Course summary

Constant political change and upheaval dominate our lives today. Go behind the headlines to discover the structures and ideas that shape global politics, and open up a wide range of exciting career possibilities with this BA. Whether it’s doing postgraduate study or working in government, international organisations, NGOs, business, social enterprises, finance, law, or the media, the choice will be yours. You’ll focus on three core areas of Political Science: political thought, political systems and public policy, going from the theory of each to real world political situations. Like our other programmes, our BA in Political Science is based on the American liberal arts tradition, which offers a multi-disciplinary approach, combining areas of study from the Humanities. That’s why your first year will include Scientific Reasoning and Creative Expression, as well as The Global Cold War and Comparative Political Systems. You’ll enjoy a broad study of political thinkers and theories, going beyond the classroom to experience practical policy issues. Discover British politics in the setting of the Houses of Parliament. From Global Development Politics to Policy Making in a Globalised World, our students gain a truly international understanding of politics and its processes. Research plays an important role, so that you’ll acquire important skills using the latest technology which will be invaluable for any career. Some of our senior students have the opportunity to collaborate with academic staff on research. A number of fascinating electives are on offer, giving you the chance to specialise in topics which appeal to you, such as ‘Gender, Politics and IR’, ‘Democracy and Democratization’, ‘Politics of Environmentalism’, and ‘Religion, Identity and Power’. You can also take courses which allow you to specialise in the politics of different regions, including the USA, Latin America, the EU, Asia, Russia, Africa and the Middle East. Many of our students also gain international political experience through an accredited internship, which helps shape their education and career choice. Top reasons to study this programme:

• Learn within the flexible Liberal Arts framework. Choose your own path – find out more about the Liberal Arts - https://www.richmond.ac.uk/about-richmond/the-liberal-arts/

• Acquire an analytical grasp of contemporary social, political and economic issues of concern to policy makers, business, the media and civil society

• Access to leading non-governmental, governmental and political institutions will bring your studies alive

• Gain vital work experience with an international internship, enhancing your career opportunities, while building experience with writing in a range of professional formats from project evaluations, policy briefs and policy-maker profiles to NGO campaign analyses and project grant applications.

• Take part in field trips to the European Parliament, Council and Commission and NATO in Brussels and the International Court of Justice in the Hague

• Learn from faculty academics leading research in specialist areas from ‘Politics in the USA’ to ‘Religion, Identity and Power’