BA (Hons) Politics 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.

This module will introduce you to the comparative approach to modern politics. We will cover theoretical and methodological approaches, giving you an understanding of these political analysis tools. You will then apply these to both authoritarian and democratic regimes. We will explore a range of political institutions and processes, and move beyond studying these in isolation to develop the analytical skill of comparison.

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.

On this module you will be introduced to British politics. Starting by exploring notions of structure and agency and how these are related within British politics, before looking at the key institutions within British politics such as the Executive, Parliament, the Judiciary and the Civil Service. The final part of the module will encourage you to explore how we can engage with formal politics through exploring institutions such as pressure groups and the media. Throughout this module you will g

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

On this module you will investigate key issues in political philosophy, learning about the ideas of thinkers throughout the history of political thought. Through this you will learn the skills to respond to fundamental issues in political thought, questioning who should rule, why we should we obey the state, and what a just society looks like. Throughout the module you will develop your analytical skills by examining arguments and perspectives based on philosophical and conceptual frameworks.

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.

Explore the origins and evolution of the political ideologies that have shaped major social and political developments from the 18th century to the present day. On this module you will consider the ideological movements that have emerged as critical responses to the mainstream. The ideological traditions you study may include: Liberalism, Conservatism, Anarchism, Nationalism, Fascism, Feminism, Environmentalism, Multiculturalism

The Conservative Party was once called the "natural party of government" and has dominated British politics since its incorporation in the mid eighteenth century. This module explores the traditions and ideas within Conservative party thought, from the Tamworth Manifesto of 1834 to the present day.

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

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 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

This module will explore the development of Labour's ideology. It will draw upon key thinkers to assess how the Party's ideology has evolved over time. We will focus on three main questions: Does the Labour Party subscribe to an ideology? What is the Labour Party's understanding of equality? What has the relationship been between the Labour Party and external groups (such as trade unions)?

On this module you will learn about the infrastructure of the British state, deepening your knowledge of the structures and processes of governing. We will examine theoretical and conceptual perspectives that have attempted to explain and understand structures and processes of governance. This may include: Critiques of the Westminster Model, The Differentiated Polity, Asymmetric Power Model, Principal-Agent Theory, Mapping the state, Autonomy and control, Problems of accountability, Devolved Gov

On this module you will explore how longstanding questions about social and distributive justice are of increasing concern at a global level, for both philosophers and activists. We will confront fundamental questions of justice, and examine how approaches to justice have evolved in social, international and global contexts.