CORINTHIAM 

Beit Daniel ECTS Workshop 

19-20 December 2010

School of Politics and International Relations

BA in Politics and International Relations (Bi-diplôme)

Established in 2002 Bi-lingual and bi-national programme offered in partnership with the Insitute d’Etudes Politiques (IEP) de Lillefirst and fourth years are spent in Lille France second and third in Canterbury EnglandBA (Kent) awarded on completion of four years study.Diplôme of the IEP on completion of a fifth year of study either at the IEP or at Kent.

• PO621:Political Research and Analysis 15 credits, Autumn and Spring terms

• PO555: International Organisation: The UN System 7.5 credits, Autumn term

• Recommended modules AEither EC500 Microeconomics, 15 credits, Autumn and Spring termsOr15 credits of PhilosophyOr15 credits of Law

• Recommended modules B15 credits of either German, Italian or Spanish at the appropriate level.

Political Research and Analysis(first year module)

Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of this module students will:• be able to understand the basic logic of the empirical research

process;• be familiar with key methodological and statistical concepts relevant

to quantitative data analysis;• have improved their ability to critically evaluate arguments supported

by quantitative work;• be able to select and evaluate statistical tests appropriate to explore

substantive research questions in the fields of politics and international relations;

• have developed a basic ability to enter code, transform and examine data sets with SPSS for Windows.

Module Descriptor

• 1 The title of the module Political Research and Analysis• 2 The School which will be responsible for management of the module• 3 The Start Date of the Module• 4 The number of students expected to take the module• 5 Modules to be withdrawn on the introduction of this proposed module

and consultation with other relevant Schools and Faculties regarding the withdrawal

• 6 The level of the module (eg Certificate [C], Intermediate [I], Honours [H] or Postgraduate [M])

• 7 The number of credits which the module represents• 8 Which term(s) the module is to be taught in (or other teaching pattern)• 9 Prerequisite and co-requisite modules• 10 The programmes of study to which the module contributes• 11 The intended subject specific learning outcomes and, as appropriate,

their relationship to programme learning outcomes

Specific Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will• understand the importance of quantitative research methods for the

cumulative growth of knowledge in the political and social sciences;• be able to understand the basic logic of the empirical research process,• be familiar with key methodological and statistical concepts relevant to

quantitative data analysis,• have improved their ability to critically evaluate arguments supported

by quantitative work,• be able to select and evaluate statistical tests appropriate to explore

substantive research questions in the fields of politics and international relations,

• have developed a basic ability to enter, code, manipulate, and examine data sets with SPSS for Windows,

• formulate and test simple hypotheses using bivariate and multivariate designs.

Generic Learning Outcomes

• 12 The intended generic learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their relationship to programme learning outcomesIn addition to the specific outcomes under point 11, the module will also enable students to progress towards achievement of the generic learning outcomes of the school’s undergraduate programmes listed below. Students who successfully complete their undergraduate programme in the School will be able to:

• GLO1: engage critically with political phenomena, including the vocabulary, concepts, theories and methods of political debate

• GLO2: examine and evaluate different interpretations of political issues, events and solutions to problems

• GLO3: describe, evaluate and apply different approaches involved in collecting, analysing and presenting political information

• GLO4: develop reasoned arguments, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement

• GLO5: reflect on and manage their own learning and seek to make use of constructive feed back from peers and staff to enhance their performance and personal skills

• GLO6: use information and communication technology for bibliographical searches, data acquisition, data analysis and presentation

• GLO7: work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management

• 13 A synopsis of the curriculum- The module is built around 12 lectures and 12 one-hour seminars.- The main topics to be introduced

• 14 Indicative Reading List• 15 Learning and Teaching Methods

including the nature and number of contact hours and the total study hours which will be expected of students, and how these relate to achievement of the intended learning outcomes(Independent studySeminarsPC Laboratory Sessions Lectures)

• 16 Assessment methods how these relate to testing achievement of the intended learning outcomes

• 17 Implications for learning resources, including staff, library, IT and space

• 18 A statement confirming that, as far as can be reasonably anticipated, the curriculum, learning and teaching methods and forms of assessment do not present any nonjustifiable disadvantage to students with disabilities

Modern Classics of Comparative Politics (third year module)

Learning OutcomesOn successful completion of the module, students will befamiliar with the/ able to:• comparative method in its most important variants, the rationale

of comparative political analysis, different methods of comparison and different designs in comparative politics;

• apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics to the analysis of political ideas, institutions and practices;

• link theoretical arguments, empirical evidence and political events;

• critically analyse texts and other sources.

Modern Classics of Comparative Politics (third year module)

• 10. Prerequisite and co-requisite modules• Successful completion of PO621 or equivalent is a prerequisite• 11. The programmes of study to which the module 

contributes• The module is compulsory for students reading for the BA in

Politics, in Politics and International• Relations (with and without a language/year abroad) and all

joint-honours degrees involving Politics• and International Relations. It constitutes an option for all

other undergraduate programmes• offered by the School of Politics and International Relations.

subject specific learning outcomes 12. The intended subject specific learning outcomes and, as appropriate, theirrelationship to programme learning outcomesOn successful completion of the module, students will be familiar with the:• SLO1: comparative method in its most important variants, the rationale of

comparative political analysis, different methods of comparison and different designs in comparative politics;

• SLO2: different approaches to the study of comparative politics based on in-depth study of a small number of classical texts;

• SLO3: applicability of lessons from comparative politics (e.g., case selection and different comparative designs) to political research (e.g., in dissertations);

These specific learning outcomes contribute to achieving the general aims of ourundergraduate programmes, which aim to:• ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding of theories and

analysis in the disciplines of politics and international relations• develop students’ capacities to think critically about political events, ideas and

institutions• assist students to develop cognitive and transferable skills relevant to their

vocational and personal development (especially the critical analysis of complex literature and research designs)

generic learning outcomes 13. The intended generic learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their relationshipto programme learning outcomesSuccessful students will be able to:• GLO1: apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of politics to the

analysis of political ideas, institutions and practices;• GLO2: evaluate different interpretations of political issues and events;• GLO3: describe, evaluate and apply different approaches to collecting, analysing

and presenting political information;• GLO4: link theoretical arguments, empirical evidence and political events;• GLO5: critically analyse texts and other sources;• GLO6: Work with others (work co-operatively on group tasks, understand how

groups function,review and manage the effectiveness of a group, resolve conflict)These generic learning outcomes contribute to the intellectual skills in Section 12.B of theprogramme specifications for undergraduate programmes in the School of Politics andInternational Relations and point 3.2 (1)of the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Politics andInternational Relations.

• 13 A synopsis of the curriculum- The module is built around 12 lectures and 12 one-hour seminars.- The main topics to be introduced

• 14 Indicative Reading List• 15 Learning and Teaching Methods

including the nature and number of contact hours and the total study hours which will be expected of students, and how these relate to achievement of the intended learning outcomes(Independent studySeminarsPC Laboratory Sessions Lectures)

• 16 Assessment methods how these relate to testing achievement of the intended learning outcomes

• 17 Implications for learning resources, including staff, library, IT and space

• 18 A statement confirming that, as far as can be reasonably anticipated, the curriculum, learning and teaching methods and forms of assessment do not present any nonjustifiable disadvantage to students with disabilities