IR1005 Concepts in Global Politics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 7

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to First Year Students in the Faculties of Arts and Divinity. The maximum enrolment in this module is 475 students. The module is not available to students in second year and above. If the module is over-subscribed at the end of the main advising period (after Wednesday in Orientation Week), a random ballot will be held for students who are not on an International Relations degree programme or a supported pathway (Gateway and FE-HE) programme or Visiting students who have enrolled on the module. Any student who is unsuccessful in the ballot will be contacted and asked to choose an alternative module.

Planned timetable

10.00 am Mon, Tue, Wed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M O'Dwyer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module introduces students to the foundational features of the academic discipline of International Relations. It begins by considering what it means to study global politics and then examines a range of key themes including sovereignty and globalisation, power, war and diplomacy, wealth and poverty, and the natural environment. In so doing, the module provides a grounding in core concepts that characterise International Relations.

Assessment pattern

50% written examination and 50% coursework

Re-assessment

100% written examination

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 x 1-hour lectures (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks). Tutors offer 1h consultation (office) hours (x 10 weeks) and the Year Coordinator holds 2h consultation (office) hours (x 12 weeks). A further consultation session will be offered in week 1 of the following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

77

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

123

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • The diligent student completing the requirements of this module will acquire: • An understanding of methods and theories for analysing international relations, which can also be used to analyse a wider range of social and political interactions;
  • • An understanding of the relationship between agents and structures at the global level and how such relations constitute politics and social life;
  • • Knowledge of how conflicts at the global level arise, how they are managed, and how they fail to be managed at times, leading to outcomes such as war and economic instability;
  • • Knowledge of how, despite formal anarchy, the international system can produce cooperative outcomes, such as international organizations and legal regimes;
  • • The ability to conduct scholarly research on issues of importance in international relations;
  • • The ability to explain and defend arguments through tutorial presentations, writing essays and by examination.