BSc (Hons) Social and Political Sciences Bachelor's degree at the University of Leeds

This module introduces you to key concepts in the comparative study of politics and government. You'll understand why we compare different political behaviours and institutions, as well as how social and political scientists create and test theories about political life. You'll also learn about the basic varieties of political institutions and political cultures, and why some political systems are more democratic than others.

This module introduces you to today's key international issues, covering some of world politics' key developments along the way. You'll learn what has shaped the world we live in, touching upon topics like war, terrorism and nuclear proliferation. You'll also explore different facets of transnational politics (like human rights and international law) and specific parts of the world like the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

In this module, you'll be introduced to several core concepts and theoretical approaches in sociology. While many of us know a lot about society (because we're an important part of it) the module will give you the ideas (and perspectives) to turn your knowledge into a useful critical tool.

This module sees you exploring coloniality and modernity including their key themes, how these ideas came to be formed and both classic and contemporary debates surrounding them. You'll use decolonial thought and social theory to explore where modern societies came from and challenge the narratives around them as well.

In this module you'll learn more about different approaches to social research. Topics include research design, ethical issues, creating questionnaires, conducting interviews and observing participants. You'll also have the chance to attend a series of research seminars.

In this module you'll receive advanced training in International Relations Theory. You'll analyse rival theories and develop your critical thinking skills by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each one. Lectures and seminars will help you understand how theory and practice relate to each other on an international level.

In this module you'll get to grips with some of the 20th century's most important thinkers. You'll learn about them in a wider context, understanding the contemporary problems that each one was trying to solve. You'll also see how they sought to contest some of politics' most established ideas, and how these thinkers are still relevant to today's political problems.

This module explores how people with wildly different cultures, beliefs and moral values can live well together in society. It explores concepts such as justice, injustice, community and conflict, and how we can apply these ideas to social and political problems. You'll also discuss specific issues like hate speech, pornography and the morality of political protest.

In this part of the course you'll explore several key areas of social policy concern. You'll learn about ideological debates, comparative questions and how we make policy. You'll also be able to apply theoretical ideas to understand how social policies work in real life, within and without the UK.

This module focuses on some of sociology's key thinkers, sharing their ideas and how they have influenced one another. You'll also look at several ideas related to social integration including the individual and society, power and social change and the social basis of culture, beliefs and consciousness. These are applied to more familiar topics like religion, power, authority and sexuality, among others.

Your dissertation is an extensive piece of written work that involves research into a topic of your choice. It's an opportunity to pursue an area you're interested in or explore a theme from your second and third-year modules in greater detail.

This module will show you how to find a topic for your dissertation and turn that into a question you can research. You'll then choose one of five pathways through the module (based on a particular methodological approach) while helping you develop the skills to carry it out. You'll undertake a variety of different online tasks including quizzes, guided reading, short videos and participating in moderated discussion.