Spire banner

 

 

Politics, International Relations & Philosophy

Politics

Do you want to change the world? Then you’ll need to know about world affairs and how democracy works. And you’ll need to know how to hold your own in debates about ideas, problems and solutions.

‘Studying Politics at Keele not only helps you understand the world better for yourself, it also pushes you to understand the world from other people's perspectives. In any career, understanding where you and other people stand on an issue, and why they stand there, is an essential skill.'

Alex Towers -  BA Honours Politics and Neuroscience (2008); MA International Relations with distinction (2010)

Politics quote Keele has a longstanding reputation as one of the foremost centres for political studies in the country.  SPIRE was founded by some of the best known political scientists in the UK and Europe, and continues to attract researchers and students of the highest caliber.

Politics at Keele provides a challenging treatment of the ways in which modern political science and political theory have dealt with a range of contemporary issues and debates. It is about understanding the complex and often confusing world in which we live. One crucial feature of that world is its interconnectedness - geographical, social, intellectual - and this cannot be understood without understanding the role of politics. Whether trying to make sense of the everyday actions of local, regional and national governments or of supra-national bodies like the EU; or trying to come to terms with the many crises and problems we face such as massive economic inequalities, the potentially catastrophic impacts of environmental changes, and threats of war and violent conflict; or simply trying to find ways of influencing some of the groups and processes that unavoidably shape our lives; an understanding of politics is essential.

Over three years as a Politics student, you will have the opportunity to explore in depth the issues that interest you. Students are encouraged to engage creatively and imaginatively in understanding and explaining the political events, institutions and ideas that shape our lives.

The Politics course, whether studied as dual and single Honours, has four main objectives:

  • to acquaint you with the major approaches to studying comparative government, political theory and political sociology;
  • to encourage you to think critically and creatively about politics;
  • to enable you to make informed assessments about local and national politics through comparison with equivalent processes in other countries; and
  • to equip you with a range of transferable skills that enable you to succeed in the workforce and be an informed participant in civic life.

Course Structure

Our course is designed to build and develop your knowledge of Politics progressively.  The first year provides a foundation for more flexible choices in the second year and considerable specialisation in the third year.  One of the benefits of studying in SPIRE is the range of extra modules from International Relations also available to Politics students. Students are also allowed to take elective modules from any subject throughout their degree. For example you can learn a language as part of your degree.  For further details, please follow this link to Keele's undergraduate prospectus.

Single or Dual Honours?

Politics can be taken on its own as a single honours course; in combination with one of SPIRE's other courses (International Relations or Philosophy); or in combination with a vast range of other subjects offered at Keele such as Law, History or Management.

Single Honours

The single honours route allows for a concentrated focus on Politics, but with the possibility of taking some modules from other courses to reflect a special interest you may have. This route is for you if you think that Politics is the most important and interesting subject and if you want to devote most of your time and energy to understanding it in depth.

Dual Honours

There are interconnections between Politics and many other subjects. The dual honours route is an ideal choice if you wish to combine Politics with another complementary social science subject, such as Law, History or Sociology.  If, on the other hand, you thrive on difference, then you can study Politics with a natural science discipline such as Biology, or with an Humanities subject such as Music or English. Please refer to Keele's undergraduate prospectus for the full range of Politics combinations. 

That sounds interesting, but will it get me a job?

Our graduates have an excellent employability record and go on to work in a wide variety of careers. The ability to make and evaluate arguments and to make well reasoned decisions based on analysis of evidence is vital in any professional field. Please see our Careers page or read what our former students say about our programmes, the school, life at Keele and after.

See Politics: Dual and Single Honours leaflet.