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POL10160

Academic Year 2024/2025

Foundations of Contemporary Politics (POL10160)

Subject:
Politics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Thomas Daubler
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This course introduces students to the study of political science.
We will explore the foundations of political power and collective decision-making and analyze how politics is shaped by ideas, interests and institutions.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

--- outline the main features of prominent political ideologies;
--- describe the nature of the modern state and its main functions;
--- differentiate between various forms of political regimes, constitutional designs and electoral systems;
--- characterize different types of individual and collective political actors and discuss their role in the political decision-making process.

Indicative Module Content:

Ideology; The state and its functions; Justice; Regime types; Forms of government; Elections; Parties; Interest groups; Social Movements; The judiciary; Media; the EU.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Lectures

24
Tutorial

6
Total

120

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures. Tutorials: Exercises, discussion, active/task based learning.

Academic integrity: The use of AI for preparing assignments is generally not allowed in this module. Exemptions for specific assignments might be announced later.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 5 short assignments to be submitted before the tutorials.
Assessed as pass/fail; particularly good submissions receive a "distinction".
5*pass = A, 4*pass = B, ...
3 or more distinctions: "+" grade		 Week 2, Week 4, Week 6, Week 9, Week 11 Graded No
25
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Active participation in the 5 tutorials.
Assessed as pass/fail; particularly strong contributions receive a "distinction".
5*pass = A, 4*pass = B, ...
3 or more distinctions: "+" grade		 Week 2, Week 4, Week 6, Week 9, Week 11 Graded No
25
 No
Exam (In-person): Closed-book exam End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

W. Phillips Shively and David Schultz: Power and Choice. An Introduction to Political Science. 16th edition, 2022. Rowman & Littlefield.

Name Role
Nene Barry Tutor
Angel Brummett Tutor
Stella Byng Tutor
Mathias Franchino Tutor
Mr Shane Lynch Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Fri 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 8 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 9 Week(s) - 2, 4, 6, 9, 11 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 10 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 11 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 12 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 13 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 14 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 15 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 16 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 17 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 18 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 20 Week(s) - 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
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