Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3054: Nuclear Weapons in International Relations

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

Module Aims

This module will provide you with:

A grasp of the history of nuclear weapons over three ‘Ages’ from monopoly to Cold War to the 21^st Century;
The opportunity to evaluate competing visions of how nuclear weapons should be understood;
A critical understanding of debates around what drives proliferation and disarmament;
A vital context for judging the validity of competing theoretical approaches to International Relations

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 knowledge and understanding of key issues revolving around nuclear weapons and international security; 2. apply this awareness to contemporary problems of proliferation and counter-proliferation;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. display an understanding of the evolution of strategic theory and international relations theory, and their utility for contemporary decision-making; 4. exercise informed judgement about change and continuity in international relations;
Personal and Key Skills	5. conduct independent research, exercise critical judgement and write clearly and persuasively; 6. demonstrate the ability to analyse complex and fast-changing problems and to have the confidence individually and as part of a group to design and advocate workable strategic solutions; and 7. 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
Essay plan feedback	Over Term 2	1-6	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
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
Examination	50	1.5 hours	1-7	Written comments
Essay	50	3,000 word essay	1-6	Written comments

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	1.5 hour examination	1-7	August-September re-assessment period
Essay	3,000 word essay	1-6	August-September re-assessment period