Politics BA Honours (L200)

Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage.

Please be aware that programme modules do change and therefore may differ for your year of entry.

• POL1032 Introduction to International Politics
• POL1045 Truth, Lies and Politics
• POL1048 Foundations of Modern Political Thought

You choose one of the following modules:

• POL1017 Governing Under Pressure: The Politics of the UK and EU
• POL1047 Power, Participation and Democracy: Comparative Perspectives

You take 40 credits of optional modules from the following list or the above list:

• GEO1010 Interconnected World
• HIS1046 The History of the Americas
• POL1046 Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century
• SOC1027 Comparing Cultures

Other optional modules may also be available.

You must take at least 80 credits from the following Politics modules.

• POL2078 Critical International Politics
• POL2081 Research Methods in Politics
• POL2090 Contemporary Political Philosophy

You choose at least one optional module from the following list:

• POL2012 Politics of the Middle East
• POL2022 Government and Politics of the USA
• POL2034 The Politics and Policy of the European Union
• POL2087 Contemporary Russian Politics
• POL2091 The Politics of Happiness
• POL2092 Party Politics: Quantitative Analysis of Parties Systems and Voter Choice
• POL2093 Politics, Participation and Citizenship in the Digital Age
• POL2094 The United Nations: An Introduction to International Organisation and Global Governance
• POL2095 Politics Work Experience - Student Engagement
• POL2096 - Politics Work Placement

You choose your remaining modules to a total of 120 credits from the following list:

• GEO2047 Political Geography
• GEO2103 Development and Globalisation
• NCL2007 Career Development for Second Year Students
• NCL2100 Developing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Employability
• POL2082 Political Violence and the Modern State
• POL2091 The Politics of Happiness

You may spend Semester 2 studying abroad, subject to agreeing an overall selection of modules with the module leader.

• POL2072 Student Exchange: Semester 2

Other optional modules may also be available.

You must take at least 80 credits from Politics modules.

You take at least 20 credits but not more than 60 credits of modules from the following:

• POL3046 Dissertation in Politics
• POL3047 Project in Politics: Semester 1
• POL3048 Project in Politics: Semester 2
• POL3103 Community Based Research in Politics

You choose at least three modules from the following list:

• GEO3102 Geopolitics
• NCL3007 Career Development for Final Year Students
• NCL3008 Advanced Career Development
• POL3059 Democracy and the Constitution
• POL3077 Global Poverty and Global Politics
• POL3078 Britain and the European Union
• POL3079 The Government and Politics of Italy
• POL3092 Political Parties and Elections in the UK
• POL3098 War, Genocide, Terror: Understanding Organised Violence
• POL3099 Power, Security and Protest in the Middle East
• POL3100 History of World Political Thought
• POL3104 The Fall and Rise of China
• POL3106 Democracy in Deeply Divide Societies
• POL3108 The Politics of the Far Right in Europe
• POL3109 Gender, Campaigns and Media
• POL3110 International Organisation and Diplomacy
• POL3111 UK Parliamentary Studies
• POL3112 Revitalising British Democracy
• POL3113 Politics Work Experience - Research

If you did not take POL2072 in the previous Stage you may take one of the following modules, subject to the approval of the Degree Programme Director.

• POL3071 Student Exchange: Semester 1 *
• POL3076 Student Exchange (Dissertation Students) *
• POL3084 Student Exchange Semester 2 (Dissertation/Research Project)
• POL3085 Student Exchange: Semester 2

* These are only available to students who are not undertaking a dissertation (POL3046).

Other optional modules may also be available.

Studying politics encourages the development of both specific and transferable skills. You will not only learn how to demonstrate your knowledge of different political systems and how to interpret political issues and events, but critically you will also develop the ability to examine issues from a range of viewpoints, construct well-researched arguments and present information in a balanced and unbiased manner.

Our courses will enable you to acquire the essential skills of research, teamwork, and communication.

Voluntary and work experience can provide you with further opportunities to develop valuable skills to prepare you for employment. Whether related to a career in politics or more general, this experience shows that you have an interest in the community and can use your time effectively, make valuable contacts and use your initiative.

Many of our politics graduates have entered positions such as financial analysts, stock market account executives and management consultants. As well as some of our graduates entering careers in politics, other career areas have included HR, education, sales and marketing

Some politics graduates go on to study vocational courses for example in law, marketing or teaching or continue with postgraduate work in subjects such as politics, business and finance.

Find out more about the career options for Politics from Prospects: The UK's Official Careers Website.