifelong learning, through engagement with our Student Futures team and humanities practitioners. Gain insight into career pathways and explore the opportunities available to humanities graduates, including as educators, policy-makers, publishers, facilitators, communicators, and creatives. Work on an individual project, either work focused or academic focused.

This is a 20-credit module.

The modern era has seen the birth of celebrity culture, spin, fake news, social media and data hacking as additional weapons for political parties, pressure groups and states. As a result, political parties have used methods such as polling, focus groups and advertising to shape their message in the pursuit of popularity and votes. You examine the use of propaganda and political communications by exploring key themes and theoretical approaches. You create your own knowledge exchange project - a political communication such as a leaflet, newspaper article, advert or podcast.

This is a 20-credit module.

Examine one of the key phenomena of the modern age - revolutionary change - and how this has shaped the modern world. The American Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Chinese Revolution, anti-colonial revolutions, Iranian Revolution and the counter-revolutions of 1989 - 1991 have been influential across the globe.

Investigate theoretical approaches to understanding the phenomenon of revolution, the political revolution and change. And research other types of revolutionary change in society such as those in the economic, technological, social and cultural fields. You explore counter-revolutionary resistance and attempts to reverse change as the counter-revolution has been, and remains, key to modern history and politics.

This is a 40-credit module.

You identify and study the most important contemporary relations and politics at national and international level. Examine recent developments and ideas considering key theoretical frameworks, including political violence and its impact on politics - and how international law attempts to challenge it.

This is a 40-credit module.

Engage in a piece of advanced research into politics or international relations, allowing you to follow a theme or particular interest under the guidance of a supervisor. You are prepared for the workplace, enabling you to apply the skills you have acquired and developed during the course.

This is a 40-credit module.

The victory of the Allies in the Second World War seemed to mark the end of dictatorship. However, the persistence and revival of the extreme right suggests that we're witnessing a rebirth of fascism. Using theory and conceptual approaches, you explore historical and contemporary forms of fascism and anti-fascism, developing a theoretical and historical understanding of the past, present and future.

This is a 20-credit module.

Develop your employability skills through a series of workshops with input from the Student Futures team, external professionals and alumni working in relevant sectors. You explore the career opportunities available to graduates - such as educators, policymakers, publishers, facilitators, communicators and creatives in preparing for further study, employment and/or lifelong learning.

This is a 40-credit module.

The politics of the past have been violently contested in Northern Ireland and continue to create problems now. Address the issues that historians and social scientists face when dealing with the politics of a divided society.

You examine the social, economic and political exploration of Northern Ireland at a time of civil conflict, and you explore the development of the conflict. You investigate the international dimension of moving from conflict to a process of peace. Review reports, newspapers, pamphlets, posters, memoirs and TV programmes.

This is a 20-credit module.