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Module Choices

Some of the content of this page is for the attention of students taking BA Politics and BA Politics and International Studies.

There are no (PAIS) optional modules if you are on our BA Politics and Sociology programme. At this link is the structure of the PAIS and Modern Languages programme (please do scroll down the page to find the particular language you are studying). Here is the structure of the Politics and International Studies with Chinese programme. Again, for these programmes there are no optional PAIS modules.

Please note that module websites are on Moodle for the 2023-24 academic year and may not, as yet, be fully updated.

PAIS Modules

  • In your first year your CORE modules will be Introduction to Politics, World Politics and Political Research in the 21st Century.
  • You are able to choose as your optional fourth module either a 30 CAT module from outside PAIS, or 2 x 15 CAT modules within PAIS, or a 15 CAT module in PAIS and a 15 CAT module in another department, or 2 x 15 CAT modules outside PAIS.
  • The Department of Politics 15 CAT politics modules include Nine Ideas in International Security (Term 2),Justice, Democracy and Citizenship (Term 2) .Contemporary Themes in Comparative Politics (Term 1), Foundations of Political Economy (Term 1).
  • Also open to you are our quantitative methods modules. There are two 15 CAT modules in Introduction to Quantitative Political Analysis 1 (PO11Q, Term 1) and Introduction to Quantitative Political Analysis 2 (PO12Q, Term 2). Please note that PO11Q is a required pre-requisite for PO12Q, but you are welcome to select PO11Q on its own.
  • If you choose to take your optional 15 CAT modules within PAIS we highly recommend you take one in each term so as to balance your workload. Alternatively you could achieve balance by taking an 'outside' 15 CAT module in a different term to your PAIS 15 CAT module. We only allow you to take both PAIS 15 CAT modules in the same term if you are confident you can manage the workload and there are no clashes in your timetable.
  • Alternatively, you may choose one 30 CAT module or two 15 CAT modules from another department to make up your 120 CATS of study for your first year.
  • Module places are not guaranteed and we recommend you make your choices as soon as you can.
  • For administrative advice (e.g. which modules you are entitled to do and how to go about this) on your optional modules, please contact the PAIS Programmes Team (paisug at warwick dot ac dot uk). For academic advice please contact your personal tutor or the Director of Student Experience and Progression (DSEP).

Selecting Your PAIS Modules

You will register your module choices via the University’s eVision Student Records System. Details on how to do this are available here.

You will need to confirm any outside modules with the relevant department and then add them through the module registration system. If you have not been able to confirm your outside module by the time that you complete the module registration then you should choose an alternative second-choice module for the purposes of registration (just in case you do not get on to your outside module choice) and then – if your outside module is confirmed – contact the PAIS Programmes Team (paisug@warwick.ac.uk) and ask them to replace the appropriate PAIS module with your outside module choice.

Outside Options

  • Departments where you can take your outside option all have different ways of applying and different deadlines for you to register for their modules.
  • Please do check with the individual departments for availability and pre-requisites before registering for the module.

  • Here in PAIS we would prefer that you have found, and registered for, your outside module by the end of week 1 as, generally, lectures start in week 1 for all departments and seminars start in week 2 – the sooner you are registered the sooner you can settle into your class and get the most out of your module.
  • If you choose 15 CAT modules outside PAIS we recommend an even load (e.g. one in each term).
  • If you need any advice on outside modules please speak to the PAIS Programmes Team as they can advise and help you.
The Language Centre
  • Many of our first year students choose to learn a language while they are here at Warwick and in your first year you are able to take a beginners language class and then carry this on throughout your degree.
  • Taking a language such as French, German or Spanish will help you if you choose to go on one of our Erasmus exchanges in Europe and also increase your chances of being able to get a job in Europe after completing your degree. Other language classes offered are Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic. Italian (accelerated) is also offered at beginners and intermediate level, and Korean (accelerated) at beginners level.
  • The Enrolment process is outlined on their website. It takes place online this year. The links on this page will take students to the pre-enrolment form to complete; the details then go to a tutor in their chosen language to arrange a Teams call with them to assess their level and complete their enrolment into a module.
  • Enrolment will open at 12pm on Friday 22 September 2023 and closes at 12:00 midday on Friday 13th October 2023.
  • The Language Centre can be found on the fourth floor of the Faculty of Arts building.
  • Taking a language such as French, German or Spanish will help you if you choose to go on one of our Erasmus exchanges in Europe and also increase your chances of being able to get a job in Europe after completing your degree. Other language classes offered are Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic. Italian (accelerated) is also offered at beginners and intermediate level, and Korean (accelerated) at beginners level.
  • How to add a language to your degree. 

     

    The Language Centre (http://warwick.ac.uk/languagecentre) offers a wide range of modules at various levels in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish.

     

    To help you achieve your language learning goals, to acquire a new language or improve your language skills, several choices are available:

     

    1. Modules for credit on the Academic Programme

     

    These can be taken as part of your undergraduate degree course but must be agreed with PAIS before enrolling. There are a range of levels available, as well as accelerated options for those who want to develop their language skills at a faster pace. More information is available from: http://warwick.ac.uk/languagecentre/academic/ 

     

    1. Modules not for credit on the Academic Programme

     

    The same modules as those available for credit are also available to take in addition to degree studies. A fee applies to these modules. More information is available from: http://warwick.ac.uk/languagecentre/academic/fees/ 

     

    1. Courses not for credit on the Lifelong Language Learning (LLL) Programme

     

    A programme of language courses available to students, staff and members of the wider community from beginner to more advanced levels. More information is available from: http://warwick.ac.uk/languagecentre/lifelonglearning/.

     

    Enrolment 

     

    Enrolment takes place online for all programmes, from September. Anyone intending to take a language at the Language Centre must ensure that they:

    • Follow the pre-enrolment procedure as detailed on the Language Centre website.
    • Abide by PAIS’s rules/guidelines if enrolling on an academic module for credit.

     

    Academic modules: Please consult Language Centre - Academic Enrolment (warwick.ac.uk) for further information on the enrolment process. The Language Centre can also be contacted by email at smlcoffice@warwick.ac.uk for more information on these modules.

     

    Lifelong Language Learning courses: Please consult Language Centre - Enrolment for Lifelong Language Learning (LLL) Courses (warwick.ac.uk) The Language Centre can also be contacted by email at smlcoffice@warwick.ac.uk for more information on these courses.

Economics

The Economics Department will not be able to accommodate external undergraduate students onto any EC100 coded modules for 23/24.

Students interested in Political Economy may wish to consider our own 15 CAT module, Foundations of Political Economy.

Sociology

In order to register for a Sociology module students will need to log on to the e-vision student records system. A list of Sociology modules can be found here: 

Warwick Business School

For WBS modules, students must register via https://my.wbs.ac.uk/(logging in using ITS username and password. You then follow my.wbs>user profile> module application. If you click on the module titles it will open the module overview, the modules you see listed on the module application page are the modules offered to external department students.

The WBS module registration process can all be done through my.wbs, and the my.wbs system is independent of e:Vision/tabula. Therefore, you need to keep both registration systems up to date of any changes.

Their module application portal will reopen on the week commencing the 7th of August 2023 until the 13th of October 2023.

Philosophy

Students who wish to take any Philosophy modules should contact the Philosophy Programmes Officers first to confirm availability ( philosophyoffice@warwick.ac.uk) and then sign up for the module on EMR as soon as you have done this.

The Philosophy module pages can be found here

There are instructions on how to sign up for Philosophy modules in their FAQs.

We hope this has given you a better idea of what is offered to you as your outside option and how to apply, if you see another module in a different department (For example The Department of English/Italian/German/French/Film Studies/Psychology) that you wish to do please contact the PAIS Programmes Team, in the first instance, to discuss this further.

Please be reassured that this will all be discussed in your first year welcome meeting and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions there, as well as via the PAIS Programmes Team.