AD3005 - Politics and Decision Making

This module will be delivered via a series of lectures and seminars – made up of a combination of directly taught and interactive activities.
Emphasis will be placed on you developing your foundation knowledge of political decision making that you can build on and develop as your studies progress.

On the module you will be academically supported in many ways. First, the teaching team which includes the module leader as well as other lecturers will be available to guide you through the module and answer any questions. Second, you will be able to email the teaching team and meet them during set office hours to ask questions. Third, the module has an online electronic learning portal website including a module handbook that guides you through many frequently asked questions.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. To recognise and describe different political systems and the role of key, national and international institutions in the decision making process
2. To show an appreciation of the impact of ideas and ideologies on decision making
3. To apply this knowledge to enable you to understand contemporary events
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. To demonstrate the study skills needed to study politics and international relations in higher education Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. To have respect for the opinion of others and listen and reflect when your own opinions are challenged.

You will be supported through formative feedback delivered via seminars to prepare for the summative (i.e. formal) assessment for the module.

Assessment is a single, multi-question 2000-word essay at the end of the module.

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War, economic crisis, social revolution, national security, climate change… We live in a dynamic and changing world so we have make decisions about how to address these, and other controversial issues, all the time. This decision making is ‘politics’ and so politics affects all of us every day. This module will focus on key questions. Who makes decisions? How are decisions made? What influences decision making? And what is the impact of these decisions? In learning to answer these questions, the module provides you with the knowledge and skills to help you understand the complex and interconnected world in which we all live and help prepare you for the next level of study.