Module POL2117 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL2117: Great Power Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module will provide you with:
- Theoretical understanding of the causes of great power competition and cooperation, including both the comparison of theories to explore their explanatory utility and the application of theory to contemporary debates in great power relations;
- Empirical knowledge of past and present great power interactions, thereby providing an evidence base with which to assess the competing claims of different explanatory theories as well as the background knowledge that informs our understanding of contemporary problems; and
- Applicable insights for national security strategy/policy.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key issues around great power politics and international relations. 2. Apply this awareness to contemporary problems of strategy and statecraft. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Display an understanding of the evolution of international relations and strategic theory, and their utility for contemporary decision-making. 4. Exercise informed judgement about change and continuity in international politics. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. Conduct independent research, exercise critical judgement, and write clearly and persuasively. 6. Demonstrate the ability to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-class participation | Weekly lecture-seminars | 1-6 | Verbal, in-class |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 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 | 50 | 1.5 hours | 1-6 | Mark |
| Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-6 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | Exam (1.5 hours) | 1-6 | August\September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-6 | August\September reassessment period |
