MA Political Science - European Politics & Policy Pathway (Standard Route) / Course details

The course aims to provide students with:

• Strong knowledge of the latest perspectives in political analysis;
• a broad-ranging awareness of tools and methodologies available to researchers undertaking advanced-level primary research in politics;
• strong critical abilities in evaluating leading scholarly work in politics;

• provide a deep and applied understanding of concepts necessary for undertaking original advanced level research in politics.

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• understand some of the major conceptual debates in the field of comparative politics;
• critically evaluate leading research in politics;
• understand conceptual and methodological questions with greater depth;
• understand the range of analytical tools available for conducting politics research;
• apply the analytical frameworks in their own work, including the dissertation.

The course is comprised of 1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar. The seminars combine small group and whole-class discussions. Students are expected to critically engage with the reading and to form opinions about it. We aim to provide knowledge of the main analytical perspectives and hold in-depth discussions about key political concepts.

Online Test worth 30% and one main essay 2800 words, worth 70%.

David Marsh and Gerry Stoker's (2010) [eds] [3rd edition] Theory and Methods in Political Science, Basingstoke: Palgrave