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Politics Joint Major (PTJ1)

Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits )
Academic Year 2024/2025
Study Abroad
Duration:
3 Year(s)
Next Intake:
2024/2025 September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.

Curricular information is subject to change.

The study of politics examines national and international political institutions, systems and forces. These include governments, parliaments, parties and elections, as well as international alliances and conflicts, human rights, global poverty, war and political violence. Studying Politics will also help you to develop your analytical skills, formulate an argument and express yourself clearly in writing.

About this Course

In first year, you will be introduced to the core areas of politics giving you a solid foundation for future study. In subsequent years you will pursue the areas of politics and international relations that interest you most.

Students attend lectures and tutorials as well as undertaking independent study.

Assessment is in the form of a combination of continuous assessment and end-of-semester written exams.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
INRL20040 Theories and Concepts in International Relations Autumn

5

POL20010 Individuals and the State: The Idea of Freedom in the History of Political Thought Autumn

5

POL20020 Comparative Politics Spring

5

POL20050 Research Methods in Political Science Spring

5

Stage 2 Core Modules
     
Stage 2 Options
     
INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn

5

INRL20160 Introduction to European Union Politics Autumn

5

POL10170 Foundations in Political Research Autumn

5

POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn

5

DEV20010 Topics in Intl Development Spring

5

DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring

5

INRL20110 Intro to Middle East Politics Spring

5

POL20250 Irish Politics Spring

5

Stage 2 Options
     
Stage 3 Options
     
INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn

5

INRL20160 Introduction to European Union Politics Autumn

5

INRL30320 Gender in War & Peace Autumn

10

INRL30340 Internat. Political Economy Autumn

10

INRL30370 Terrorism & Political Violence Autumn

10

POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn

5

POL30640 Deliberative Mini-Publics Autumn

10

POL30860 Advanced Seminar in Politics 1 Autumn

5

POL30880 Capitalism and Democracy Autumn

10

POL30890 The Politics of Organised Crime Autumn

10

POL36070 Political Psychology Autumn

10

POL36120 Gender, Religion & Colonialism Autumn

10

POL36140 Parties and Party Systems Autumn

10

DEV20010 Topics in Intl Development Spring

5

DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring

5

ECON30500 Field Experiments Social Sci Spring

5

INRL20110 Intro to Middle East Politics Spring

5

INRL30400 EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world Spring

10

POL20250 Irish Politics Spring

5

POL30660 Data Analytics for Social Sciences Spring

10

POL30680 Gender and Politics Spring

10

POL30690 Introduction to Asian Politics Spring

10

POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Spring

10

POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring

10

POL30870 Advanced Seminar in Politics 2 Spring

15

POL36100 Strategies of Politics Spring

10

POL36110 Comparative Political Theory Spring

10

POL36130 Liberalism & its Critics Spring

10

POL36150 Feminist Pers. on Social Pol. Spring

10

Stage 3 Options
     
Stage 4 Options
     
INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn

5

INRL20160 Introduction to European Union Politics Autumn

5

INRL30320 Gender in War & Peace Autumn

10

INRL30340 Internat. Political Economy Autumn

10

INRL30370 Terrorism & Political Violence Autumn

10

POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn

5

POL30640 Deliberative Mini-Publics Autumn

10

POL30860 Advanced Seminar in Politics 1 Autumn

5

POL30880 Capitalism and Democracy Autumn

10

POL30890 The Politics of Organised Crime Autumn

10

POL36070 Political Psychology Autumn

10

POL36120 Gender, Religion & Colonialism Autumn

10

POL36140 Parties and Party Systems Autumn

10

DEV20010 Topics in Intl Development Spring

5

DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring

5

ECON30500 Field Experiments Social Sci Spring

5

INRL20110 Intro to Middle East Politics Spring

5

INRL30400 EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world Spring

10

POL20250 Irish Politics Spring

5

POL30660 Data Analytics for Social Sciences Spring

10

POL30680 Gender and Politics Spring

10

POL30690 Introduction to Asian Politics Spring

10

POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Spring

10

POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring

10

POL30870 Advanced Seminar in Politics 2 Spring

15

POL36100 Strategies of Politics Spring

10

POL36110 Comparative Political Theory Spring

10

POL36130 Liberalism & its Critics Spring

10

POL36150 Feminist Pers. on Social Pol. Spring

10

The school currently has Erasmus exchange agreements with the following European universities:

  • Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Paris, France
  • University of Bergen, Norway
  • Université Libre de Bruxelles/University of Liège, Belgium
  • University of Lund/University of Stockholm, Sweden
  • Universität zu Köln, Germany
    International exchanges in North America, Asia and Australia are also available in third year.
  • There is a wide range of national and international employment opportunities in the public and private sector, including:

  • The Irish Civil Service
  • The European Commision
  • International agencies such as the UN, IMF and World Bank
  • NGOs
  • Print and broadcasting media
  • The diplomatic service
  • Business
  • Administration and research
    Graduates are also well qualified to pursue further study at master’s and PhD level. MA and MSc programmes at UCD include:

  • Politics
  • Political Theory
  • International Relations
  • Development Studies
  • Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
  • Human Rights
  • European Public Affairs and Law
  • Development Practice
  • The following advice is for Non-EU applicants. For Irish/EU/UK students, please apply via MyUCD.

    The following entry route(s) are available:
     
    BA Arts (BAU5)
    Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
    Entry in Sep 2024
    Full Time - 3 Year(s) Apply from Oct 2023 Apply
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    Politics Joint Major (PTJ1)

    Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits )