PHIL41800 Social and Political Theory: Problems in Methods

Academic Year 2023/2024

*** Not available in the academic year indicated above ***

This seminar will introduce students to key contemporary social and political theorists and debates between these thinkers with a view to understanding how their work draws from and challenges dominant academic traditions in the creation of new theoretical understandings of society and politics.

We will meet face-to-face in our seminars. The module is multi-disciplinary and lecturers will be drawn from a range of disciplines such as Philosophy, Sociology, Geography, Music, Politics and International Development, Information Science among others.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should have developed their ability to:
1. Demonstrate specialised, detailed and advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge and understanding of some of the key debates in social and political theory.
2. Explain current conceptual debates in social and political theory.
3. Apply their knowledge and understanding of social and political theory to the broader context of sociology and politics
4. Show an ability to critically evaluate social and political conceptual frameworks.
5. Make informed judgements about the social and political based on complex and (necessarily) incomplete information.
6. Reflect on wider social issues involved in applying social and political theory to contemporary societies.
7. Communicate interpretations of theoretical material relating to social and political issues to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and concise manner.
8. Have the learning skills to facilitate further self-directed and autonomous research into social and political theory.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

80
Autonomous Student Learning

146
Total

250
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will comprise lectures and also seminar discussion by the students, facilitated by the lecturer. Required readings, lecture note and lecture presentations are available for download from a the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Brightspace. Assessment is based on seminar participation and end-of-semester research paper. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Research paper of c. 4,000 words Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

90
Continuous Assessment: Engagement in the seminar throughout the trimester Week 12 n/a Graded No

10

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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