Module POL1028 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL1028: Introduction to Strategic Studies
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module will:
- Introduce you to the basic concepts in strategic theory.
- Enable you to explore the dimensions in which strategy is practiced.
- Enable you to examine and analyse how strategy has been practiced throughout different historical periods in order to achieve awareness of the differences between the ages.
- Enable you to explore in particular the problems and challenges that resulted from significant changes in the practice of warfare.
- Provide you with a foundational basis for further graduate study and post-graduate study in defence and security issues, or for a career in government, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, media, or the security forces.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of strategy and its manifestation across different dimensions of warfare. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical thinkers behind various forms of strategic practice. 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the evolution of the practice of warfare throughout the ages. 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges posed to strategic thinking and practice at the turn of the 21st century. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. Examine secondary and primary source material in the field of war, strategic and conflict studies. 6. Demonstrate awareness of the key concepts and debates relating to the study of war and its changing character. 7. Evaluate competing conceptions and theories of warfare. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. Study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively. 9. Communicate effectively in writing. 10. Demonstrate analytical skills through tutorial discussions and module assessments. 11. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the internet, online journal databases and other IT resources for the purposes of tutorial and assessment preparation. 12. Work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task. |
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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy assessment | 500 words | 1-11 | Oral |
| Essay Outline | 500 words | 1-11 | Oral |
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.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 40 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 40 | 1 hour | 1-12 | Written |
| Essay | 60 | 2,500 words | 1-11 | Written |
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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Examination (1 hour) | 1-12 | August /September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (2,500 words) | 1-11 | August/September reassessment period |
