Undergraduate Course: Introduction to International Relations (SSPS07003)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course is for HSS International Foundation Programme students only. It is not available to undergraduate students.
This course is designed for students on the HSS International Foundation Programme. It will give students a broad introduction to International Relations and equip students with the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in a social sciences degree. |
| Course description |
Week 1
Introducing IR: (i) overview of course; (ii) the historical background; (iii) globalisation.
Week 2
Theories: (i) Realism, Liberalism; (ii) contemporary variants; (iii) Marxist theories of international relations.
Week 3
Theories: (i) Social constructivism; (ii) Poststructuralism; (iii) international ethics.
Week 4
Structures and Agents: War, peace and security. This theme will inform all three tutorials.
Week 5
Structures and Agents: (i) International political economy; (ii) gender; international law; (iii) transnational actors.
Week 6
Key issues: (i) the environment; (ii) terrorism; (iii) nuclear proliferation.
Week 7
Key issues: (i) global trade and finance; (ii) poverty and development; human rights; (iii) humanitarian intervention in world politics.
Week 8
Review; (i) & (ii) continuity and change in international relations; (iii) preparing for the essay.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Lifelong Learning - Session 3 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Two components:
¿ Assessment 1: reflective blog posted by students based on reading. Each student will post 300-400 words once during the course and other students will comment. This will enable comprehension, practice in writing and group interaction. Worth 25% of the total course mark.
¿ Assessment 2: 2000 word essay submitted after the course finishes, worth 75% of the total course mark.
To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40% in the combined mark (and a minimum of 30% in each assessment component).
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main theories in IR;
- Reflect on the way structures and agents constitute international relations and world politics;
- Analyse contemporary issues in the light of different theories and the structure/agent relationship;
- Demonstrate an insight into the debate on and effects of globalisation.
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Reading List
Baylis, J., Smith, S., and Owens, P. eds., 2010. The Globalization of World Politics, 5th ed. Oxford: OUP.
Recommended
Lawson, S., 2003. International Relations. Cambridge: Polity.
Web sources
Web sources associated with The Globalization of World Politics
www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/orc/baylis5e/
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course will enable students to develop skills of critical analysis and the capacity to express ideas and knowledge both in writing and in group discussion. This will be especially helpful in preparing students for first year degree study. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Kate Mchugh
Tel: (0131 6)51 1589
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Benjamin Mcnab
Tel: (0131 6)51 4832
Email: |
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