Blackboard Contribution: 20% (Learning outcomes 1-4) equivalent to 1500 words
Virtual Seminar Presentation: 1000 words, 20% (Learning outcomes 1-4)
Annotated Bibliography: 500 words, 10% (Learning outcome 5)
Essay 1500 words 50% (Learning outcomes 1-4) final piece of work.

This module introduces you to the discipline of International Relations (IR). It charts its historical development and offers an overview of its central concepts and debates. It also introduces you to the main actors and key processes in the global system. Finally, it examines some of the many contemporary challenges facing the woRLD and uses those case studies to help you to develop your analytical skills. In particular, the module aims to help you distinguish between informed research and opinion and belief.

The module does not assume any prior knowledge of the broad categories or themes of IR, nor the specifics of individual issues. It therefore provides a broad basis of introductory knowledge necessary for all students of IR as well as some key, basic research and analytical skills.

1. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISCIPLINE OF IR Knowledge & Understanding

2. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF KEY CONCEPTS IN IR
Knowledge & Understanding

3. DEMONSTRATE AN AWARENESS OF THE KEY ACTORS IN IR
Knowledge & Understanding

4. DEMONSTRATE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISCIPLINE OF IR
Knowledge & Understanding

5. DEVELOP ANALYTICAL SKILLS WHICH LEAD TO A QUESTIONING OF PRE-EXISTING ASSUMPTIONS AND ENABLE YOU TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN INFORMED RESEARCH AND OPINION/BELIEF
Analysis

6. PROVIDE WELL-RESEARCHED AND DEVELOPED PIECES OF WORK IN APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC STYLE USING GOOD SOURCES
Application
Analysis
Communication

Learning is done through a set of weekly tasks. Each week students will be given a brief introduction to the subject and a set of readings to be done, step by step. The readings will enable students to answer a set question which is then posted onto a discussion board. Students will also be set certain basic research tasks and tasks which help them to develop analytical skills. Students will receive important formative feedback on their post and will also be encouraged to comment on each other’s work.

Each student will be required to do a presentation on one of the weekly topics to put up on the discussion board. Feedback on these presentations will be given in public on the board offering essential formative feedback to all students on the module. This constant staff/student engagement on the discussion board will build new skills essential for the successful completion of assignments.

Introductory textbooks
Library e-resources from which students will find relevant books, journals and periodicals.
Course pack of readings.
Internet, where there are relevant Web sites.

Lamb, P and Robertson-Snape, F. 2017. Historical Dictionary of International Relations (Rowman and Littlefield) [e-book]
Baylis and Smith, 2017, Globalization of World Politics, 7th edition, Oxford University Press
Jeffrey Haynes, Peter Hough, Shahin Malik, Lloyd Pettiford, 2010. World Politics: International Relations and Globalisation in the 21st Century, Routledge, London.
Andrew Heywood, Global Politics, Palgrave Macmillan, 2014