PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc in Global Governance and Ethics
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2014/2015
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Social and Historical Sciences
Parent Department:
Department of 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:
The programmes can be taken either full-time or part-time.
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Requires a good 2.1 degree or GPA 3.5 or country equivalent
An IELTS of Advanced level with 7.5 overall with min of 6.5 in all
subtests.
In certain cases, some applicants with a 2.2 may be considered with
substantial relevant work experience
Length of the programme:
One calendar year full-time, two calendar years part-time
(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)
Level 7
No subject-specific benchmark available for Political Science at
Masters level
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Students must take four compulsory core courses assessed by
written work and unseen written examinations, optional courses
equivalent to three one-term long courses (assessed by either
coursework or unseen written exam), and submit a 10,000-word
dissertation.
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
PUBLG – Public Policy Board of Examiners
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The MSc in Global Governance and Ethics combines normative and empirical approaches to international justice,
organisations and processes, and applies them to the analysis of global political institutions and policies.
The programme will equip students with the theoretical tools and empirical evidence necessary for an in-depth
understanding of normative theories of international justice, human rights, democracy and public ethics, on the one
hand, and of empirical theories and studies of globalisation, governance and international policy-making, on the
other. It will introduce students to skills essential for the analytical study of politics and for the development of a
normative assessment of the main issues currently facing the design of global institutions and policy making at the
international level.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
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 theoretical approaches and
debates in global governance and ethics
- especially the relationship between
normative theory, International Relations
theory and public policy making.
2. The analysis of concepts such as
rights, justice, governance, power,
agency, the State and the international
system.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 through one-hour or two-hour lectures
and seminars. Several courses, especially the required
courses Global Governance and Global Ethics.
Acquisition of 2, 3 4 and 5 through the above mentioned
required and optional courses, which give students to
specialize in either the normative or the empirical
dimensions of the issue of global governance.
3. A normative and empirical assessment
of the growth and role of international
organisations and institutional
competencies and functions drawing on
political and moral philosophy,
international law and organisation theory,
public policy theory, and new public
management. In addressing these
themes, particular attention will be paid to
issues of conflict and cooperation among
states, domestic influences on foreign
policy, international institutions and
regimes, and transnational relations.
4. How the social, political, economic and
cultural dimensions of globalisation relate
to international politics. The relationship
between global processes and public
policy making. Knowledge of institutions
and forms of governance, political identity
formation and political allegiances in
world politics, transnational social
movements, equity, migration, and
democratic accountability.
5. Skills for the analytical study of
politics, political actors and their
ontological premises, preferences and
objectives, the role of institutions and
strategic behaviour, communicative
action and persuasion, hypothesis testing
and empirical analysis.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed by a variety of methods:
‘unseen’ examinations, long essays and a dissertation.
The last mentioned is a required method of assessment.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills: able to:
The programme aims to help students:
(a) approach the study of global
governance and ethics in a rigorous,
systematic and theoretically informed
way, and to question the premises of
much contemporary political philosophy,
international relations and political
analysis.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of (a) to (c) is fostered in all courses offered
in the programme, students will confront the main
theories in political science and will be invited to
question their premises and deduce the empirical
observations, they will be introduced to the empirical
evidence and invited to assess its validity.
(b) collect and use empirical evidence in
a selective and systematic way, and to
question the explanatory power and
reassess the validity of the most
authoritative works in political science,
particularly in comparative politics, public
policy, and international relations.
(c) develop a normative approach to
important political issues, that challenges
much contemporary political philosophy
Assessment:
Students will be assessed by a variety of methods:
‘unseen’ examinations, long essays and a dissertation.
The latter is a required method of assessment.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
This programme aims to help students
with the following practical skills:
(a) communicate effectively in writing (b)
improve their knowledge of international
politics, institutions and policies across a
range of issue areas (c) improve their
knowledge of the politics, institutions and
policies of regional and international
organisations
(d) use data-bases, digital and web
resources, word-processing programmes,
statistical packages
(e) present (non-assessed) seminar
papers
(f) listen, discuss and debate ideas,
interpretations and evidence introduced
during seminars
(g) practice research and data collection
of documents of governments and
international organisations
(h) maintain a constant rhythm of learning
and research
(i) choose their own long-essay and
dissertation topics
(j) develop a research strategy and a
working hypothesis
(k) learn a methodology for hypothesis
testing
(l) adapt the working hypotheses
developed in the long-essay and
dissertation in light of the empirical
evidence and its interpretation.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
(a) through the writing of long essays and dissertations
(b-c) through weekly lectures
(d) through instructions in the seminars
(e) through regular seminar presentations
(f) through seminar discussion
(g) through visits to the British Library
(h) through individual discussions with students
(i-l) through the production of long-essays and
dissertation
Skills will be taught mainly in the required courses and in
the optional courses. They will be taught by scholars that
have institution, policy or country specific knowledge and
have carried out theoretical and empirical research in
the field. The classes will also provide general
instructions on research design and practical instructions
on data sources, collection and analysis.
Assessment:
(a-d) and (g-l) through ‘unseen’ examinations, long
essays and dissertation. The latter is a required method
of assessment.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
The programme will encourage students
to:
(a) write good essays and dissertations
(b) improve their knowledge of politics in
general and of comparative politics and
public policy in particular
(c) use computer resources and
information technology
(d) present (non-assessed) material orally
(e) listen and contribute in class
(f) understand and assess contending
ideas and arguments
(g) study a variety of written and digital
materials available from libraries
(h) familiarise with documents of
governments and of international
organisations
(i) reflect on their own normative ideas by
becoming acquainted with alternative
points of view
(j) make original contributions to the study
of politics, public policy and comparative
politics
(k) understand and assess critically
empirical evidence and develop methods
to test predictions
(l) think both positively and normatively
about politics.
(a-c, f-n) long-essays, course work, dissertation (b)
reading academic works on politics, comparative politics
and public policy (c) submitting word-processed written
work, using data bases, consulting on-line library
catalogues, using web-site material (d-f, I-l) seminar
presentations and discussion.
Assessment:
(a-c) and (f-l) through ‘unseen’ examinations, long
essays and dissertation. The latter is a required method
of assessment.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.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)
Dr Avia Pasternak
Name(s):
Date of Production:
May 2014
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