Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2047: American Politics

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • The American Constitutional Framework
  • Ideology, Public Opinion, and the Media
  • Interest Groups
  • Congress
  • The Courts
  • The President
  • Bureaucracy
  • Voting, Elections, and Parties
  • Public Policymaking

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
26.5123.5

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity16.511 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity1010 x 1 hour Tutorials
Guided Independent study 123.5A variety of private study tasks directed by module leader. These tasks may include (with an indicative number of hours): • Reading assignments (70 hours) • Preparation for and completion of examination (25 hours) • Writing a multi-part critical essay (25 hours) • Following American political news events (5 hours)

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

(For specific readings, see ELE – vle.exeter.ac.uk)