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Bachelor of Arts (International Honours) International Relations


General information

Bachelor of Arts (International Honours)
Bachelor of Arts (International Honours) International Relations
College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
Undergraduate Bachelor International Hons (Arts)
International Relations
School of International Relations
Faculty of Arts
English
48 months (4 years)
SCQF 10
See the School of International Relations website at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/intrel/

For general QAA information on academic infrastructure see http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality

For subject specific benchmarking see:
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements(InternationalRelations)

Educational aims

This programme will involve study of International Relations at an advanced, research-led level in which students will gain an understanding of how knowledge is created, advanced and renewed. The programme will encourage in all students a desire to pursue independent learning with curiosity, integrity, accuracy and intellectual rigour.

Programme structure

This is a 48-month programme of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (International Honours). As with all St Andrews programmes, it is made up of credit bearing modules. Students must earn 480 credits over the duration of the programme, with 120 credits normally earned each academic year. Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum.

Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum. For information about core and optional modules for each programme, please consult the Programme Requirements, which can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/reqs/2020-21/list.html?v=az

These requirements describe the detailed structure of the course and link to the contents of all the modules that can be included in the programme. Teaching, learning and assessment are progressive, with both the content and methods of delivery changing to suit the increasing level of complexity in the material, and independence of students, as they work through the programme.

Distinctive features

The International Honours programme brings students together across different institutions. However, St Andrews and William & Mary have much in common – they both offer a broad interdisciplinary approach to understanding global and international politics. Both universities design their first and second year teaching in a way that encourage breadth, while simultaneously achieving rudimentary disciplinary depth. At St Andrews students select two-thirds of their sub-honours modules outside core IR, and William & Mary programme covers modules from at least three departments: Government, Economics and History. In their honours years, students specialise in areas and topics in international politics that are of their interest. These elective modules — covering all major world regions, trade, security, foreign policy, peace and conflict studies, international organisations etc. — are offered in small class setting, where students learn from world-renowned experts researching on the topics they teach. Both programmes also have their unique strengths allowing students to design a truly unparalleled programme, which builds on the specifics of North American and British approaches to International Relations. Studying at William & Mary incorporates strong methodological training, while St. Andrews’ strengths in international political theory and critical approaches encourage students to question their own assumptions about the world we live in. Both programmes host numerous speakers and events and are internationally recognised as world-class centres in international politics. Last but not least, as a student interested in international relations you probably have an ambition to live, study and work in different countries. The joint degree programme in International Relations has this ethos already built in. It creates a community of like-minded individuals, who will help you settle into both universities and thrive academically in two countries separated by an ocean.

Programme outcomes

In the course of this programme students will develop programme-specific skills.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

a) Teaching and learning delivery

Students will engage with independent and group study in a supportive framework of teaching and learning. The strategy is to use methods of teaching and assessment that will facilitate learning appropriate to the aims of the degree programme. The following methods will be employed where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.


b) Material submitted for assessment

Assessment can be a blend of diagnostic work to determine student needs, formative work submitted for assessment and feedback (but not necessarily for academic credit) or summative work submitted for academic credit.


c) Learning and teaching support

Students' scholarship skills (in, for example, academic writing, information gathering and academic conduct) will be supported and developed through this programme. The following will be available, where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.