WELCOME
TO ALL FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN
POLITICS/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Freshers Introductory Meeting
Tuesday 9th September 2014
Dr Andrea Birdsall
Dr Elizabeth Bomberg
(Partial) Who is Who in PIR
•
Head of Subject
•
Professor Ailsa Henderson
•
Director of Undergraduate Teaching
Dr Elizabeth Bomberg
•
Dr Andrea Birdsall
•
Senior Personal Tutor (Dep Head)
Course Convenor IPIR
Dr Carmen Gebhard
PIR SSOs
Ruth Winkle (Politics)
Rebecca Shade (IR)
•
Course Convenor Fundamentals
Dr Philip Cook
Essential Website
PIR Homepage:
http://www.pol.ed.ac.uk
PIR Community
PIR Pals (peer – assisted learning)
• Year 3 and 4 students able to help, advise, inspire. You’ll meet
them in IPIR and Fundamentals
PIR Society (on-going events)
• Great speakers and events; http://www.edinburghpolitics.com/
• PIRSoc Events this week: Quiz Night: 9 Sept ; IndyDebate: 11
Sept (see final slide)
Transatlantic Seminar:
• Fridays 1pm, talks on IR and transatlantic topics
Personal Tutor
WHAT DO THEY DO?
• academic advice
• guidance on courses and programmes
• making most of feedback;
• internship possibilities;
• your route to other services
YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR PERSONAL TUTOR THIS WEEK.
But first, let’s get you some courses…..
Tips on choosing your outside
courses
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
Introduction to Politics and IR
Political Thinkers
[International Law, for IR students]
Politics students have this slot free
?
?
?
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
1. This is what your programme looks like before you choose your options; courses in black are
required.
2. Look at catalogue to find out what 1st year subject courses (level 7 or 8) are available to you:
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/14-15/dpt/cx_subindex.htm
3. Note: first year students can take level 7 or 8 courses only
How shall I choose my options?
3 different approaches
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
Introduction to Politics and IR
Political Thinkers
[International Law, required for IR students only]
Politics students may choose another option such
as Our Changing World
Islamic History B
Sociology 1a
Sociology 1b
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
Approach 1: choose a parallel (linked) subject you can follow over several
years (sociology, economics, history, etc). (You may even end up adding that
subject as part of combined degree)
You will still have space for some additional outside options
7
2. Choose related courses to
‘round out’ your degree
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
Introduction to Politics and IR
Political Thinkers
[International Law, required for IR students] Politics
students may choose another option;
For example: Human Geography
Scotland: Society and Politics
European History 1a
European History 1b
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
2. Try a course from another outside subject (history, social anthropology, etc…) that you
think will help round out your PIR courses. You may or may not continue with them in Year 2
(nb: continuing with same subject will give you flexibility later if you decide you want to
switch or add degree subjects)
You still have space for outside options
Catalogue is here: http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/14-15/dpt/cx_subindex.htm
3. Or try a series of ‘stand alone’ outside course
to broaden your overall education
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
Introduction to Politics and IR
Political Thinkers
[International Law, required for IR students] Politics
students may choose another option such as: Our
Changing World
Social Anthropology 1b
Economic Principles
Middle Eastern History
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
PIR Fundamentals 1 (core skills)
Note: following this route means you must stay with your current degree
Some recommended ‘stand alone’
courses
Our Changing World (code BIME 08006)
based on series of high profile evening lectures by prominent experts addressing
global challenges (environment, security, poverty, health etc)
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/14-15/dpt/cxbime08006.htm
Scotland: Society and Politics (SSPS 08005)
Interesting times!
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/14-15/dpt/cxssps08005.htm
tip: discuss choices with your PT, but also with other students you’ll meet this week at
Societies Fair and Academic Fair.
10
Finally…
Details on PIR Welcome Events
PIR Soc Quiz Night: 9 Sept, 7 pm, Vodka Revolution (30a
Chamber Street)
• PIR Soc Freshers IndyDebate: 11 Sept , 7pm; Old College,
Lecture Theatre 175
•
Find out more about societies and events:
Today 11am (now) in CMB Foyer
BEST OF LUCK!