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PAIS > Interdisciplinary study

In what ways do Single Honours, Combined and Joint Honour degree claim to be interdisciplinary?

Single Honours

Politics 

First Year Undergraduate Modules: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/currentstudents/moduledocs/firstyear/

  • Nowhere in the modules’ abstracts is the word ‘interdisciplinary’ used.
  • Students for their fourth option have to take an approved module from an outside department.


World Politics: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/wp

  • ‘To have an understanding of how history influences an understanding of contemporary politics.’

Introduction to Research methods in Political Science: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/irm 

Claim to introduce students to the discipline of political science. They directly relate research methods to political events such as the 1997/2001 General elections.

Second Year Undergraduate Modules: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/#year2

Core Module:

Political Theory from Hobbes: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/pth

  • Once again the term ‘interdisciplinary’ is not used.
  • This module involves the study of political philosophy and the analysis of political theory and thus requires the skills used by philosophers to study.
  • It states students will have better ‘conceptual analysis’ and understanding of historical developments of the period.
  • Terms such as, economic/social/historical context/theoretical/conceptual/Feminism and Gender/ethics are used.

More Examples may be found in

Politics of Developing Areas:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/pda/

Theories of International Relations:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/tir

States and Markets: An Introduction to International Political Economy: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/staff/clift/teaching/po230/

The same findings may be applied to Third year Modules.

For example,

Issues in Political Theory:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/ipt

  • A core Module which again enables students to think conceptually in political philosophy.

Gender and Development:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/gd

  • Utilising theories on gender and the economy.

More examples may by found at: Third Year Undergraduate Modules: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/prospectivestudents/abstracts/

Combined Courses

Politics with International Relations:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/pais/l260

  • The term ‘multi-disciplinary’ is used for the first time.
  • 'A core training in the study of Politics is combined with the theoretical, global and multi-disciplinary perspective provided by International Studies modules.'
  • The term is used to describe International studies modules (note: straight politics students pick from the same list, so also have the opportunity of studying these modules. )
  • Students are encouraged in their first year to take a foreign language. Unkn

Politics with French:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/pais/l2r1

  • The two subjects are not studied together in an interdisciplinary way.
  • They are only linked by the opportunities the two disciplines can provide together in career prospects.
  • One could assume each individual module may have their own interdisciplinary aspects.
  • Students do have the opportunity to study French history, literature and philosophies. One could assume these disciplines may be aided by linguistic knowledge.
  • But the interdisciplinary nature of this is not stated explicitly.

Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE): http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/philosophy/lv00

  • The term interdisciplinary is used!
  • In your third year: all three departments contribute to the module, Principles of Political Economy, they state an opportunity for ‘genuinely interdisciplinary work’ and will require students to be competent in two of the three disciplines.

Economics, Politics and International Studies: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/economics/lld2

  • Describes itself as multi-disciplinary
  • Students who major in Politics and International Studies have an option of taking a language module

French/German or Italian with International Studies:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/french/r1l2

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/german/r2l2

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/italian/r3l2 

  • Does not use the term, ‘interdisciplinary’.
  • They only claim that is made that the two disicplines, language+ International relations, together is good preparation for some political careers.  

Joint-Degrees

History and Politics (See History department) 

Politics and Sociology:http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/pais/ll23

  • Again the term interdisciplinary is not used.
  • By looking at the syllabus, one can see students study modules on research methods and investigation (from the sociology department).