Programme Specification: BSc Government
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. UCAS Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
N/A
BSc
Government
36 months full-time
Government Department
Politics and International Relations (2007)
L230 BSc/Gov
Pre-1996 / November 2012
10. The programme aims to:
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provide a high quality and academically challenging education in Government, in a
research-active environment, to intellectually able students from a wide range of
countries;
help students to place the discipline of Government in the wider context of the social
sciences;
enable students intending to pursue higher degrees to develop the necessary
analytical and theoretical sophistication, and breadth and depth of understanding,
within their field of study;
enable students who go directly into non-academic careers (e.g. government, the
voluntary sector, international organisations, business and media) to become
articulate, clear thinking individuals, able critically to analyse complex bodies of
material.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
Students completing undergraduate programmes should possess:
 a detailed and critical understanding of the core literature and main theoretical
debates in their chosen field;
 basic knowledge of at least one other social science discipline;
 more advanced knowledge of at least one specialist area in their field;
 the ability to work independently, planning and producing lucid, coherent, analytic
written papers;
 the ability to make concise, clear, oral presentations;
 knowledge of the main findings in each of the four areas of the Department’s work;
Political Theory, Comparative Politics, Public Administration and Public Policy, and
European Policy and Politics.
 familiarity with and ability to use transferable skills.
Information relating to careers can be accessed here
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
Students are required to take four courses in each year. Teaching involves lectures, classes
and tutorials. Classes usually focus on discussing the issues arising from lectures in small
groups. Students will have a personal tutor who will meet with them at regular intervals to
discuss work and offer guidance and assistance with both academic, and where appropriate,
personal concerns.
Assessment usually involves a written examination in each subject at the end of the academic
year. For some courses assessment will involve an extended essay.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See BSc Government programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
GCSE pass at grade C or better in mathematics is expected.
GCE A level: grades A A A (from 2011-12).
International Baccalaureate: Diploma with 38 points including 7 6 6 at higher level.
Other qualifications are considered.
15. Indicators of quality
1.Steady demand for the programme and high qualifications required for admission.
2. Consistently high rankings in various independent University league tables.
3.Consistently good examination results and very favourable remarks by external examiners.
4. Student questionnaires and feedback via student liaison committees.
5. Excellent career opportunities as demonstrated by the destinations of LSE graduates on
the LSE Careers Centre website .
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
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Teaching Committee (undergraduate) looks at teaching and assessment issues twice
a year. Minutes go to the Departmental Meeting;
Staff Student Liaison Meetings for all undergraduate students. Meets twice during
the Michaelmas Term, once to elect representatives then a second meeting to
discuss issues with the representatives. Meets again in the Lent Term. Minutes go
to the Departmental Meeting;
Undergraduate Degree Reform. In 2001-2 all our degrees at the undergraduate level
were revised and the School approved these changes to be implemented from
October 2003;
Part-Time Teachers - 2 Meetings with the Convenor to discuss teaching issues.
They are monitored during the Michaelmas Term. The Lecturer responsible for the
course sits in on one class per class teacher, provides feedback, sends the Convenor
a report and checks new teachers' marking of non-assessed essays. Remedial
action is taken by the start of the Lent Term if a teacher does not achieve an
acceptable standard;
TQARO course teaching surveys. The Convenor analyses the scores of part-time
teachers and writes letters of congratulation to those achieving high scores and asks
the Lecturer responsible to monitor those who score below an acceptable level. The
Convenor also looks at the scores of academic staff teaching all courses and takes
action if necessary;
Peer review of academic staff on a regular basis;
External examiner check-up system by TLAC;
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Review of all new courses and programmes, and major modifications, by USSC;
Full departmental TLAC review every 5 years;
Improvements in teaching technique through observations, advice and further training
from the Teaching and Learning Centre.