International Relations (BSc Econ)

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars.

Lectures take a range of forms but generally provide a broad structure for each subject, introduce key concepts, and convey relevant up-to-date information.

Seminars provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss key ideas in a small group environment. Their purpose is to assist you to integrate the information and ideas you receive from lectures and readings and to explore issues critically and in depth. Set questions and readings form the basis for discussion by directing your attention to relevant aspects of the subject matter and to various types of sources of information. Giving presentations develops your capacity to gather, organise and synthesise relevant information and ideas and to communicate these in a logical and concise manner. Tutor-led and student-led discussion hones logical skills and gives you practice in applying different concepts, theories and methods to the subject-matter at hand. It also exposes you to different interpretations of political ideas and events. Group problem-solving helps to develop collaborative skills.

Welsh language provision

This programme provides opportunities for learning and teaching through the medium of Welsh. Seminar teaching in Welsh is available in modules in each year. You may elect to write all or some of your assessed work and examinations in Welsh. If you are in receipt of a Coleg Cymraeg scholarship you are required to take a prescribed number of Welsh medium modules in order to fulfill the terms of your scholarship, the need for which is accommodated within each module collection.
 

How will I be supported?

You will be allocated a personal tutor who will help you reflect on your performance on the programme and advise you on study techniques, module selection and career planning (in conjunction with the University’s Career Service). They will also provide a first point of contact if you experience any difficulties. Additionally, all teaching staff keep prescribed office hours when you can meet with them and discuss any learning queries arising from the module or from your studies in general.

All modules within the programme make extensive use of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, Learning Central, where you can access discussion forums and find course materials including multimedia materials, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises, discussion groups, etc. You will also be able to reflect on your progress and on the skills that you will develop through a section on the University’s Central Learning site called Planning Personal Development.

Within modules, the requirements and expectations of learning and assessment will be explained carefully by the module leader within the class and through supporting materials available on Learning Central.

Many modules include early forms of assessment designed to monitor progress and provide feedback before longer pieces of coursework and final exams. You will receive written feedback on all coursework.

A range of staff are available to provide further support, including a specialist librarian. A member of academic staff acts as a designated Disability and Diversity Officer and ensures that reasonable adjustments are made for students with disabilities.

Centrally the University has a range of services to support you, including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.

Feedback

Essays and examinations are used not only for assessment purposes but also as a means of developing your capacities to gather, organise, evaluate and deploy relevant information and ideas from a variety of sources in reasoned arguments. Prior advice and written feedback (for essays) are used to help you understand what is required.

Formative feedback does not contribute to progression or degree classification decisions. The goal of formative feedback is to improve your understanding and learning before you complete your summative assessment. More specifically, formative feedback helps you to:

• Identify your strengths and weaknesses and target areas that need work.
• Help staff to support you and address the problems identified with targeted strategies for improvement.

Summative feedback does conribute to progression or degree classification decisions. The goal of summative assessment is to indicate how well you have succeeded in meeting the intended learning outcomes of a Module or Programme and will enable you to identify any action required in order to improve. All feedback should directly link to the Module grading / assessment criteria.

Feedback is given in tutorials, discussion classes and problems classes as well as through individual written comments on coursework.

How will I be assessed?

Year one is an introductory year. Results from Years two and three determine degree classification.

The programme structure is intended to progressively develop skills of academic study and independent research. This is delivered via levels based teaching and supported by, for example, study skills support at first year, specific research training at second year and longer research essays, primary research exercises and, if selected, the dissertation at third year.

Forms of teaching and assessment across the three years of the programme will include a wide range of methods and approaches, from essays and exams to group work, blogs, primary document analysis, writing briefings and learning diaries.
 

What skills will I practise and develop?

On completion of this programme you will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of various international relations theories, the nature of the international system and of global power structures (with main focus in terms of agencies such as States, International Organisations and other non-State actors) together with a command of associated transferable skills, such as:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Understanding the nature and significance of politics as a global activity.
• Demonstrating critical knowledge and understanding of historical evolution and contemporary character of world politics.
• Applying concepts and theories used in the study of international relations to the analysis of political ideas, practices and issues in the global arena.
• Making use of various categories of evidence to illustrate the applicability and limitations of the aforementioned concepts, theories and methods.
• Evaluating different interpretations of world political issues and events.
• Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of key aspects of contemporary international relations, embracing global and also regional studies.
• Critically engaging with contemporary research materials in the relevant areas of international relations.
• Effectively managing time, tasks and resources.

Intellectual Skills:

• Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of sources.
• Develop a reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement.
• Reflect on your own learning and make use of constructive feedback.
• Manage your own learning self-critically.
• Communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management.
• Collaborate with others and contribute to the achievement of common goals.
• Use communications and information technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information.