Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year

BA (Hons) Political and Philosophical Studies

1. Programme Details

Programme name	BA (Hons) Political and Philosophical Studies	Programme code	UFA3HPSHPS39
Study mode(s)	Full Time	Academic year	2023/4
Campus(es)	Streatham (Exeter)	NQF Level of the Final Award	6 (Honours)

2. Description of the Programme

This programme is a variant for BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics for those requiring to exit from the parent programme.

Political and Philosophical Studies enables students to study an inter-disciplinary programme of the social sciences and humanities across two distinctive disciplines at Exeter. You will study how government is constituted, how being and truth are deliberated and how goods, services and peoples are organised. You will explore the philosophical and political foundations of order and justice. You will examine the various forms of democracy through history. You will interrogate the questions of human society including war and peace, resource scarcity and distribution, the natural environment, faith and reason. You will take modules of study that introduce them to these big questions under the guidance of leading scholars in their fields. By your third-year you will focus on the specific manifestations of these questions in modules on certain regions and themes of politics, as well as on certain texts, issues and thinkers of philosophy.

3. Educational Aims of the Programme

To provide you with an excellent education across disciplines of politics and philosophy from core to specialist, in a supportive and responsive learning environment that is enriched by research.
To enable you to understand and use the main concepts, approaches and theories of these disciplines; to analyse, interpret and evaluate philosophical ideas and political behaviour, events and institutions; and to relate the academic study of politics and philosophy to questions of public concern.
To develop your competence in discipline-specific, core academic and personal and key skills.
To offer you a wide range of choice, insofar as this choice is consistent with the coherence and intellectual rigour of the degree.
To equip you to be a questioning and productive member of society.

4. Programme Structure

Your Political and Philosophical Studies programme is a 3 year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 3 ‘Stages’, but as an exit award, at least one stage will be from your original parent programme. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year. The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

5. Programme Modules

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the Faculty website:

Politics Modules

https://politics.exeter.ac.uk/students/ugmodules_exeter/

Philosophy Modules

https://sociology.exeter.ac.uk/current/undergraduatemodules/2023-24/philosophy/

You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.

You may take elective modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme in stage 2 and the final year of the programme, as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.

Stage 1: 105 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules

As per the parent programme of BA Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, however any non-condonable fails can now be condoned.

Stage 2: 60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules

Stage 2

Stage 2: 60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules

Option Modules

Please note, you must ensure you take a minimum of 120 credits in both Politics and Philosophy across Stages 2 and 3, including a minimum of 30 in both at Stage 3.

Stage 3

Stage 3: 30 credits of compulsory Dissertation, 90 credits of optional modules

Option Modules

Please note, you must ensure you take a minimum of 120 credits in both Politics and Philosophy across Stages 2 and 3, including a minimum of 30 in both at Stage 3.

6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:	Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
	...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):	...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:	Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
	...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):	...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:	Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
	...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):	...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

7. Programme Regulations

Classification

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning

9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning

Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.

10. Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.

11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.

(Quality Review Framework.