THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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

Undergraduate Course: Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for non-specialists (PLIT08012)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course introduces students to key concepts and ideas through weekly case studies in politics and international relations. Students will explore issues such as authority, democracy, human rights, security and nationalism though a team-taught course involving PIR staff. Each week staff will introduce a case study, discuss key concepts, highlight different approaches in the literature to the challenge as outlined and propose possible solutions, linking these to wider theories about politics & international relations.
Students taking this course must not be enrolled in 'Introduction to Politics & International Relations'.
Course description This course offers an introduction to key issues in Politics and International Relations to non-specialists. It provides a taster to the types of topics that are typically dealt with in semester-long honours courses in the MA Politics and MA International Relations degrees. The course is team taught, with different staff members in PIR teaching on their areas of expertise. Many of the topics are famed as key challenges facing voters, states or political organisations.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Introduction to Politics and International Relations (PLIT08004)
Other requirements Students with either Politics or IR in their degree title are not eligible to take this course (they must take IPIR), but students enrolling in this course will have a sufficient foundation for it to count as an equivalent to IPIR should they wish to transfer into a PIR degree.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  278
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 13, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 161 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 10% seminar review
40% essay
50% exam
********************************************
10% seminar review. Students will be required to provide a reflective review of the seminar they attended, linking the arguments to the wider academic literature
40% essay. 2500 words
50% exam
Feedback Students will receive two key pieces of feedback prior to writing their final exam, namely an assessment of the 1500-word essay they submit around Week 5 and comments on their seminar review.

Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Substantive knowledge of key concepts in Politics & IR
  2. Substantive knowledge of a set of current global ¿challenges¿
  3. Ability to situate key issues within wider political context
  4. Ability to identify which academic theories help to understand contemporary political issues
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Knowledge of key issues, concepts and theories in politics and international relations.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Advanced research skills.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Global citizenship.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Patrick Theiner
Tel:
Email: patrick.theiner@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Daniel Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)50 8253
Email: Daniel.Jackson@ed.ac.uk
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