Final Project Course Descriptor

Course Overview

This course offers students a unique opportunity to carry out independent research aimed to produce a substantive in-depth piece of analysis which addresses a wider problem within Politics and International Relations. The course enables students to develop an ability to formulate research questions, access and then effectively use sources; and think critically about their methods of analysis. The final project may operate in one or some of the following areas: political science; political theory and the history of political thought; comparative politics; and international relations. Projects vary widely in their approach – they can be theoretical, empirical, historical, exegetical, or comparative – but they must address fundamentally political questions. In the course, students work closely with their supervisors in discussing the topic’s feasibility and in rigorously planning the following steps and delivery of the process. The course also comprises a series of workshops in which students learn to translate their research and findings in ways that not only can be expressed in a style appropriate to Politics and International Relations but also communicated to a wider audience of general public and practitioners. By so doing, the course prepares students for a future path in either postgraduate studies or professional career.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Employability Skills

Teaching and Learning

This course has a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) page with a syllabus and range of additional resources (e.g. readings, question prompts, tasks, assignment briefs, discussion boards) to orientate and engage you in your studies.

The scheduled teaching and learning activities for this course are:

Directed study and workshop

• 4-12 scheduled hours, the exact number varying according to the balance of 1:1s, 2:1s, or small groups. The plan will be confirmed by the start of the course, taking into account student numbers and the proposed topics,      readings and specific tasks.

Faculty hold regular ‘office hours’, which are opportunities for students to drop in or sign up to explore ideas, raise questions, or seek targeted guidance or feedback, individually or in small groups. 

Students are to attend and participate in all the scheduled teaching and learning activities for this course and to manage their directed learning and independent study.

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 300 hours

Assessment

Both formative and summative assessments are used as part of this course, with purely formative opportunities typically embedded within interactive teaching sessions, office hours, and/or the VLE.

Summative Assessments

The assessments will require students to apply their skills of independent research, selection of the literature and argumentation to the production of a substantive in-depth piece of analysis which addresses a wider problem within Politics and International Relations and whilst demonstrating ability to communicate arguments clearly in written and oral forms to diverse audiences:

Further information about the assessments can be found in the Course Syllabus.

Feedback

Students will receive formative and summative feedback in a variety of ways, written (e.g. marked up on assignments, through email or the VLE) or oral (e.g. as part of interactive teaching sessions or in office hours).

Indicative Reading

Note 1: Comprehensive and current reading lists are produced annually in Course Syllabi or other documentation provided to students, from which the student builds their own reading list, in collaboration with their supervisor.

Note 2. The indicative reading list provided below is for a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Grytham, B. (2009), How to Write your Undergraduate Dissertation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Swetnam, D. (2001), Writing Your Dissertation: How to Plan, Prepare and Present Your Work Successfully. Begbroke: How To Books Ltd.

Indicative Topics

Note: Comprehensive and current topics for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabi or other documentation provided to students; the indicative topics provided below are used as a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

•  Political science
•  Political theory
• Comparative politics
• International Relations
• Area studies in Politics and International Relations