BA (Hons) Politics
- UCAS code: L200
- Mode of study: Full time
- Duration: 3 years
- Entry requirements 2013: 240-300 points from 3 A levels or equivalent.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8299
Email: humanities.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies
Course overview
Politics is the study of power: Who has power? Why? How did they get it? How is it used? With what consequences? For whose benefit? In an international context, understanding power is critical to exploring issues such as the causes of conflict and violence, the rise of liberal democracy as a form of government around the world, the increasing globalisation of governance and the relationships and hierarchies between and within states.
In studying politics we are interested in political ideas, their development, their relevance within ideologies and political movements and their practical application in differing national and international contexts.
A key feature of this degree is the amount of choice you will have to develop your own areas of specialist interest through the wide range of options available to you.
Why study at Portsmouth?
Politics is based in the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies. The School has an established reputation for providing excellent student support and exciting courses, which was confirmed in the most recent reviews of the School's provision.
At the last Teaching Quality Inspection we scored 23 out of 24 putting us in the 'premier league' of politics degrees in the country.
Our staff also contribute to the Centre for European and International Studies Research, which gained the top grade in the most recent review of University research.
Our provision is noteworthy for its contemporary, global and broad curriculum and for a tradition of providing a high standard of support and guidance whilst encouraging you to develop as an independent learner through the later stages of your degree.
You will, for example, meet your personal tutor in your first week and maintain a personal tutor throughout your time with us.
In addition, all staff offer weekly office hours – where they are available for personal tutorials in order to support you with any and all aspects of your academic study.
Study abroad
It is possible to study your second year at Moorhead State University in the USA.
Placements
This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option, which lets you earn credits toward your degree for work / research placements, volunteer roles or internships undertaken alongside your studies. The option gives you the opportunity to enhance your employability skills, to reflect on the ways in which you've done so, and to learn to express this to potential employers.
Course content
Year one
All year one units are compulsory.
- Introduction to Political Thought
- Introduction to International Relations: States, Conflict and Cooperation
- Understanding Governance and Politics
- Introduction to Political Economy
- Current Political Issues
- Global Issues
Year two
Alongside year two's core study, you are able to select options that shape your degree to the issues or countries that most interest you.
- Comparative Politics
- Policy and Politics
- Options chosen from:
- American Civil War
- Colonialism & End Empire: France & Algeria
- Colonialism & End Empire: France & West Africa
- Comparing Extremism in European Liberal Democracies
- Conflict and Disaster
- Culture and Ideas in Twentieth Century Europe
- Democratisation in Latin America
- Foundations of the European Union
- France 1945-95: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity?
- France from Colonial Exhibiton to Liberation
- German Unity and Its Consequences
- Global Environmental Issues and Concerns
- Governing the European Union
- International Community Development
- International Politics
- International Politics of the Middle East
- Nation, Language and Identity
- Politics in Post-War Germany 1945-1990
- Race, Slavery & Emancipation in the Americas
- Revolution to Dictatorship - Russia /the Soviet Union 1917 - 1941
- Russian and Eurasian Politics
- US Government and Politics
- Languages (University Wide Option)
- Learning from Experience (Faculty Wide Option)
Year three
In year three, you will write your dissertation, or undertake a work-based project, alongside further core and optional study.
- Dissertation
- Modern Political Ideologies
- Democracy and Democratisation
- Options including:
- Civil Rights in the USA and its Legacy
- Global Political Economy
- Nazi Germany
- Protecting the Environment
- Development and Foreign Aid
- Coming to Terms with the Nazi Past: 1945-Today
- France in the World: Global Actor/Global Maverick
- Strategic and Security Studies
- Transitional Justice & Human Rights in L America
- Transnational EU (International Relations)
- Political Economy of the EU
- Learning from Experience (Faculty Wide Option)
Please note that whilst a wide range of options will be offered in every year, there will inevitably be some variation in the availability of individual units at any given time.
We welcome applicants with many different sorts of qualifications who can demonstrate evidence of competence to succeed on our programmes. We particularly welcome applications from mature students over the age of 21 and/or applicants who have an Access qualification or equivalent.
Teaching and assessment
Our teaching approach involves a range of small and large group learning environments with lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. You will be encouraged to participate fully in group discussions, developing your communication skills.
We use a range of assessment methods including article reviews, essays, projects, documentary commentaries, briefing papers, individual and group presentations and a 10,000-word dissertation.
Examinations include open, pre-seen papers and closed traditional examinations.
This diversity of assessment allows you to develop your writing and communication skills in a range of styles and contexts.
Full support is given to help you develop the techniques and skills necessary for the assessed work. You will also have regular timetabled tutorial groups with your personal tutor, which will develop your personal and academic skills in communication, time management and IT.
In order to help you with your dissertation in your final year, you will also have the support of a dissertation supervisor and you will do a research management unit in your second year that will introduce you to a range of research techniques. You will also be assessed on an oral and written proposal for your dissertation topic.
Career prospects
Through our programme of tutorial units and personal development planning, you will be given the opportunity to practise and develop various skills such as teamworking, time and project management, analysis and presentational skills. These skills open up a range of careers for graduates in politics.
As a result, many of our graduates go into areas related to their degree such as teaching or lecturing, research, voluntary organisations and NGOs, as well as local, national and international government and politics. Many also enter other areas such as advertising and marketing, PR, the media, banking and financial services, and personnel management.
Some students choose to study further and we offer a range of postgraduate programmes with good career prospects and in some cases opportunities to study in other European universities. These include European Law and Policy (MA ELP), European Studies (MAES) and Public Administration (MPA).
Facilities and features
Over the last four years, the University has invested substantially in its teaching facilities. Our teaching rooms at Milldam are equipped with multimedia and audio-visual facilities. In addition, we provide quiet rooms, a dedicated IT teaching room and IT facilities.
The School has a large archive of documentary films in its multimedia resources area and the University library is currently undergoing significant investment and expansion to further enhance the range of resources available to you there.