BSc (Hons) (Government and Political Science) - CK122 (for students who entered from 2019/20 onwards)

Overview

Commencing in 2019/20 the BSc (Hons) (Government and Political Science) will replace the BSc (Hons) (Government) degree. This will be implemented on a phased basis starting with First Years in 2019/20. Students who entered before 2019/20 will continue on the BSc (Hons) Government degree.

First Year - Government and Political Science

Elective Modules

Students may be asked to indicate preferences for selection of elective modules for Second, Third and Fourth Years prior to the end of their First, Second and Third Years respectively.

Second Year - Government and Political Science

No student may register for the Second Year programme of study until the First University Examination in Government has been passed. Second Year  consists of core modules to the value of 50 credits, and elective modules to the value of 10 credits. To be admitted to the Second University Examination in Government and Political Science, a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Third Year - Government and Political Science

No student may register for the Third Year programme of study until the Second University Examination in Government and Political Science has been passed. Year 3 consists of core modules to the value of 30 credits (15 credits for Albany Pathway), elective modules to the value of 20 credits (15 credits for Albany Pathway) and a Work Placement module to the value of 10 credits. To be admitted to the Third University Examination in Government and Political Science, a student must have satisfactorily attended taught modules, to the value of 50 credits.

The programme requirements for Albany Pathway students are set out below.

Note: The Third University Examination in Government and Political Science will be undertaken in March/April to allow students undertake Work Placement (GV3102 Work Placement).

Students may not select a language module where there is a timetable clash with core modules, or which has already been taken at the same level in a previous year.

Albany Pathway

Albany Pathway students take modules to the value of 30 credits in Semester 1 (15 credits of core modules and 15 credits from elective modules) and 20 credits in Semester 2 in their assigned college/university in New York plus the Work Placement module to the value of 10 credits in the New York State Assembly in Albany, New York.

Note: For Albany Pathway students the Third University Examination in Government and Political Science will be undertaken in December (or through continuous assessment in Semester 1) to allow students undertake Work Placement (GV3401 Government Placement New York State Assembly) in the New York State Assembly in Albany, New York and GV3402 US State Government & Legislative Studies (20 credits) in their assigned college/university in New York.

GV3102 Work Placement

After the Third University Examination, students must also undertake a 12-week period of work placement (GV3102 Work Placement - 10 credits). The Placement module shall be assessed on a pass/fail basis, and must be passed in order to graduate with Honours. Attaining the requisite competencies standard shall be considered a pass; failure to meet the requisite competencies standard shall be considered a fail. (Full details of the placement are contained in "Placement Policy and Procedures for the BSc (Hons) in Government and Political Science" which is available, on request, from the Department of Government and Politics).

Study Year Abroad

Students may, on the approval of the BSc Government and Political Science Board of Studies, spend third year pursuing an approved programme of study in a university outside of Ireland. Programmes taken will be validated by the host institution. Students will be asked to complete a workload either (a) broadly equivalent to 60 ECTS credits at the host institution or (b) broadly equivalent to 50 ECTS at the host institution together with GV3102 Work Placement. The workload should be at a broadly equivalent level to the UCC BSc Government and Political Science III.

Fourth Year - Government and Political Science

No student may register for the Fourth Year programme of study until the Third University Examination in Government and Political Science has been passed. In Fourth Year, students take modules to the value of 60 credits in total. At least 40 credits of GV modules must be taken which includes 20 credits of core modules plus a minimum of 20 credits of GV electives. To be admitted to the BSc (Hons) Government and Political Science Degree Examination, a student must have satisfactorily attended modules to the value of 60 credits.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements