Politics and Spanish

Bachelor's degree

In Belfast City

£ 9,250 + VAT

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Belfast city (Northern Ireland)

  • Duration

    4 Years

  • Start date

    Different dates available

Overview The academic study of politics is concerned with the sources of conflict, co-operation, power and decision-making within and between societies, how differences are expressed through ideology and organisation, and how, if at all, disagreements and problems are resolved. We look at conflict, co-operation and its origins, dynamics and trajectories, at theories of society, at the value and ethical basis of political ideas and action, and at politics in different national and historical contexts. Politics in deeply-divided societies, the politics and theory of international relations, political ideologies, the politics of self and other in a media culture, gender inequality, political institutions, parties and elections, the politics of sustainable development, energy, climate change, international political economy and finance, public policy and public administration, and the politics of the European Union - these are just some of the areas that we cover. With over 30 staff at the cutting edge of research and publication, the School is the largest in Ireland and one of the largest in the UK and Ireland with specialisms in Irish and British politics, political theory, sustainable development, the politics of film and literature, gender, the Middle East, European Union politics, ethnic conflict and international relations. Why Queen's?Study Abroad: students have study opportunities in other European universities through our Erasmus programme, and also in the USA and Canada. Internship: students in their final year have the opportunity to secure a semester-long internship, giving them hands-on experience of political issues and policy-making. Research-led Teaching: cutting-edge research drives our externally commended teaching, most recently evidenced in the latest student satisfaction survey. Support: our uniquely supportive pastoral care/personal...

Facilities

Location

Start date

Belfast City (County Antrim)
See map
University Road, BT7 1NN

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

Entry Requirements   Selection Criteria In addition to the entrance requirements below, it is essential that you read the How We Choose Our Students pdf prior to submitting your UCAS application. Entrance Requirements A-level: ABB for BA Single Honours and BA Joint Honours with English, French, History, International Studies, Irish and Spanish. BBB for other BA Joint options. Irish Leaving Certificate: H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H3 in Spanish. All applicants: there are no specific subject requirements to study...

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Subjects

  • Politics
  • Teaching
  • International
  • Staff
  • Conflict
  • Global
  • Public
  • Irish
  • Quality
  • University
  • Project
  • Grammar
  • Quality Training
  • International Relations
  • Public Administration
  • British Politics

Course programme

Course Content (including module information)

Students who intend to study Politics at Levels 2 and 3 must choose between two and six of the introductory modules available in the first year.

Level 1 modules

  • Comparative Politics
  • Issues in Contemporary Politics
  • Contemporary Europe
  • Perspectives on Politics
  • World Politics: Conflict and Peace

Thereafter, Politics may be studied at Levels 2 and 3 as a Single Honours subject (12 modules) on its own, or as a Major (eight modules), Joint (six modules), or Minor (four modules) component along with another subject. The Politics element of the Law with Politics LLB comprises four modules, two at each of Levels 2 and 3.

At each Level there is a mix of compulsory and optional modules, depending on the mode of study. Students select the appropriate number of modules from the following indicative list.

Level 2 modules

  • American Politics
  • British Politics
  • Democracy, Ethics and Economics
  • International Organisations
  • Modern Political Thought
  • Politics and Policies of the European Union
  • Security and Terrorism
  • Studying Politics
  • The Politics of Deeply Divided Societies

Level 3 modules

  • Arms Control
  • Asylum and Migration in Global Politics
  • Contemporary Critical Theory
  • Contemporary Political Philosophy
  • Ethics, Power and International Politics
  • Global Resource Politics
  • Far Right in Western Europe and North America
  • Middle Eastern Politics
  • Minorities in Europe
  • Northern Ireland: A Case Study
  • Political Parties and Elections in Northern Ireland
  • Political Parties, Representation and Democracy
  • Politics, Public Administration and Policy-making
  • Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • Security and Technology
  • The Politics of Irish Literature
  • The Politics of Sustainable Development
  • Theories of Global Justice
  • US Foreign Policy: War
  • War and Visual Culture
  • Women and Politics
  • Internship
  • The Placement
  • Dissertation

Assessment & Feedback

Assessment (general): The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general): As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and your peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

  • Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that students, as individuals or as part of a group, have submitted.
  • Face to face comment. This may include occasions when students make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help address a specific query.
  • Placement employer comments or references.
  • Online or emailed comment.
  • General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
  • Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which students can review in their own time.
  • Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
  • Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once students have reviewed their feedback, they are encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of their work.

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support, to enable you to achieve your full academic potential.

On the BA in Politics and Spanish we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course:

  • Lectures: introduce basic information about new topics and outline theoretical and methodological concepts as a starting point for further study. Lectures may also provide opportunities to ask questions, and receive advice on assessments.
  • Seminars/tutorials: Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (rarely more than 15 students). The majority of seminars and tutorials are taught by permanent members of the academic staff. Such small-group teaching provides opportunities for you to engage with active researchers who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.
  • Language classes: Almost all of the teaching in Modern Languages is carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students) in English and Spanish. Written language classes meet for two hours each week, and involve intensive work on developing linguistic competence, vocabulary, idiom, knowledge of grammar, comprehension and translation skills, essay-writing skills etc. Students should expect to prepare work in advance of each of these classes, where they will receive regular written and oral feedback on their work.
  • Oral classes: Students have opportunities to develop oral skills and apply grammar and vocabulary in real-life, practical contexts, and through the study of topics related to contemporary Spain and Latin America. All these classes are taught in very small groups (typically 6-12 students) and are facilitated by native speakers.
  • Year Abroad: This is a significant learning and employability enhancement opportunity during which you can study at university, work as an English-Language Teacher, or undertake a paid work placement in a Spanish-speaking country. This feature of our degree programme gives students the opportunity for personal and professional development, further develops communication and language skills, and the experience of living abroad is important for developing intercultural awareness.
  • E-Learning technologies:Most information associated with lectures and assignments is communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: computer-based grammar learning packages in the Language Centre; interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes in project- based work, interactive group workshops, online discussions, and web-based learning activities.
  • Self-directed study: This is an important part of life as a Queen’s student, when private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date, and research and preparation work for assignments is carried out. Academic staff will provide tailored bibliographies for research projects and self-directed reading.
  • Work-Related learning/Field Trips: Students have a variety of opportunities to participate in work-related learning and field trips (including visits to Stormont and the Irish Parliament); there are also meetings with alumni to advise students on opportunities for graduate employment.
  • Supervised projects: In final year, students may choose a year-long double-weighted dissertation module in Politics which requires them to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic that they have chosen. Alternatively, students can apply for an internship (a double-weighted module) where they will produce a learning journal and a 12,000 word project that relates directly to their placement. In both cases, students will receive support from a supervisor, who will guide them in terms of how to carry out research and who will provide feedback throughout. All supervisors are world-class experts in their field.
  • Personal Tutor: Every undergraduate isallocated a Personal Tutor at the start of Level 1 for the duration of their degree programme. The Personal Tutor who is a member of the academic staff meets with his/her students throughout their academic career and provides advice on personal development, employment opportunities, and their general progress through university.

Additional information

Career Prospects Studying for a Politics and Spanish degree at Queen’s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from this degree have the proven ability to analyse subjects in depth and develop coherent arguments in written and verbal form, as well as linguistic fluency and experience of living and working abroad, all of which are highly sought after skills in a global job market. In addition, the subject-matter...

Politics and Spanish

£ 9,250 + VAT