Programme Specification
A statement of the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin a
taught programme of study leading to an award from
The University of Sheffield
1
Programme Title
MA Globalisation and Development
2
Programme Code
POLT50 (Full-time) POLT51 (Part-time)
3
JACS Code
L240
4
Level of Study
Postgraduate
5a
Final Qualification
MA
5b
Position in the QAA Framework for
Higher Education Qualifications
M
6a
Intermediate Qualification(s)
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Postgraduate Certificate
(PGCert)
6b
Position in the QAA Framework for
Higher Education Qualifications
Masters (M)
7
Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield)
Not applicable
8
Faculty
Social Sciences
9
Department
Politics
10
Other Department(s) involved in
teaching the programme
None
11
Mode(s) of Attendance
Full-time or Part-time
12
Duration of the Programme
1 year Full-time; 2 Part-time
13
Accrediting Professional or Statutory
Body
Not applicable
14
Date of production/revision
September 2008 (revised April 2014)
15. Background to the programme and subject area
The MA programme is designed for graduates who already possess knowledge of politics, international relations
or political economy and wish to deepen their understanding of the various issues linked to globalisation, or who
wish to transfer to this area from related disciplines (e.g. Economics, Geography, History, Sociology, Area
Studies). The degree is self-consciously designed to take advantage of Sheffield’s international reputation for
excellence in research in the area of globalisation and development studies. The programme will centre on the
concept of globalisation and unequal development, and students will be asked to investigate critically a series of
theoretical and substantive issues linked to this, including trade, investment and economic integration; poverty
and inequality; climate change and sustainable development; war and insecurity; and so on. The programme will
be based on a 60 credit core spine and students will be encouraged to explore their own interests by taking
advantage of the various option modules that will be made available in semester 2. Teaching is organised to
provide a challenging learning environment that reflects the research interests and expertise of staff, assuring
that students engage with insights and problems at the frontiers of the discipline.
16. Programme aims
The MA in Globalisation and Development aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of
globalisation and development, focusing on the theme of unequal development. The degree aims to equip
students with the skills required for further academic and professional careers. Specifically the programme aims
to:

build upon and to further develop a student's understanding of the theory and practice of international and
comparative political economy, and development studies, in particular offering students the opportunity of
further studies in a wider range of subject areas and in greater depth;

build upon and to further develop a student's understanding of the theory and practice of international and
comparative political economy, and development studies;
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
inculcate the highest standards in matters of precision, clarity, integrity, and imagination;

develop a range of generic abilities, particularly: the acquisition, use and evaluation of primary and
secondary source material; communication and presentation skills; problem-solving; and teamwork;

encourage the enhanced skills associated with political science research and writing, argument and
reasoning, and analysis and critique. In particular, enable students to pursue a course of directed
independent research;

enable students to maximise their potential in all aspects of their course;

assess students over a range of knowledge, understanding and skills, and to identify and support academic
excellence.
17. Programme learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
K1
A detailed and critically aware knowledge and understanding of ideas, institutions and practices related to
globalisation and development.
K2
A substantive, comprehensive and advanced academic grasp of the detail of both international and
comparative political economy and development studies literatures.
K3
Advanced understanding of concepts, theories and methods deployed to analyse globalisation and
development.
K4
The ability to evaluate differing interpretations of processes, events and debates with respect to the
relationships between globalisation and development.
K5
The ability to engage critically with current research and advanced scholarship in the analysis of
globalisation and development.
K6
The ability to assess critically issues related to the impact of global economic integration on different
states and societies.
Skills and other attributes:
S1
Apply knowledge in an original and creative way, analyse complex issues, exercise critical judgement and
solve problems.
S2
Apply appropriate techniques to collect information, analyse findings and interpret evidence.
S3
Manage learning effectively, including self-assessment and the constructive use of feedback.
S4
The ability to carry out individual study and research, and to participate in group activities such as
seminars.
S5
Familiarity with bibliographic and research skills, including such IT skills as word-processing, e-mail and
use of the internet.
S6
Further transferable skills, valuable for employment, including information gathering, the development of
individual resourcefulness, analytical thinking, the ability to identify problems and ways of resolving them,
the critical appreciation of source material, the ability to construct and sustain logical argument on the
basis of such material, and the ability to present such argument clearly in both oral and written forms.
18. Teaching, learning and assessment
Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning
methods:

Knowledge and understanding (K1-5) are acquired in a variety of teaching and learning environments
including, seminars, small group interactions, and independent research. For MA students, advanced and
detailed knowledge and understanding of a specific topic (K6) is acquired through preparation of the
dissertation, which builds on and further extends knowledge acquired on the taught components. For all such
learning outcomes (K1-6) emphasis is placed on individual study – on reading and note taking, exploring
printed and electronic sources, reflecting on material, and preparation. Assessment (see below) forms an
integral part of the learning process, with essays, projects and other course work designed to focus the
learner’s attention on critical issues, and feedback provided to allow the learner to further improve their
performance. Seminars and small group interactions are important throughout the programme. Individual
supervision is central to the MA dissertation.
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
Independent study is essential to the successful completion of the programme. New students are
introduced to study skills through information in the Student Handbook. The amount of independent study
broadly expected for each module is clearly set out in the course information, although it is recognised that
this will vary from student to student depending on their previous knowledge of politics and international
relations. Independent study is generally geared towards the assimilation and further clarification of material
gleaned from preparation for seminars, preparation for written assessments, and the broader development
of knowledge of the field of study. The students are required to complete a dissertation of 12,000words,
which, although supervised by a member of staff specialising in that area, requires a great deal of
independent study and research from the students. Independent study thus contributes to the development
of all the programme learning outcomes, but is especially important in refining skills S1, S2, S4 and S5.
Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the following
assessment methods:

Regular formative assessment to monitor carefully the student’s progression through the programme and to
pick up and rectify areas of potential weakness. Oral presentations designed to test organisational and
communicative skills;

Summative and formative assessment via essay writing and problem solving designed to test subject
knowledge, increasing autonomy in student learning, and the development of transferable skills;

Summative assessment requiring the completion of a dissertation designed to test both research and writing
skills and the students’ ability to critically analyse and challenge political orthodoxies.
19. Reference points
The learning outcomes have been developed to reflect the following points of reference:
Internal:

University of Sheffield Mission Statement

University Learning and Teaching Strategy

Departmental research interests
External:

Quality Assurance Agency Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
20. Programme structure and regulations
The MA in Globalisation and Development provides a coherent programme with an increasing emphasis on
individual learning. The use of compulsory modules in Semester 1 provides a coherent introduction to the
subject area. Optional modules in Semester 2 along with the dissertation allow the students to focus on specific
areas of interest.
Semester 1: Core modules: The Political Economy of Globalisation (30 credits) and Development Politics (30
credits).
Semester 2: Optional modules from a closed list and a 12, word dissertation.
Coherence is achieved through the 60 credit core spine. Students are then given choices from a closed list. The
optional subjects and the dissertation element of the degree will allow the student to build upon their substantive
knowledge and improve their research and writing skills.
Student choice is served both through the selection of a range of optional modules in politics and international
relations. Selection in semester 2 is made by the student acting on advice from an experienced academic.
Students also undertake a dissertation in an area of individual interest. The entire degree is designed to
encourage students to construct a degree programme in accordance with their developing interests and skills.
Detailed information about the structure of programmes, regulations concerning assessment and progression
and descriptions of individual modules are published in the University Calendar available on-line at
http://www.shef.ac.uk/govern/calendar/regs.html.
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21. Student development over the course of study
The first semester will provide a foundation of knowledge and understanding through the core modules. The
second semester will enable students to apply the general principles to specialist area of politics and
international relations in a wide variety of optional modules. Further precision and depth of research will be
achieved in the dissertation, which also permits the students a greater degree of independent research and
writing.
22. Criteria for admission to the programme
A good second class honours degree in Politics or in social sciences or humanities. A high level of spoken and
written English – (IELTS level 6.5).
Detailed information regarding admission is available at http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics.
23. Additional information
For further information students
http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics.
are
directed
to
the
Department
of
Politics’
web
pages
at
These contain full information on courses.
This specification represents a concise statement about the main features of the programme and should be
considered alongside other sources of information provided by the teaching department(s) and the University. In
addition to programme specific information, further information about studying at The University of Sheffield can
be accessed via our Student Services web site at www.shef.ac.uk/ssid.
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