Politics & International Relations: Course structures, Admissions and Alternatives Dr. Neil McGarvey, Associate Dean (Undergraduate) Senior Academic Selector BA in Humanities and Social Sciences
Politics & International Relations: Lecture Outline • Course Structure in Strathclyde & Scottish Universities. • UCAS & The Application Process. • Politics & International Relations at the University of Strathclyde. • What can you do with a degree in Politics & International Relations?
Politics & International Relations BA (Hons) degrees in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Can be combined with Humanities subjects: English, History, Journalism & Creative Writing, French, Italian, Spanish. … Social Science subjects: Education, Law, Psychology, Social Policy New Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) Degree from 2016-17
BA degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences Subjects can be combined with some in Business School: Economics Human Resource Management Marketing Tourism Science Faculty: Mathematics The University of Strathclyde Course Structure is not unlike that at Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and other Scottish Universities
Politics & International Relations Degree Structure Year 1: Politics & International Relations + two subjects Year 2: Politics & International Relations + narrow down to two subjects Years 3 and 4: Single (one subject) honours or two subjects (joint or major/minor honours) All students have the opportunity to spend Year 3 abroad in Europe, North and Central America, Asia, Australia & New Zealand .
Politics & International Relations/PPE BA entry requirements: all BA (H&SS) degrees AAAA at Higher from one sitting or AAAAB from two (require an AAB 5 th year profile to have a realistic chance of a conditional offer) HNC in Social Sciences with A in the graded unit SWAP access course with ABB in the grades profile Second year entry possible for HND in Social Science for applicants with ABB in the graded units including classes in the relevant subjects
Admissions • Admission to full-time study is via the UCAS system • Operating a Gathered Field admissions process • Entry competitive (2015-16: 4800 applications for 455 BA places). Number of applications going up, number of places going down. • Satisfactory References and Personal Statements required • Grade concessions for SIMD40, Focus West applicants and Care Leavers
UCAS and course choices (same processes for all Scottish Universities) • UCAS-University and Colleges Admissions Service • Acknowledges, checks, records, distributes • UCAS does not make the offer • Deadlines very important – School deadlines – UCAS deadlines • Make Five Degree Choices (no order of preference) • Universities can only see your choices to their institution
Sources of Information when deciding which university – UCAS website – University Prospectuses and websites – key information sets – University Open Days – Careers Conventions – Teachers – League tables
UCAS personal statement • Motivation for studying a politics and international relations; academic interests. • Work experience and skills accrued. • Interests and hobbies. • Any positions of responsibility held, contribution to community. • Articulates ideas about likely/possible career(s).
UCAS reference • Required from teacher - comments on your overall academic ability. • Comment on your motivation and attitude towards study (e.g. via attendance, participation in class discussions etc.). • Corroborate any special circumstances stated in personal statement.
Why Politics & International Relations at Strathclyde? • Teaching Quality. The lecturers teaching you are have often written the key teaching resources used.
• University of Strathclyde Politics has a 97% overall satisfaction (the highest of any subject at Strathclyde) • Politics at Strathclyde is Scotland's top-ranked politics department in terms of overall satisfaction and teaching. • In National Student Survey 2015 Politics at Strathclyde is 8th (out of 81) in the UK in terms of overall satisfaction . For comparison, politics at University of Glasgow is 49th , University of Aberdeen 59th, University of Edinburgh is 65th.
Why Politics & International Relations at Strathclyde? • Research Quality. • High quality professorial research active staff who are teaching on courses. • All are experts in their teaching fields.
Why Politics & International Relations at Strathclyde? • Strathclyde has a long tradition of ‘real world’ research informing quality teaching in a student friendly environment. • Was ranked No.1 in Scotland for research impact. 7 th (of 56) in the UK. • Was ranked No.2 in Scotland for overall research and 11 th (of 56) in the UK Was ranked
Why Politics at Strathclyde? • Engagement with the Outside World.
Politics & International Relations at Strathclyde YEAR ONE • L2102 Politics & International Relations : Concepts • Power, Democracy, Nation, Citizenship, Security, Terrorism. • L2103 Politics & International Relations : Government and Governance • Key formal and informal institutions. Executives, Legislatures, Intergovernmental Bodies, Supra-national, Global bodies.
Year 2 • International Relations and Global Politics Security, cooperation, economy, environment and identity in a global political environment. • Comparative Politics Comparative analysis of different political systems and processes • Political Philosophy Key concepts such as: human nature, the state, political authority, political obligation, liberty, equality, justice, political change, class and gender. Political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and feminism.
Years 3 & 4 • Students can specialise in whatever areas of politics they choose. We offer classes in American Politics, European Politics, Chinese Politics, UK Politics, Scottish Politics, Quantitative Methods, Elections, War, Terrorism and Conflict, Parliamentary Studies. International Development, International Security, Green Politics, Feminism, Political Parties, International Relations Theory , Religion & Politics, Regulatory Politics, Governance and Development, US Foreign Policy and more.
Careers after a Politics & International Relations BA • As part of the BA we run a structured Personal Development Planning system designed encourage student reflection on and acquisition of study and employment-related skills (confidence, self- expression/awareness, written and oral communication skills, self- reliance and problem solving, analytical and research skills). • Universities have dedicated careers service units to help guide students into graduate employment. • Politics & International Relations BA students go on to wide variety of careers in government, law, education, research, media, health and social welfare, commerce and industry. • Most graduate employers in banking, commerce and industry recruit graduates from any discipline i.e. politics and IR graduates are welcome to apply.
Contact: General admissions enquiries: hass-admissions-ba@strath.ac.uk
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