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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Politics

Undergraduate Course: Contemporary Issues in Political Science (PLIT10104)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryContemporary Issues in Political Science takes a recent topic one emerging in the news or in the academic literature, and provides students with the tools to situate it within the larger academic literature, the political context and methods of analysis.
This course is an introduction to the study of comparative mass political behavior. We will survey the major theoretical approaches and empirical research on the behavior of non-elite political actors. Behaviour is interpreted quite broadly including psychological attachments, attitudes, beliefs and cognitive biases, in addition to various forms of overt behaviour such as voting, social movements and mass protest.


This course is an introduction to the study of comparative mass political behavior. We will survey the major theoretical approaches and empirical research on the behavior of non-elite political actors. Behaviour is interpreted quite broadly including psychological attachments, attitudes, beliefs and cognitive biases, in addition to various forms of overt behaviour such as voting, social movements and mass protest.
Course description The substantive content of the course will change each year depending on topical issues and will be taught by experts on the issue itself or on particular approaches/methods from amongst permanent and postdoctoral staff. For example, around a UK general election, the course could focus on the rise of UKIP and the Greens, placing this in wider comparative perspective, in the literature on political parties, electoral systems, etc. In response to the race riots in Ferguson in the US, it could focus on race-relations in comparative perspective.

In each case, students will learn substantive information about the topic itself but perhaps more importantly they will acquire the generic skills to analyse any phenomenon: how to place it within a larger context, where to look for information about context, the types of variables (whether social, economic, cultural, or political) to consider when analysing the phenomenon, how to identify wider theories and concepts to analyse the phenomenon and how to acquire evidence that would support one theoretical interpretation over another.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 4 Politics/International Relations courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.

** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Section for admission to this course **
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  30
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 90 %, Practical Exam 10 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course will be assessed by:

Response papers (%30):
Research paper proposal (%20)
Research paper (%40)
Participation (%10)


Feedback Students will be offered advice and feedback on their workplans/outlines in preparation for the group presentation, essay and take-home exam, which they may obtain on request. This feedback and guidance will be provided during the course convenor's weekly office hours and by appointment. Students will furthermore be given feedback on their group presentation which will take place on a weekly basis throughout the course; and the essay, which will be due in week 7. In particular, students will have received written feedback on the essay before they are required to sit the take-home exam. For the group presentation, feedback will be provided both orally immediately following the presentation; and in written form within one week of the presentation. Feedback on tutorial participation will be provided through an individual Tutorial Participation feedback sheet, which will be given to the students after the final tutorial.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Students will be able to demonstrate comprehensive understanding of contemporary debates on the chosen event, from both a theoretical and empirical perspective
  2. Students will have specialist in-depth knowledge of specific areas and issues in relation to the chosen event
  3. Students will be able to critically engage with key explanatory theories, concepts, institutions and issues in the study of the chosen event
  4. Students will be able to deploy and justify the use of case studies to deepen our understanding of political science
  5. Students will be able to engage in critical thinking, reflection and debate for academic and non-academic consumption.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Critical thinking and analysis
Team work
Effective written and verbal communication
Effective research and analytical skills
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Ugur Ozdemir
Tel: (0131 6)50 3990
Email: Ugur.Ozdemir@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Claire Buchan
Tel: (0131 6)50 8253
Email: Claire.Buchan@ed.ac.uk
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