International Relations (Combined) Programme Specification from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities Pending departmental ratification

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1 International Relations (Combined) Programme Specification from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities Pending departmental ratification Version: 2015/6.1 Last updated: August 2015

2 Programme Specification Key Facts 1. Study mode(s) and period of registration 2. Frequency of Intake Annually in September Full-time or part-time Minimum 3 years maximum 6 years (full-time) Minimum 4 years maximum 10 years (part-time) 3. Awarding body Liverpool Hope University 4. Teaching location(s) Hope Park 5. Final award(s), including any interim awards 6. Relationship with Subject Benchmark Statement Major in International Relations; Diploma HE (240 credits, achieved by successfully completing two full years of study); Certificate HE (120 credits, achieved by successfully completing one full year of study) 1 The benchmark for Politics and International Relations (the national expectations of what a good degree in this subject should contain) has been fully used in the development of this provision. 7. FHEQ level(s) 4, 5 6 (first, second and third year at University) 8. Date of initial validation Date of first intake September Date of last Review (if N/A applicable) 11. Additional Costs to Students ( estimate) 12. Professional Statutory or Regulatory Body (PSRB)(s) (if applicable) with date/outcome of last PSRB approval 100 p.a. in books Optional national and international study trips to institutions of governance and other points of interest; costs vary but will be clearly set out in the planning stages of any such activity. NA 1 Note that interim awards are only given if for some reason students end their studies after one or two years 1

3 Aims and Learning Outcomes PROGRAMME AIMS: The programme aims to provide student with: 1. Opportunities to develop their theoretical, conceptual and practical understanding of Politics and International Relations by means of critical engagement with a range of appropriate texts and through guided and independent study 2. Opportunities to develop a range of academic skills which will enable them to communicate their understanding of: political questions of history, theory and identity the importance and impact of politics in the contemporary world local, national and international political movements and trends the historical evolution of political movements and ideas and the relationship between politics and other aspects of humanities and social sciences 3. Opportunities to build up a detailed knowledge and understanding of political issues drawn from a range of sub-disciplines. 4. Knowledge and understanding in appropriate areas of theory and analysis in International Relations 5. Critical awareness of the concepts, approaches and methods associated with International Relations and a developed understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline 6. Theoretical and empirical knowledge and understanding to a point that each student can relate, with sophistication and confidence, the academic study of International relations to questions of public concern 7. Capacity to think critically and independently about events, ideas and institutions 8. The ability to develop and conduct structured analysis which places political and international order and decision-making at the centre of analysis 9. A range of cognitive and social skills relevant to their intellectual, vocational and personal development 2

4 LEARNING OUTCOMES for this provision Year One Year Two By the end of the year all students of International Relations, either as a Major in its own right or as part of the Single Honours degree, should be able to: 1 Display introductory-level fluency in traditional and contemporary theories of International Relations. Lo1 2 Relate essentials of theory to empirical occurrences in International Relations Lo2 3 Display growth personal development/communicative skills through oral presentation and written work. Lo3 1 Demonstrate developing appreciation of reflective theories and, thus, essential issues in epistemology and ontology in the theoretical development of International Relations (e.g. the contested nature of knowledge) 2 With greater nuance analyse advantages and pitfalls in selected methodological approaches and, in so doing, relate the challenges of where and how we look for knowledge and understanding to methodological decisions 3 Display wider theoretical range using a more nuanced academic vocabulary and adherence to analytical structure in textual and oral communication - when evaluating both theoretical and empirical problems in IR Year Three 1 Critically evaluate positivistic and post-positivistic theories and approaches to International Relations 1 2 Evaluate with confidence and fluency either: contemporary problems in the policy making, management and analysis of peace and security, from discursive or other perspectives; or emerging evidence of interconnectivity between contemporary economic collapse and political conflict, from a competing range of analytical standpoints. Lo2 3 Conduct a research project in International Relations or one of its subfields which successfully underpins empirical analysis with appropriate theory, concept and method. Lo3 3

5 Further Information Teaching and Assessment The normal pattern of teaching is that lectures, where all students are taught together, provide three hours of contact time in the first year, and two in subsequent years; seminars in smaller groups (typically 15-20) provide two hours per week, and tutorials (smaller groups, typically no more then 10) one hour, in all years. Unless otherwise stated, this pattern applies to both Majors. In addition tutors are available every week at designated times for one-to-one discussions. Teaching and learning methods will fall into the basic pattern of lectures, seminars and tutorials. They will include electronic learning using the University s Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle, group work and directed independent study. Where appropriate, practitioners will be invited to give guest lectures or presentations. Students will be encouraged through a range of Learning and Teaching strategies to move from a basic engagement in first year to a wider and a more thorough engagement in second year and finally to the full autonomy expected in the final year. In addition, students will also be given the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge through study visits to political institutions. Assessments, as is usual in Humanities subjects, include a number of essays, for which guidance is given in seminars and tutorials. Formal written examinations take place at the end of each year. Curriculum Outline Level C Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Key concepts in the study of Seminar 2 International Relations Weekly International Relations Briefing: Lecturers guide students through contemporary empirical developments. May include guest speakers & field trips Level I Two seminar strands, students take both Seminar 1 Debating New Agendas in International Relations Seminar 2 Explorations in the Philosophy and Methods of International Relations ( Level H Two seminar strands, students take both Security, Peace & Conflict Studies: contemporary approaches Economic crisis and political conflict 4

6 Development of Key Generic (transferable) and Subject-specific skills for curriculum at each level. Tutors work systematically across the three years of study to help students build up a range of key skills. At Level C students should be able to: C1. Show knowledge and understanding of key theories and concepts in International Relations; C2. Present a basic critical analysis of textual and non-textual political material; C3. Display a forming understanding of the relationship between International Relations theory and the practical application. At Level I, students should be able to I1. Demonstrate an increasing capacity for abstraction and empirical analysis; I2. Possess and use a more developed academic vocabulary with awareness of academic structure and key challenges of theoretical, conceptual and methodological coherence; I3. show that they have acquired an advancing transferable skillset, which includes capacity for independent enquiry, formulating questions and bringing together ideas from a range of theoretical perspectives. Level H students should possess a fully developed capacity to: H1. apply the theories, concepts and methods that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding of International Relations, and to initiate and carry out projects including a substantive piece of independent research as a Key Honours Assessment; H2. critically evaluate in the literature and occurrences of International Relations arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem; H3. communicate information, ideas, problems and, where appropriate, solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences by exposure to learning tools including formal essays, policy reports (written for government, industry and so on) and presentation work; H4. the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility; decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts; the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature including presentational and decision-making skills. 5

7 Special Features of the programme As a programme that is research-led the IR Major is particularly advantaged both by the research specialities of its teaching team and by the siting within the Department of History and Politics of the Centre for Applied Research in Security Innovation and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for the Study of War and Peace. As such the learning experience of each student is one that involves coming into contact with theoretical and applied research, at least some of which is, as both QAA Benchmarks and FHEQ framework encourage, at the leading edge. The two research centres bring about unique opportunities for students to engage and, indeed, network with major figures in the discipline and practice of International Relations. In recent times these have included Prof Johan Galtung, a seminal figure in the study of peace, who delivered the Annual Civic Lecture of the Tutu centre. Practitioner scholars at CASI can provide to KHA students at Level H, especially, unrivalled insights and support. CASI visiting professors and scholars include/have included the officer commanding Ireland s Navy, the recently retired Director of Open Source Intelligence for the Central Intelligence Agency and the CIA s retired National Intelligence Officer for Latin America who also served as Chief of Staff for Strategic Management. The Award will provide opportunities for fieldwork visits both within and outside the UK. The teaching team has much experience in organising and running fieldwork visits to locations of high relevance including the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the European institutions in Brussels. The multi-disciplinary nature of the department provides to the teaching team and to students rich opportunities for learning outside of the discipline and for cross pollination of perspectives. This can occur through guest lectures by colleagues from the department s other current and previous subject areas History and Media and Communication as well as in off-timetabled events. In this regard, evening time cinematic screenings of political films, at which a member of faculty from Media and Communication provides a contextual introduction, can help to enhance student appreciation of key international events (e.g. Cuba Missile Crisis) and to locate these events in an appropriate cultural context. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS gives full details. There are no special requirements. 6

8 In certain circumstances the University also permits study that students have already carried out at University level to be taken into account see / This specification last updated: August 2015 Updated by: 7