Undergraduate Course: Introduction to International Relations (SSPS07003)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| 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 CAHSS International Foundation Programme students only. It is not available to undergraduate students.
This course will give students a broad introduction to international relations. The course will explore the relations between states and the impact of globalisation on national politics.
An important aspect of this course is the examination of the main concepts used to assess international relations. Students will be introduced to classic key theories and new approaches, and will learn to apply these in a real-world context. Students will also develop skills in critical analysis and the capacity to express ideas and knowledge both in writing and in group discussion.
These theoretical approaches will be related to real world politics and key issues such as the concept of structures and agents, nuclear proliferation, terrorism and humanitarian interventions. |
| Course description |
Academic Description:
The course will provide an overview of concepts and methodological approaches in the study of international relations and globalisation. The students will develop skills in critical analysis of international structures, agents and global issues, as well as the capacity to express ideas and knowledge both in writing and in group discussion. The overall aim is to help students acquire a conceptual vocabulary for analysing a variety of aspects pertaining to international relations from a theoretical perspective.
Outline Content:
This course debates the major principles, concepts, actors, and theories of the international system and their application to current
issues in world affairs. It will examine three major theoretical approaches drawn from different intellectual traditions in the discipline: realism, liberalism, constructivism. Additionally, it will look at contemporary debates on power-structures and globalisation. It will also assess current global issues such as security, governance and global institutions, global trade and finance, the environment and poverty.
Student Learning Experience:
The course consists of lectures and seminars. Lecture classes will be a combination of a lecture, followed by small group activities, and ending with a question and answer session. Seminars will be more informal, with more time spent on conversation, implementation of theoretical concepts, class activities and revision. The course material is cumulative, so each class will build on the information from previous classes.
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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
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main theories in IR;
- Employ skills of interpretation, argument and critical analysis both in writing and discussion;
- Identify key agents and structures that constitute international relations;
- Apply theories of international relations to explain contemporary issues in global politics;
- Apply the theoretical knowledge gained in analyses of concrete processes and changes in contemporary international relations.
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Reading List
Essential:
Baylis, J., Smith, S., Owens, P., eds., 2017. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. 7th ed. Oxford: OUP.
Other readings will be made available via Leganto. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
By the end of the course students should have strengthened their skills in: critical analysis; comparative study; participation in group discussion and practical tasks. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Shona Warwick
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: |
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