NFQ Level 7, Special Purpose Award
The Certificate in Political Science is offered to Visiting Students only (i.e., JYA students, Visiting Erasmus students, etc). It runs in Teaching Period 1 of each year (September-December).
The Certificate in Political Science is especially designed for visiting students at University
College Cork (UCC) during the Autumn Semester. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the issues dominating political debates at international level as well as in a European comparative perspective. It explores the theories, dynamics, processes and institutions which shape politics in the contemporary world. It focuses on democratic political systems and key political behaviours within them in the context of elections, voting, interest group activity, political party systems and political culture. By the end of this Certificate, students will be able to: -
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Distinguish between different types of political regimes
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Describe the differences between the political systems in operation across Europe;
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Analyse politics in a comparative manner;
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Trace the similarities in the consequences of political institutions across Europe;
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Explore the dominant theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of political science;
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List the main features of different research techniques;
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Assess the strengths and limitations of theories of international relations;
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Describe the architecture(s) of the contemporary international system;
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Identify forces at play in the international system;
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Predict the outcomes of international crises and conflicts.
Course Structure
Students pursuing the Certificate select a total of 30 credits:- o Core (compulsory) modules: 20 credits = 4 x 5 credit modules o Elective modules: 10 credits = 2 x 5 credit modules
For further information on the programme, please contact Dr Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan,
Department of Government, e.schon@ucc.ie
Core Modules
GV 1217 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE (5 credits; Teaching Period 1)
This module provides an understanding of the key concepts, theories and methods of the discipline of political science. It introduces students to different types of political regimes. It explores the processes, behaviours and institutions which shape politics in the contemporary world. Early lectures focus on democratic political systems and key political behaviours within them in the context of elections, voting, interest group activity, political party systems and political culture. Political ideologies are also examined in terms of how they define the nature of political systems.
GV 2233 QUALITATIVE METHODS FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE (5 credits; Teaching Period 1)

This module deals with the dominant theoretical approaches to the study of politics and methodological approaches to research in the discipline. It introduces students to the dominant theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of political science and explores the main features of different research techniques. By the end of this module, students will be able to carry out qualitative data analysis.
GV 2234 CORE ISSUES IN COMPARATIVE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT (5 credits; Teaching Period 1)
This module introduces students to the comparative analysis of politics in European democracies. It looks at both a number of important political features and themes in European countries. The purpose of this course is to describe, and provide tools for analysing, the diverse patterns of democracy found across Europe.
GV 2236 INTERNATIONAL POLITICS I – CONCEPTS AND THEORIES (5 credits; Teaching Period 1)
This module provides students with a critical and analytical review of international political systems and trends in international governance. The strengths and limitations of theories of international relations are analysed as well as current international developments. This course also focuses on predicting the outcomes of international crises and conflicts.
Elective modules (10 credits). Each module carries a 5 credit weighting. Choose TWO modules from the following list.
 GV1207: Government and Politics of Ireland
Students will have an understanding of the theory and practice of politics and government in the Republic of Ireland. This module will also provide students with a framework for understanding contemporary political events. Students will also be able to construct a timeline for important events in the political history of Ireland and describe the significant period from 1916-1922 in terms of the foundation of the
State.
 GV2229: Citizen Participation
Students will analyse issues around the development and application of theories of citzenship and democracy in contemporary Africa. Students should be able to describe the genesis of citzenship and democracy in the western political tradition and describe the central theses of some key theorists in the evolution of citzenship from Ancient Greece to the modern period.
 GV2230: Public Management Concepts
Students will analyse Public Management systems in EU member states, other
European countries and in Ireland. Students should be able to differentiate between the traditional model of public administration and new public management and assess the significance of the politics/administration dichotomy and bureaucracy in shaping public administration.
 GV3218: Asia in Comparative Perspective
Students will develop an understanding of Asian politics within a global context and will be able to analyse the main actors' bilateral and regional policies and describe the different concepts of Asian regionalism.

 GV3206: Politics in Northern Ireland
Students should have a detailed understanding of the government and politics of
Northern Ireland. Students should be able to describe and analyse the origins, roots and causes of the Northern Ireland conflict and identify and assess the key actors in the conflict.
 GV3208: Elections and Voting
Students should have an appreciation and understanding of contemporary political behaviour. Students should be able to identify and describe various types of electoral and party systems and distinguish between the different theoretical models of voting behaviour.
 GV3212: Political Economy I
Students should develop an appreciation for the theories and practices of international political economy. Students should be able to trace the development of the global political economy and critique theoretical approaches to the study of political economy.
 GV3210: Conflict and Conflict Resolution
Students will develop an understanding of conflict, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Students should be able to identify and describe key concepts in the study of conflict and conflict resolution and chart key developments in the study of conflict and conflict resolution.
 GV3216: Contemporary Ecological and Anti-Capitalist Politics
Students will have an understanding of issues around the formation of policy around science and technology, citizen participation, expertise and risk. Students should be able to describe and analyse key theories and concepts related to policy making around science and technology and distinguish between different theories and models for engaging the public around issues of science and technology.
 GV4305: The European Union: Integration and Institutions
Students should be able to describe and analyse key theories and concepts related to the process of European integration and identify the role of the major EU institutions in European integration and critically assess their functions and powers.
 GV4401: Global Governance I
Students will have an understanding of contemporary global governance and its challenges. Students should be able to describe the contemporary institutions of global governance and competing theoretical perspectives on global governance and assess and evaluate proposals for the development and reform of the institutions of global governance.
 GV4409: Political Ideologies and social Change
Students will have an understanding of the political theories that have led to the emergence of democracy in the contemporary world. It will also introduce students to the main political ideologies. Students should be able to discuss varying definitions of democracy and compare and contrast different models of democracy as well as understand social movements in Europe.
 LW1316: Public law I

Students will understand the character of law and its impact on the substance and process of decision-making in the public arena. Students should be able to appreciate the role of the Irish Constitution and the composition of its articles. They should also be able to identify and describe the law making institutions of Ireland and the source and nature of the regulation of their powers and evaluate the role of the Constitution in the articulation and identification of the fundamental rights of
Irish citizens.
 LW 2002: Public law II
This module aims to explain how law regulates the organisation and the powers of public authorities and the restraints to which they are subject in the interests of citizens. On successful completion of this module, students should be able to critically assess the merits and significance of administrative law as a source of law in Ireland, understand and assess the role of judicial review as a remedy in the Irish legal system and evaluate the importance and impact of the principles of Natural
Justice on the administration of justice in Ireland.
 LW2100: Law of the European Union Part I
This module provides students with an introduction to the constitutional foundations of the European Union (EU) and the EU institutions and explores the relationship between national law and EU law. It aims to enable students to develop a critical understanding of the implementation of EU law and policy at national level and the mechanisms for enforcement of EU law. Selected substantive areas of EU law and policy are selected for detailed treatment.
Module descriptions are contained in the UCC Book of Modules.
Examinations: full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme are contained in UCC’s Marks and Standards.
For more information, please contact Emmanuelle at e.schon@ucc.ie
or +353 21 420 5154.