Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC1003: British Government and Politics

This module descriptor refers to the 2023/4 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

Module Aims

This module provides you with an introduction to British politics which is intended to provoke thought and provide foundational concepts for the academic study of this topic. The lectures introduce you to the main institutions and processes of government with contemporary emphasis but historical awareness. The module covers identity and inequalities, local politics, democracy in Britain, electoral politics, executive politics and structures for developing and implementing public policy. A theme of the course will be the extent to which Britain has a pluralist politics, and whether that matters.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate your knowledge about the relationship between identities, pluralism, and the institutions of governance in British politics;
2. evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches and perspectives on British politics and a and be able to evaluate it in terms of Pluralism in written work.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. place descriptive material within a conceptual and theoretical context and to move from the concrete to the abstract and vice versa, and an ability to assimilate and analyse a wide range of disparate data in written work;
4. interpret and apply theory and evidence about political institutions and processes.
Personal and Key Skills5. demonstrate effective essay writing techniques, including the ability to evaluate and synthesise relevant material;
6. engage effectively in group discussions;
7. engage effectively in group work engage effectively in group work, including group activities during seminars.