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Political protest Photograph © Martin Peter Donkin

Joint honours programmes

BA Geography and Politics                                                                                                                                                       

This degree is for students who are interested in current affairs as well as the dynamic environmental, social and cultural
systems and processes in the world around us. It explores the spatial and social aspects of government activity, and will
extend your knowledge of political theory and practice by relating politics to its geographical context. The BA Geography and
Politics entails an exploration of the geographical bases of politics alongside the study of political theory and practice. It
covers a range of general skills and knowledge essential for today’s graduates, in addition to the more specialised modules
undertaken in the second and third years. Within geography, your choices will usually fall within human geography with
modules on European integration, cities, public policy, and Third World development. You make the choice of modules and
final-year project with the guidance of a personal tutor.

 

Programme Structure

Year 1

Students are required to take modules to the value of at least 30 credit points from Politics:

Year 2

Students are required to take modules to the value of at least 30 credit points from Politics. There are no compulsory modules;
students may choose from a list of options ranging from political theory, British politics, European politics, politics of the
Middle East, Latin American politics, international relations, and globalisation. All second year modules are for the whole year
(30 credits).

Year 3

Students normally take geography and politics modules which are selected by guidance of their adviser and for which they
have the level 5 prerequisites. Students are required to take modules to the value of at least 30 credit points from Politics.
They must take the core course below:

Other choices may be made from a range of modules covering a wide variety of topics, most of which are one semester
modules (15 credits).

For information on modules from the Geography department, click here.

 

Learning and Teaching

Teaching takes place via lectures and seminars. For each module you will generally have a one hour lecture each week, and a
one hour seminar, although some second or third year modules may be taught by means of a two-hour seminar format.
Lectures are designed to give you the necessary intellectual and historical background, while seminars give you the
opportunity to discuss your ideas and opinions.

 

Assessment

Most modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and unseen exam.  All first year modules are assessed by
essays and literature reviews that together make-up 40% of the total assessment. Second and final year modules will require
you to complete one or two essays accounting for 40% of the total assessment. The remaining 60% of the assessment is
calculated by unseen examination.

           
Departmental Policies

 

Attendance and de-registration

You are required to attend all seminars for your modules and are strongly advised to attend all lectures. Persistent non-
attendance at seminars for two or more weeks in one semester will result in de-registration from the module. If you are unable
to attend for good reason, you should inform your tutor/departmental office in advance and provide necessary documentary
evidence, such as medical certificate.

If you are de-registered from a module, you will no longer be able to attend classes or lecture. You may be required to
withdraw from the college.

 

Plagiarism

Allegations of plagiarism are dealt with in accordance with the College Regulations Covering Assessment Offences. In case
the item of coursework is worth below 31% of the total assessment for that module, the module convenor will inform the
student of the alleged offence, and the student will have the opportunity to respond. Where an offence is deemed to have been
committed, the work is passed on to the Chair for the Sub-Committee on Exam Offences for the Politics Subject Examination
Board. The Chair will then decide on an appropriate penalty from the following options:

 

The pro-forma and the essay together with the evidence are submitted to the Politics office for record. All cases are reviewed
prior to the Subject Exam Board at the Exam Offences Sub-Committee. The Chair will also meet with student and module
convenor if deemed necessary.

The student may appeal in writing to the Academic Secretary against the penalty within ten days of notification of the penalty.
The Academic Secretary will refer such cases to the Chairman of the Assessment Offences Panel, whose decision will be
final.

In case the item of coursework is 31% and above of the total assessment for that module, the Chair will examine the case, will
notify the Academic Secretary, who shall refer the matter to the Chairman of the College Assessment Offences Panel.

 

Year Tutor/Personal Advisors

If you need advice on academic and pastoral matters or you simply wish to make a complaint, you must contact your Personal
Advisor in the first instance. They are there to support you with any serious or recurring problems that you might experience
during your degree programme. You must also be aware of the contact details of the following members of staff in both
departments:

 

Contact details

Department of Politics
Room 2.37
Arts Building
Tel: 020 7882 8600
Email: politics@qmul.ac.uk

 

Please see programme specification for more information on the BA Geography and Politics degree