Politics at Strathclyde
From international conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, through elections in the UK and Scotland, to urban policies in Glasgow, politics is a broad discipline that encompasses the study of truly diverse issues. As a politics student, you will analyse the activities of decision-makers and governing institutions and how they are linked to citizens and groups at multiple-levels of decision-making. You will study ideas about the nature of politics and how power is conceived and exercised; and how policies are made to deal with conflicts at local, national and international levels. Students of politics are, therefore, well equipped to understand the world they live and work in, and can choose from a wide range of career opportunities.
Entry Requirements
For entry requirements and contact details please go to http://www.strath.ac.uk/scls/admissionrequirements/
Teaching Quality
In successive National Student Surveys our students have recorded an overall satisfaction rating of 91 per cent in 2007 and 2008 and 94 per cent in 2009. At the last national Teaching Quality Assessment in Scotland the Politics Division of the Department of Government achieved the only 'Excellent' grade to be awarded in Scotland.
Course Description and Structure
The course is designed to enable students to develop their academic interest in the study of politics as well as gaining essential skills that will be of value in their future careers. The politics programme builds from a broad introduction at level 1 to specialist study at level 4 by providing crucial developmental stepping-stones along the way.
Level 1
Students study three subjects at level 1. Students intending to take politics beyond level 1 are normally expected to take:
GT 102 Politics 1a (20 credits)
Students take this class in semester one and are not expected to have any prior knowledge of politics as an academic discipline. The class explores a series of essential concepts – from power to democracy, nation to citizenship, and security to terrorism.
GT 103 Politics 1b (20 credits)
This class is taught in the second semester and introduces students to the key institutions of government and governance. The relationships between formal and informal institutions, relations between different institutions and ‘levels’ of government as well as between state and non-state institutions are explored.
Level 2
The second year is organised around three core classes which build upon level 1 and provide firm foundations for more specialist study at levels 3 and 4.
Modern Political Thought (20 credits)
Key political theorists of the modern era are studied to enable students to develop an understanding of fundamental concepts such as: human nature, the state, political authority, political obligation, liberty, equality, justice, rights, law, property, democracy, political change, class and gender. The study of the key theorists provides an introduction to some of the main modern political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and feminism.
International Relations and Global Politics (20 credits)
This class helps students make sense of complex global processes and interactions by organising material around five broad themes – security, cooperation, economy, environment and identity. Each of these themes are discussed primarily in relation to a different IR theory and illuminated by case studies.
Contemporary British Governance (20 credits)
This class focuses on the British system of governance. It examines: governance at the centre (parliament, prime minister, cabinet, courts); dispersed governance at the sub-national and supra-national levels (local government, devolved bodies, agencies and quangos, and the EU); democracy and accountability in a complex system of governance (elections, parties, interest groups, public opinion and media); and adapting and coping (constitutional reform).
Level 3
Students wishing to proceed to politics at level 4 are required to take GT 305 Research Methods for Political Scientists but also have the opportunity to advance their study of politics by choosing from a wide range of options.
Compulsory class
GT 305 Research Methods for Political Scientists (20 credits)
There are three core reasons for this class. First, it equips students with foundational knowledge concerning the ways of knowing and the methods available to do this. Second, it provides students with an advantage in the job market compared to their contemporaries at other institutions where research methods have neither the breadth nor the depth of emphasis it has at Strathclyde. Finally, the group-work element of the class (survey design, implementation, evaluation, presentation, and report delivery) builds core teamwork and key skills.
Optional Classes (20 credits each)
American Politics, European Politics, Chinese Politics, Local Politics, Politics of European Integration, Scottish Politics, Quantitative Methods in Social Research, Elections and Voting in Britain, and War, Terrorism and Conflict.
Level 4
In addition to completing a dissertation, students build their studies around their specialist interests. They choose from a wide range of specialist seminars delivered by internationally renowned experts including: International Security, Green Politics, Territorial Politics in the UK, Feminism and Politics, Transforming Democracies, Political Parties, Difference and Democracy, The Welfare State in Comparative Public Policy, International Relations Theory in A Global Age, Crises, Disasters and Public Policy, and Human Rights in International Relations
Teaching and Assessment
Lectures are used to highlight key issues and debates which are then explored further through discussion in tutorials and online debates in virtual learning environments. Each class is assessed by a combination of coursework and an exam, designed to evaluate this understanding.
Career Opportunities
The choice of a politics degree opens up an extensive range of career options. Politics graduates are employed in management, teaching, the media, sales and advertising, local government, further and higher education and social work. Employers are particularly interested in the high-level written and verbal skills of Politics graduates, and their ability to research and analyse information.
Courses in Politics are recognised in the training of Modern Studies teachers, and a Politics degree is also particularly appropriate for entry to the civil service. Students who specialise in research methods acquire social science research skills and expertise in the use of computers, while the study of institutions is an extremely good background for those entering government service or communications, e.g. journalism, television and advertising.
Knowledge of the political process is useful in an industrial or business career and the degree provides a route of entry into industrial and business traineeships. There is also a tradition of Strathclyde Politics graduates entering academic research careers in Britain, Europe and North America.
Subject Combinations
Politics can be studied to single Honours, or joint Honours in combination with the following subjects. To apply for any of these combinations, you should use the code specified. If you wish to study Politics but are unsure about other subjects, you should apply under Politics (UCAS Code: L200 BA/Pol).
- Economics (UCAS: LL12 BA/EcPol)
- English (UCAS: QL32 BA/EPol)
- French (UCAS: RL12 BA/FrPol)
- Geography (UCAS: LL72 BA/GeoPol)
- German (UCAS: RL22 BA/GerPol)
- History (UCAS: VL12 BA/HisPol)
- Human Resource Management (UCAS: NL62 BA/HRMPol)
- Italian (UCAS tbc)
- Law (UCAS: ML12 BA/LawPol)
- Psychology (UCAS: LC28 BA/PolPsy)
- Sociology (UCAS: LL23 BA/PolSoc)
- Spanish (UCAS: LR24 BA/PolSpan)
Contact Details
contact-government@strath.ac.uk