Programme Specification - BSc Politics and Philosophy
1. Awarding Body
LSE
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
N/A
BSc
Politics and Philosophy
3 years
Government
Politics and International Relations (2007)
Philosophy (2007)
LV25 BSc/PP
December 2008 / Dec 2012
10. The programme aims to:
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provide a high quality and academically challenging education in Politics and
Philosophy in a research-active environment, to intellectually able students from a
wide range of backgrounds and countries;
help students to place the disciplines of Politics and Philosophy 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 successfully completing the programme 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;
 basic knowledge of the non-Government discipline;
 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
Teaching and learning strategies:
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 strategies:
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 Politics and Philosophy programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
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 Head of Department 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 me a
report and checks new teachers' marking of non-assessed essays. We take
remedial action by the start of the Lent Term if a teacher does not achieve an
acceptable standard;
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TQARO student surveys. The Head of Department analyses the scores of part-time
teachers and writes letter of congratulation to those achieving high scores and asks
the Lecturer responsible to monitor those who score below an acceptable level. The
Head of Department 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;
Departmental TLAC review once every five years;
The Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee which regulates all aspects of
teaching quality;
The Undergraduate Studies Sub-Committee which oversees all undergraduate
programmes and ensures that significant changes to programmes and courses pass
through a sequence of formal stages, so that curricular changes are appropriate and
compatible with other developments;
The Teaching and Learning Centre offers advice and training towards enhancement
of teaching skills.