Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM503: Foreign Policy Decision-Making

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

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:

introduction to key psychological concepts in foreign policy and international relations,
decision-making models,
decision-making in times of crisis,
introduction to rational choice theory,
strategies for political leaders across different regime types,
the role of public opinion and leader motivations in coercive foreign policies.

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278

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

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x 2 hour seminars. These will primarily consist of guided discussions where topics can be explored further through debate.
Guided Independent Study	66	Reading texts for class
Guided Independent Study	37	Preparing questions and answers based on weekly readings
Guided Independent Study	45	Preparing small group op-ed
Guided Independent Study	100	Essay preparation
Guided Independent Study	30	Preparation for and completion of written take-home assignment

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

Other materials and resources will be identified by the module convener in lectures and/or via ELE.