PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
BSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
4V86
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From September 2015 intake onwards
(e.g. from 2008 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
SHS
Parent Department:
Political Science
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/spp
(if applicable)
Method of study:
FT
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Differentiated entry requirements.
For PPE students specialising in Philosophy and Politics: A
Levels: AAA (no specific subjects); GCSE A* Mathematics
Length of the programme:
For PPE students specialising in Economics and Politics: A
Levels: A*AA (A* Mathematics)
3 years
(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)
Level 6
Politics and International Relations (2007)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Docume
nts/politics.pdf
Philosophy (2007)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Docume
nts/Philosophy.pdf
Economics (2007)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Docume
nts/Economics.pdf
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Year 1 Introductory modules in 3 disciplines and in methods
Year 2 Disciplinary core in two of three disciplines and methods
Year 3 Disciplinary options, multidiscipline capstone policy module,
dissertation, and methods.
Board of Examiners:
Year 2 transfer option for students wishing to pursue Philosophy and
Economics BA
i) Name of Board of Examiners:
Board of Examiners of the BSc Philosophy Politics and Economics
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
NA
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The BSc in Philosophy Politics and Economics, drawing on multiple lines of inquiry, aims to provide breadth and
depth in understanding social and political phenomena and the principles informing and the consequences following
from policy choices. The course exposes students to the modes of reasoning and types of evidence used by the
three disciplines, a concentration in two disciplines, and case examples of the contributions of a multidisciplinary
approach to complex problems. It combines an education in social sciences and philosophy with a sustained and
comprehensive treatment of the methods of social and normative inquiry.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES: Drawing on the teaching resources and experience of the three departments, the
expected outcome is well-trained and substantively informed graduates with analytical and methodological skills
appropriate to understand social and political contexts, complex problems and policy-making.
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:
1. The modes of inquiry of the three
disciplines, the types of questions
asked, and the evidence and
reasoning that characterises the
study of philosophical issues and
political and economic
phenomena.
2. Core concepts, theories and
analytical issues that inform
disciplinary understanding and
how to apply concepts and
theories to the study of economic
and political phenomena.
3. The role and significance of both
empirical and normative
questions in the study of society
and collective decision making.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The course addresses (1) with core 1 hour lectures and
seminars and (2) and (3) through both required and
optional courses which permit a particular substantive
and policy focus and treatment of related empirical,
normative and analytical components. The first year
provides a broad grounding across the three disciplines.
Yr 2 introduces the core disciplinary modules and Yr 3
the optional, independent research and policy focus. The
capstone global policy module provides an applied
problem setting to acquire this knowledge. It
demonstrates the various contributions of the three
disciplines to understanding complex policy problems.
Assessment: Assessment includes essays, exams and
an independent research project or dissertation. Graded
coursework and comments prepare the students for the
dissertation and independent research projects. The
longer essay in the capstone global policy module and
accompany feedback allows students to understand the
importance of both empirical and normative issues in
developing solutions to complex policy problems.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. Collect classify and compare
information from different sources
2. Identify the nature of the
questions raised, identify
strengths and weaknesses of
different approaches to research
questions and policy problems
3. Understand the advantages of
different methods and issues of
replication and generalisation.
4. Summarise philosophical
economic and political positions
and perspectives.
5. Construct reasoned and
evidence-based arguments.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All modules in the programme will contribute to the
acquisition of these skills. Assumptions, the
development of arguments and models, and the quality
of evidence are treated throughout the curriculum. The
reading, the course work and the feedback and seminar
participation help students develop these skills. The
range of methods in the methods sequence will give
students an appreciation of the trade-offs between
different approaches and how to match theoretical
statements with appropriate evidence.
Assessment:
Assessment includes essays, exams and an
independent research project or dissertation.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1. Formulating well-organised
written and oral presentation of
results and arguments.
2. Formulating and debating
contested issues and concepts in
seminars
3. Quantitative and qualitative data
collection, management and
analysis
4. Hypothesis formulation and
testing.
5. Familiarity with data and software
for accessing and analysing data.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Most modules require essays and seminar participation
which provide opportunities to present findings to the
group. The methods modules sequence will
systematically introduce students to data collection and
analysis. Quantitative data is now widely available in
political science and economics and students will be
exposed to the use and analysis of real data and to
replication exercises.
Assessment:
Assessment includes essays, exams and an
independent research project or dissertation. The
dissertation/research project will permit students to
demonstrate the methods skills acquired and applied to
a specific research question.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1. Effective written and oral
communication
2. Use information technology for
presentation of information,
including, where appropriate,
statistical or numerical
information.
3. Acquire information from
documentary and library sources
and assess books and articles.
4. Work independently and budget
time appropriately to meet
deadlines and accomplish tasks.
5. Collaborate with others to
achieve common goals through,
for example, group work and
group presentations in seminars
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
All modules will contribute to the acquisition of these
skills and the methods sequence will provide extensive
exposure to effective presentation of information.
Modules come with extensive course outlines and
reading lists the discussion of which is normally
integrated into seminar participation and assessment.
Assessment:
Assessment includes essays, exams and an
independent research project or dissertation. Graded
coursework and feedback normally requires evidence of
effective engagement with the relevant literature.
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)
Tim Hicks
Name(s):
Date of Production:
November 2013
Date of Review:
December 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
December 2014
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
December 2014
January 2015