Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2106: America in the World

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of this module are to provide you with a detailed examination of US foreign policy. A key emphasis of the module will be to enrich contemporary understandings of international crises and global security through the use of a range of theoretical approaches, keen use of empirical material and solid reasoning. Through taking this module and fully participating in it, you will leave with a grasp of key debates in US foreign policy and knowledge of potential global strategic trends based on historical evidence and analysis of current developments in global politics.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate good knowledge of key issues in international security as they pertain to US foreign policy and develop the capacity to apply this knowledge to a range of theoretical positions, case studies and international crises; 2. display knowledge of the contemporary historical dimensions of US foreign policy and world order;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. develop analytical understanding of the role of great powers, especially the US in helping shape world politics; 4. exercise informed judgment concerning the role of the US in world politics and how this role pertains to international security whilst locating arguments within an historical context;
Personal and Key Skills	5. conduct independent research, exercise critical judgment, write cogently and persuasively; 6. demonstrate personal responsibility for knowledge interpretation, assimilation and articulation. 7. 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
Group work and presentations. Students will present material covered in the course, either in a group or individually. There will be further small group work, where students discuss that weeks topics and then report back in a Q & A format.	20 minutes	1-4,6	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
0	100	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
Exam	100	2 hour exam	1-7	Marked and written
	0
	0
	0
	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 assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Exam	Exam (2 hours)	1-7	August/September re-assessment period.