PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Political Analysis (Russia and Eastern Europe)
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MA
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
n/a
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2015 entry
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
SHS
Parent Department:
School of Slavonic and East European Studies
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees
(if applicable)
Method of study:
The programme can be taken either full-time or part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/graduate/taught/degrees/political-analysis-russia-easterneurope-ma
One calendar year full-time, two calendar years part-time
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Masters Level (Level 7)
n/a
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
The MA in Political Analysis (Russia and Eastern Europe) provides an
opportunity to study political and social developments in postcommunist Europe from a political science perspective and to acquire
and policy- and employment-relevant analytical and research skills.
The programme tackles issues such as authoritarianism and
democratisation; corruption and governance, ethno-political conflict,
transitional justice and reconciliation; political and economic
integration; and foreign policy and security through both theoreticallybased and area-oriented courses, allowing students to tailor their
degree according to their interests and backgrounds. Regions covered
by the programme include Russia, Ukraine and most parts of the
former Soviet Union; Central and Eastern Europe; and the Western
Balkans. The range of courses offered allows students either to focus
on one region or to study regions across the post-communist world in
broader global and international context. Students also have the
opportunity to study a language of the region.
Candidates must take 180 credits in total. 120 credits of which are
taken from taught courses. The taught courses comprise a 15 credit
compulsory course on theoretical perspectives in political and social
science and their application; one 15 credit course on methods and/or
analytical approaches chosen from a list of elective core courses; and
90 credits from a wider list of elective core courses. In addition all
students must undertake a free-standing dissertation worth 60 credits
and a Dissertation Preparation Module (0 credits)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
SSEES MA Umbrella Board
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The programme aims to provide students with a disciplinary understanding of key aspects of the development of new
democracies and new forms of (semi-)authoritarianism and an advanced knowledge of domestic and international
politics of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in the context of integration into wider European and global
frameworks.
The programme tackles key comparative issues such as democratisation; the rise of new forms of authoritarianism;
corruption and governance, ethno-political conflict; transitional justice and reconciliation; integration; foreign policy;
and security through both theoretically-based and area-oriented courses, allowing students to tailor their degree
according to their interests and backgrounds.
Regions covered by the programme include Russia, Ukraine and most parts of the former Soviet Union; Central and
Eastern Europe; and the Western Balkans. The range of courses offered allows students either to focus on a specific
region or to study regions across the post-communist world in broader global and international context.
Courses taught in the programme lay particular stress on the development of analytical and research skills relevant
for employment or further study and on bridging academic and non-academic contexts. The MA thus opens up a
range of opportunities in both public and private sectors.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
a). How to appraise political events and
processes critically, synthesize data from
printed and digital sources, solve
problems of conflicting sources and
conflicting interpretations, locate source
materials and interpretative studies, use
research resources (particularly research
library catalogues, on-line bibliographic
data bases and institutional internet
pages).
Acquisition of a) through one-hour or two-hour lectures,
seminars and classes. Students will be required to
attend all classes, study extensively on their own and
prepare assessed & non-assessed course work
regularly.
Acquisition of b) through theoretical and methodological
aspects of core and optional courses and optional
courses on research methodology.
Acquisition of c) through the core and optional courses.
b). Subject specific skills, for instance, use
of
key
theories,
concepts
and
methodologies in political and social
science.
c). Aspects of
the politics of
authoritarianism,
democracy
democratization;
ethnicity
and
nationalism; corruption and governance
integration into and membership in the
European and international institutions,
conflict prevention & resolution, security,
etc.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed by a variety of methods:
unseen examinations, long essays, course work and a
dissertation. The last mentioned is a required method of
assessment.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The programme aims to help students:
Acquisition of (a) and (b) is fostered in all courses
offered in the Programme, in that all courses will
introduce information that will need to be assessed
critically and will demonstrate that how conflicting
interpretations arise from the same information.
(a) be precise, to be cautious in their
assessment of evidence.
(b) question interpretations, however
authoritative, and reassess evidence for
themselves
Assessment:
Through unseen examinations, course work, longessays, dissertation. The latter is a required method of
assessment.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
This programme aims to help
students with the following
practical skills:
(a) communicate effectively in
writing in a range of forms.
(b) use secondary analyses, data
bases, digital resources and
word-processing programmes
(c) present (non-assessed)
seminar papers
(d) listen and discuss ideas
introduced during seminars
(e) practice research techniques
in a variety of specialised
research libraries and
institutes
(f) maintain a constant rhythm of
learning and research
(g) choose their own long-essay
and dissertation topics
(h) adapt long-essays and
dissertation topics to the
information that they discover
while working on their longessays and dissertations.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
(a) through the writing of seminar papers, long-essays,
projects and dissertations
(b) through language exercises as appropriate
(c) through ‘hands-on’ instruction
(d) through regular seminar presentations
(e) through seminar discussion
(f) through visits to libraries and institutes
(g) through the setting of clear deadlines for the
submission of written work
(h) through individual discussion with students
Assessment
(a)-(b), (f)-(i) by unseen examination, course work, longessays and dissertation. The latter is a required method
of assessment.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
(a) write good essays and
dissertations
(b) use information technology
(c) present material orally
(d) listen and contribute in class
(e) understand ideas that are
very different to conventional
ones
(f) study a variety of written and
digital materials, in libraries
and research institutes of a
kind that they will not have
used as undergraduates
(g) present (non-assessed)
material orally
(h) reflect on their own ideas by
becoming acquainted with
ideas and practices foreign to
them
(i) assess evidence for
themselves and suspend
belief in previous
interpretations
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
(a) long-essays, course work, dissertation
(b) submitting word-processed written work;
using data bases, consulting on-line library
catalogues, using web-site material
(c) seminar presentations
Assessment:
Unseen examination, long-essays, coursework and
dissertation.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Name(s):
Dr Seán Hanley
Date of Production:
May 2014
Date of Review:
Date approved by Head of
Department:
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
May 2014
Jan Kubik, 23 September 2015
Anne White, 14 September 2015
October 2015