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PIR-40132 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2021/22 Last Updated: 16 February 2022

PIR-40132 - Advanced Approaches to Politics and International Relations
Coordinator: Philip Jj Catney Room: CBA2.028 Tel: +44 1782 7 33346
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

All disciplines falling under the banner of Politics and International Relations share similar considerations in approaching the questions of what to study and how to study. This module provides an overview of the philosophies, assumptions and approaches underlying the study of Politics and International Relations topics. It examines the academic contexts in which the disciplines of politics, international relations, and environmental social science have developed and changed, and how these contexts shape our understandings of these areas.
It provides an advanced-level introduction to different methods of approaching the generation of knowledge currently practised within the School: analysing the assumptions underlying competing philosophical and methodological approaches to the study of these key subject areas in Politics and International Relations.

The module also prepares students for their dissertations.

Aims
The module aims to deliver an overview of the range of principles and theories in the field of Politics and International Relations.
It seeks to enhance students' capability to handle different concepts, frameworks, methods (normative and analytical) and to use these in the development of a research project of their choice.
The module aims to prepare students for developing their dissertation.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/pir-40132/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

assess readings and analyse texts critically: 1,2,3
demonstrate critical and social scientific thinking skills to distinguish between scholarly approaches: 1,2,3
employ normative and/or explanatory approaches, both classic and contemporary, to propose a piece of research on a political topic: 1,2,3

Study hours

15x2 hour lectures/tutorials: 30 hours
Preparation for tutorials: 110 hours
Self-study in preparation of assessments: total 160 hours, of which:
Commentary on Foundational text: 30 hours
Essay on analytical approach: 65 hours
Research proposal: 65 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Review weighted 20%
A 1,500 word commentary on a foundational text
Students will write a commentary on a foundational text in one of the key fields of Politics and International Relations. The commentary will critically reflect on the importance of the text, the concepts it employs, as well as the methods employed (1,500 words).

2: Essay weighted 40%
A 3,500-word report on an analytical approach
Students will write a 3,500-word essay on the evolution and development of an analytical approach covered in the module.

3: Research Proposal weighted 40%
A 3,500-word research proposal
Students will be required to submit a detailed research proposal on the topic they wish to study for their dissertation. This assessment enables them not only to gain structured guidance from a tutor on their research proposal, as it takes shape, but also to engage with literature on their chosen topic and academic material at the forefront of their chosen pathway.

Please note that for the 2021/22 Academic Year all programmes will be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there will be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 16 February 2022