Undergraduate Course: Scotland: Society and Politics (vs1) (SSPS10013)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Part-year visiting students only |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This is an honours level variant of the second year course Scotland: Society and Politics and is only available to visiting students. (All other students may undertake the parallel course code SSPS08005)
This course allows Visiting students to focus on the society and polity around them, and to fully share class time with University of Edinburgh students. It includes an opportunity to conduct a modest research project with the support of a tutor. It draws on the wealth of scholars researching aspects of Scottish society and politics within the School of Social and Political Science and the wider university. There are two lectures a week (a total of 20 lectures) and weekly group tutorials from week 2 to week 11. The first six tutorials guide the student through his or her research project and attendance is very important. The remaining tutorials focus on exam revision. The bulk of the assessment is divided between an exam and a research project report on an aspect of Scottish society or politics. 10% is allocated to tutorial participation. |
| Course description |
The course centres on the following six overlapping themes. Elements of each runs throughout the course but some lectures focus more explicitly on one theme.
1. Inequalities and Opportunities
2. Representations of Scotland
3. Governance and Party Politics
4. Policy in Devolved Scotland
5. Nationalism & Identity
6. Scotland and its Others
Indicative Lecture List (note this will vary from year to year)
The 'Death' and Re-invention of Scotland (Ewen Cameron, History)
What is Scottish Society? (David McCrone, Institute of Governance )
Who's Scottish: issues of identity (Ross Bond/Michael Rosie, Sociology)
Which Scotland? inequalities and divisions (Lynn Jamieson, Sociology)
Public administration, public policy in Scotland (Richard Parry, Social Policy)
Governing Scotland After Devolution (Nicola McEwen, Politics & IR)
Parties and Elections (Nicola McEwen, Politics & IR)
Whose Scotland? issues of land (Lynn Jamieson, Sociology)
Whose Scotland? Migration & belonging (Kim Masson)
Scotland's Diaspora in historical Context (Alexander Murdoch, History)
Scotland in the UK and Europe (Nicola McEwen, Politics & IR)
Crime and Criminal Justice in Scotland (Lesley McAra, Law School)
Social Policy in Scotland (Richard Parry, Social Policy)
The Case of the Children's Panel (Mark Smith, Social Work)
Civil Society in a Scottish Context (Alison Elliot, Scottish Council for Voluntary Service)
Language (Wilson McLeod, School of Scottish Studies)
Highlands and heritage (Michael Rosie, Sociology)
Scotland's Future (Alice Brown, Scotland's first Ombudsman and David McCrone)
Questions and Answer session (Michael Rosie/ Lynn Jamieson, Richard Parry)
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | "This is an honours level variant of the second year course Scotland: Society and Politics and is only available to visiting students. (All other students may undertake the parallel course code SSPS08005) |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
Through taking this course students will gain:
A critically informed overview of contemporary Scottish society, politics, and social policy, locating Scotland historically and within a global context.
An ability to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in social science disciplines to the society and polity around them.
Critical understanding of and engagement with selected social, cultural and political issues in contemporary Scotland.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lectures are on Mondays and Thursdays 11-12.
The research essay is based on a hands-on data gathering min-project which students conduct over 5 weeks of the course with the support of a tutor with a focus on one of the six course themes.
The take-home exam consists of two 1,500 word essays written in a three week period. Students will be given six essay questions, one from each course theme and be told that one of the topics is prohibited because it is the subject of their research essay. The submission sheet will require them to declare which course theme their research essay addressed and the penalty for failing to honestly observe this restriction will be a fail on one essay.
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| Keywords | Scotland, society, politics, policy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Michael Rosie
Tel: (0131 6)51 1651
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Karen Dargo
Tel: (0131 6)51 1306
Email: |
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