BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations Bachelor's degree at York St John University

This module is your introduction to the academic study of Politics. Through it you will become familiar with basic terms, concepts, methodologies and issues in the study of politics, which will prepare you for the rest of your degree. We will explore the diverse definitions and the scope of politics, and discuss what politics means to you. We will also introduce you to some of the essential skills needed to succeed a degree level, including academic writing, researching and referencing.

Through this module you will gain a comprehensive historical overview of world politics and the most important themes and concepts needed to study it. This will provide you with a strong foundation from which you can build your knowledge as your progress through your degree. You will also develop the essential skills for engaging with academic literature, constructing effective arguments and working within conceptual frameworks. On this module you will be introduced to British politics. Starting

This module will provide you with a detailed understanding of the policy and academic practice of international development and the key debates surrounding issues of global inequality and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By exploring both historical change and contemporary issues of poverty, inequality and global justice, you will develop a broad understanding of key concepts and relevant literature, as well as critically reflecting on the geographically diverse pict

Security studies is an essential part of international relations, and it involves a range of approaches, traditions and debates. On this module you will develop the skills needed to critically analyse and reflect on the historical development of security threats and challenges. This will involve focusing on specific case studies, debating and discussing the policy decision making they prompted.

International Relations addresses the fundamental nature of power in the international system. The approaches used in this module are essential for understanding regional, international and global events. We will introduce you to some of the major theories in international relations, such as: Realism, Liberalism, Neoliberalism, Marxism, Critical theory, Constructivism, Feminism, Postcolonialism. Using case studies and coverage of historical and contemporary events, you will consider how you can

Democracy is the dominant form of political organisation around the world, and to study Politics it is essential to fully understand how it is put into practice. On this module you will explore the development and evolution of democracy. This includes discussions on the concept and various models of democracy, as well as the institutions (executives, legislatures, judiciaries) and processes (electoral and party systems) that rely on it. The module includes a comparative analysis of democratic st

On this module you will focus your studies on a particular geographical region, for example, East Asia, South America, Africa or the Middle East, investigating important relationships, movements, dynamics and political figures within this region. Using primary and secondary sources, you will assess historical developments and contemporary issues, as well as considering the impact of recent global developments on the region, such as climate change, technology and changing identities. This will he

Our politics degree teaches you to understand not just political concepts, but also how politics is studied and researched. This module will give you an overview of the different theoretical and methodological approaches used to study the political world.

On this module you will have the chance to take part in work related learning and explore the possibilities your degree will offer for your career. We will help you to transfer the skills and knowledge you acquire throughout the course to the workplace. You can choose to complete a minimum of 10 days work experience, or focus on a work related project. It is your responsibility to find your placement, with advice on how to do this included within the module.

This module explores the diverse types of elections and referendums in the UK. It draws on empirical examples to ask how aggregate decisions are made. You will be asked to compare the use of elections (representative democracy) and referendums (direct democracy). The final half of the module explores the role of votes within elections and asks what factors influences decisions to (not) vote. Through drawing on empirical evidence this module will help you to develop quantitative skills and critic

This module focuses on the relationship between international politics and economics. You will learn about power structures within the contemporary global economy, and consider who the winners and losers are within these interactions. You will also reflect on how your everyday financial decisions feed into the broader dynamics of the global economy, considering how your choices affect others and reinforce existing power structures.

This year long module will involve working independently to research a topic of your choice within the field of Politics. It is the culmination of your studies, and your chance to explore a topic that you are passionate about. You will plan, research, and write a piece of work that demonstrates your ability to structure a sustained argument, research effectively and think independently. A dissertation supervisor will help you define and develop your project throughout the year.

This module explores the persistence of authoritarian rule in the 21st century. You will study the characteristics of authoritarian systems, along with the structures, actors and actions that foster and maintain them. You will also consider the place of authoritarian systems in international politics, and examine their relationships with totalitarianism and democracy. This will involve using case studies to illustrate and analyse theoretical and conceptual approaches to authoritarianism.

On this module you will explore the politics of the Middle East, beginning with the historical context. You will go on to examine internal and external factors affecting the region, such as rising Arab identity and nationalism, and a rejection of colonial rule. Discussions will cover contemporary issues such as the regional economy, the role of Islam, conflict, women, dictatorship and democracy. You will also examine the Middle East from an international relations perspective, focusing on the in

On this module you will explore in detail the institutions, structures and processes of global governance. In particular we will focus on the institutions of the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. We will also cover regional organisations such as the European Union, and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations. Global issues will be examined to analyse the work of these institutions, which may include: Human rights, International terrorism, Glob

Global health concerns are becoming increasingly central to ongoing debates about the social impact of worldwide economic and environmental change. During this module you will learn about contemporary health issues from the point of view of both international relations and ethics, and explore the connections between these approaches. You will study: Infectious and non infectious diseases, The relationship between war and disease, The role of the World Health Organisation, Health in foreign polic

This module takes the much-used phrase "culture war" as the basis for an examination of the interaction between politics and culture within political theory and beyond. You will learn about theoretical developments on this topic, before addressing a range of recent and contemporary case studies of "culture war". Topics may include: The politics of media regulation, Social media and identity politics, Propaganda, misinformation and conspiracy theories, Sociology of the public sphere.