LOUGHBOROUGHUNIVERSITY

Programme Specification

BA [Hons] Politics with a Minor subject

Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at

The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Awarding body/institution; / LoughboroughUniversity
Teaching institution (if different);
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body;
Name of the final award; / BA [Honours]
Programme title; / Politics with a Minor subject
UCAS code; / L200
Date at which the programme specification was written or revised. / May 2006

1. Aims of the programme:

  • To provide teaching that is informed and invigorated by the research and scholarship of academic staff
  • To deliver a curriculum that enables students to understand the nature and significance of Politics
  • To enable students to learn about the key concepts and analytical methods of Political Science
  • To enable students to address key issues in political science, including power, conflict and collective political behaviour
  • To provide students with the opportunity to study Politics in a multidisciplinary context, by providing a range of minor subject areas from the disciplines of the humanities, management science, modern languages and the social sciences
  • To enable students to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of issues in politics through specialist study and guided research
  • To create a supportive environment in which the academic development and career opportunities of students are enhanced
  • To foster the acquisition of key transferable skills including analysis of opinion, argument and fact; evaluation of evidence and hypothesis; synthesis of debate; appropriate use of communication and information technology; and clear communication

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

  • University Learning and Teaching Strategy
  • QAA Benchmarking statement for Politics and International Relations
  • Departmental Learning and Teaching policies
  • The research interests and specialisms of the teaching staff and their professional involvement in the discipline

3. Intended Learning Outcomes

a] Knowledge and Understanding:

Upon completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate:

  1. an in-depth knowledge and understanding of selected concepts and methods involved in the academic discipline of political science, a detailed knowledge and understanding of European and international politics framed in terms of political theory, national political systems, international relations and the organisation of the European Union, and the ability to undertake independent research under supervision.
  1. a good grounding in an associated subject or subjects drawn from the disciplines of the humanities, management science, modern languages and the social sciences, as relevant.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Learning and teaching in Politics provides a broad foundation at Part A, with the progressive development of subject-specific knowledge and understanding at Part B, and significant emphasis on self-directed learning and independent enquiry at Part C. Throughout their studies, all modules provide for full developmental feedback [oral and written] to facilitate intellectual progression. All politics modules have associated resources mounted electronically. These strategies are designed to secure, where appropriate, a progression over the 3 or 4 years of study from teacher-dependence to greater autonomy.

b] Generic intellectual skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should have developed the ability to gather, organise and deploy evidence data and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources; think critically and analytically about the subject matter; construct reasoned argument; reflect on their own learning and make use of constructive feedback; and manage their own learning self-critically.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

At Parts B and C, modules typically combine lectures and tutorials, together with a 40-credit dissertation in the final year of study. At Part A modules are predominantly lecture-based but supported by designated module office hours and a core seminar programme. Tutorials involve individual and group presentations. Students are required to undertake a range of coursework assignments; all such assignments are returned with feedback forms detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the work to encourage improvement. A mix of assessment methods is used to address the objectives and learning outcomes of each module. Modules may be assessed by coursework only, or by a combination of coursework and oral and/or written examinations. Some modules are based on a system of peer learning and peer assessment. Assessment criteria are set out in Departmental Handbooks [and electronically]. Additional feedback on students’ progression is provided through the Department’s Personal Tutoring system and mid-year progress review procedure.

Students are given guidance on using library facilities and using ICT, and on-going advice and help is available. All modules make use of ICT facilities. Students are advised on the skills associated with effective time-management, and required to meet deadlines on a regular basis.

c] Personal transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should have developed skills in the areas of communication, presentations, self-organisation, working with others and time-management, and gained experience of using information and communication technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

All modules in Politics have tutorials and/or dedicated office hours. Tutorials provide for both individual participation and group work. Students are given guidance on using library facilities and using ICT, and on-going advice and help is available. All modules make use of ICT facilities. Students are advised on the skills associated with effective time-management, and required to meet deadlines on a regular basis. All students will undertake a number of presentations. Some modules are based on a system of peer learning and peer assessment.

4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:

Credit weightings of modules are shown in brackets. Students are required to take modules amounting to 120 credits in each year of the programme, from a list approved by the Department. In Year One, students must choose two minor subject areas; in subsequent years, students may continue their studies in these two minor areas, or choose to specialise in one of them.

Semester One / Semester Two
Year One / Introduction to Democratic Government [10] / Conceptions of Democracy [10]
British Politics [10] / British Government [10]
Politics in Postwar Europe [20] / The Idea of Europe [20]
Options [40]
Year Two / US Government and Politics [20] / Developments in European Government and Politics [20]
People, Protest and Parties [20] / Research Design [10]
Human Rights ([10]
Options [40]
Final Year *
/ Dissertation [40]
Politics options [40-60]
Options [20-40]

Note: it is possible to amend the programme to incorporate work or study abroad as follows:

Either A] Semester Abroad – undertaken during Semester Two, Year Two; various programmes of study available at partner institutions abroad; credit obtained is incorporated into overall programme assessment via ECTS; participation is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic progress.

Or B] Year Abroad – available only for those students taking a foreign language; undertaken during third year of study, thus converting programme into a four-year programme; options include study at one or more universities abroad or undertaking an approved Assistantship at a school. Successful completion results in the award of the Diploma in International Studies; credit is thus not incorporated into overall programme assessment. Participation is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic progress.

In exceptional circumstances, students will be allowed to study abroad for both the Semester Abroad and the Year Abroad. The Department must be satisfied that students’ learning in their chosen Language will continue during the Semester Abroad.

Optional Subjects:

Options are available in the following subject areas [Minor subjects studied at Part C must have been studied at Parts A and B]:

  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Economics
  • English
  • International Studies
  • Geography
  • Management
  • Criminology and Social Policy
  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology
  • French or German or Spanish

Choices of minor subject modules will be subject to satisfying any prerequisites set out in individual module specifications

5. Criteria for admission to the programme:

We usually require students to have five GCSEs or equivalent and a minimum of 240 points from three A2 levels or two A2 levels and two AS levels. General Studies is accepted as an A level subject.

6. Information about assessment regulations:

To gain credit on a module, students must achieve a 40% combined examination/coursework mark. Part A does not count towards final degree assessment. In order to progress from Part A to Part B, and from part B to Part C, students must, each year, achieve at least 100 credits and obtain a minimum of 30% in the remaining module[s]. Marks gained at Parts B and C contribute to the final degree assessment in the proportion 40:60. The boundaries for first, upper second, lower second, and third class honours are 70%, 60%, 50% and 40% respectively. Failure to achieve the required credits in any one year means the student is allowed to re-take appropriate modules once only during the Special Assessment Period; these are then individually capped at 40% for computing the overall degree mark.

7. Indicators of quality:

The programmes are the responsibility of the department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies, which received a near-perfect score of 23 out of 24 in the QAA’s national External Subject Review of all its programmes in 2001-2002.

8. Particular support for learning:

Details of University learning support services can be found at

9.Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of

learning:

Details can be found at

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