Course summary

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies. Economics This course reinforces the vision of economics as a major social science that influences others, and considers the different contexts and fields that it is related to. Economics is about resource allocation within and between societies, but it is also a study of how our decisions, and the institutional contexts in which we make those decisions, impact our success in achieving our wants and addressing our needs. We ask important questions, such as how can we develop policies that protect the environment and ensure economic development? On this course, you will learn to understand, interpret and develop policies for individuals, firms, governments, and global economies. You will learn to participate in current economic and policy debates. If your mind is curious and you enjoy gaining rich and varied perspectives, then a degree with us is perfect for you as we have our home in a versatile and multidisciplinary department. Obtain new perspectives from experts in economics and our neighbouring courses such as politics, international relations, sociology and criminology. Develop increased confidence in your quantitative skills, even if mathematics makes you nervous. Gain a firm grounding in core economic theories and concepts, and develop the ability to see how theory is relevant to the real world. You will also develop the ability to make sense of data using various data analysis tools and programmes, and gain confidence in your employability profile through our placement and study abroad opportunities. Politics Look behind media headlines and explore the underlying political issues of both past and present, as you question how we structure our society and how it structures us. Politics at Chester is both theoretical and applied. It is about decision-making, conflict resolution and power, and explores the role of the state, government and institutions. This course asks how we structure society and how society structures us, and presents opportunities to engage with and critique key political ideas, processes and institutions both domestically and internationally. On this course you will look past the assumptions that surround power politics. We explore the underlying political issues and ask age old questions, such as ‘How do we achieve the good society?’; ‘Do the strong do as they please, while the weak suffer?’; and ‘Is the point of politics to change the world?’ The teaching team brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. We may also invite guest lecturers to provide specialist sessions and where appropriate, facilitate visits to political institutions and events with regional MPs and local authorities. Our course has taken students out of the traditional classroom and into a wide variety of field trips, even visiting the EU parliament in Brussels in the past. We have also arranged activities such as voter registration drives.