Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3074: The Politics of Climate Change

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Challenges of climate change mitigation governance
  • Challenges of climate adaptation governance 
  • The Political economy of climate change: the role of markets and business
  • Climate policy instruments
  • Politicisation of climate science
  • Climate scepticism 
  • Public understanding and engagement with climate change 
  • International dimensions of climate change – Development, equity and justice 
  • International dimensions of climate change – Human rights and migration politics
  • International dimensions of climate change – international policy
  • Climate change and sustainable futures

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
442560

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity4422 x 2 hour Seminars
Guided Independent Study118Reading and seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study34Learning diary writing and preparation
Guided Independent Study4Role play preparation
Guided Independent Study20Poster research and preparation
Guided Independent Study80Case study research and writing

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Case study plan1000 words1-8Written convener feedback and oral peer feedback
Sample learning diary450 words1-8, 10Written from lecturer and from peers

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
85015

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Role play group presentation and participation15The role play will take place over two seminars. In total each group with formally present for 20 minutes.1, 2, 6 and 9written feedback at the end of the module
Poster15A31-8Written and oral feedback
Analytical Case Study303,000 words1-8Written feedback
Reflexive learning diary term 120Students reflect on their seminar learning approximately 150 words a week (total: 1500 words)1-8, 10Written feedback
Reflexive learning diary term 220Students reflect on their seminar learning approximately 150 words a week (total: 1500 words)1-8, 10Written feedback
0
0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Role play group presentation and participationOral viva (10 minutes)1,2,6 & 9Term 3
PosterPoster (A3)1-8August/September Re-assessment period
Analytical Case StudyAnalytical Case-Study (3,000 words)1-8August/September Re-assessment period
Reflexive learning diary term 1Literature review (1,500 words)1-8, 10Term 2/Term 3
Reflexive learning diary term 2Literature review (1,500 words)1-8, 10August/September Re-assessment period