BA Philosophy and Politics

Year 3

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Arts)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme students should:
1. be able to engage in reasoned discussion of often highly charged topics with people of opposing views;
2. be able to identify the underlying issues in a debate, to analyse complex problems and to detect relevance and irrelevance;
3. be able to construct a reasoned argument for a point of view, and to present it in clear, structured prose;
4. display openness and independence of mind: be receptive to new ideas and approaches, and be able to subject them to critical scrutiny;
5. be able to read and analyse complex texts, and be sensitive to issues of interpretation;
6. display knowledge and understanding of some central theories and arguments in general philosophy, applied philosophy and the history of philosophy;
7. have first-hand experience of the writings of some major philosophers;
8. be able to engage in informed reflection on their own lives and place in the world, and on the presuppositions of other people, other times and other disciplines.

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:
- demonstrate in-depth grasp of specialist aspects of political systems/processes and/or specialist topics in political theory
- apply recognised theories/approaches/methodologies within the discipline of political analysis within an extended research project
- develop and complete an extended research project which analyses a particular areas.
- use theories and concepts to critically appraise specialist aspects of political systems/processes or key conceptual debates within political analysis (or cognate disciplines where appropriate)
- present structured and well-researched evaluation of specialist debates within the discipline of political analysis
-generate and support one’s own interpretations of specialist within political analysis and cognate disciplines where appropriate

Transferable (key) skills

By the end of the programme students should: be able to
-Conduct independent research work within the discipline; ability to critically evaluate in-depth debates; ability to utilise a range of information sources towards producing appraisal and evaluation; ability to work in independent yet guided way

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:
- dissertation; essay/exam
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These will demonstrate the ability to:
- use the scholarly literature
- analyse and evaluate arguments
- show self-discipline and self-direction
- conduct independent work.