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PL10505: Key concepts in politics

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: ES 50%, EX 50%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Essay (ES 50%)
  • Examination (EX 50%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
This unit seeks to:
* provide students with an introduction to essential concepts in the study, understanding and analysis of politics;
* inform students about the nature and role of political institutions, agents, and ideas at national, regional and international levels;
* introduce students to key debates in contemporary political thought;
* illustrate the importance of moving beyond simple description, and engaging in critical debates about these issues.

Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the unit successfully will be able to demonstrate in seminars, essays and exams that they:
* have acquired knowledge of the key concepts in the study, understanding, and analysis of politics;
* are aware of major academic and political debates about the nature of contemporary political processes at national and international levels;
* can apply this knowledge and awareness to contemporary political issues.

Skills:
Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit. Skills in effective learning are developed in this unit.

Content:
Approaches to the study of politics; power, the state, sovereignty and citizenship; political ideas and ideologies; democratic and non-democratic political systems; political culture; political change and revolution; nationalism and ethnic politics; the globalisation of politics.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PL10505 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics (Year 1)
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Year long work placement (Year 1)
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA(Hons) French and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA(Hons) German and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA(Hons) Italian ab inito and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB14 : BA(Hons) Italian and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA(Hons) Russian ab inito and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA(Hons) Spanish and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)

PL10505 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 1)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.