Political Science Broad Curriculum
Module Code: BC POLS
Module Name: Citizens, Politics and Decisions
- ECTS Weighting: 5
- Semester/Term Taught: Michaelmas
- Contact Hours: 2 lectures a week (part of PO1600); 1 fortnightly seminar
- Module Personnel: Lecturer - Professor Jaqueline Hayden/ Seminar Leader Magdalena Staniek
Learning Outcomes
Students will be equipped with a number of skills which will enable them to have an impact on policy making. These skills are effective researching of quality information, understanding of political institutions, political analysis and effective written communication. The overall aim is to develop your ability to effectively communicate complicated and often controversial ideas.
- Students will become familiar with the concepts and theories outlined above, allowing them a more refined understanding of the complexities of politics.
- Students from all disciplines will become more informed and articulate citizens, capable of informed participation in the political process at large.
- Students will be taught how to develop their ability to effectively communicate complicated and often controversial ideas.
- Students will be equipped with skills to allow them to analyse, engage and evaluate political systems.
- Students will be able to hone their critical writing skills and communicate concepts effectively.
- Students will have developed presentational skills and be able to participate in informed discussion.
Module Learning Aims
This course aims to enable students from all disciplines to become informed and articulate citizens, capable of impacting on important political decisions. This course aims to provide students with an introduction to the worlds of politics and political science. The lecture series will introduce students to the key concepts and theories used by political scientists to make sense of the political world. These include power, the state, ideology, and the role and nature of political institutions, as well as competing normative and empirical conceptualisations of what constitutes a 'democratic' political system.
Module Content
Current political issues will be addressed as they arise, and students will develop the skills necessary for obkjective political analysis, quality research and effective written communication. Our focus will be on Ireland but we will also look at the US and Europe. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the Irish political system but it does assume a lively interest in current affairs.
Recommended Reading List
Coakley, John and Michael Gallagher (eds). 2004. Politics in the Republic of Ireland (4th edition). London: Routledge.
Gallagher, Michael, Michael Laver and Peter Mair. 2005. Representative Government in Modern Europe (4th edition). London: McGraw-Hill.
Assessment Details
Student assessment for this course involves writing three short blogs, each on the political issue of your choice. You must submit and achieve a pass grade (40%) on three newspaper articles in order to pass the course. Each will be maximum of 1000 words in length and you should write these as if you were writing a serious 'think' piece for a quality Sunday newspaper. All students must meet the deadline as specified below.
Date of submission: The end of Week 11 of Term 1.