International Relations

This exciting course examines contemporary world politics across three main study themes: International Relations, Globalisation, and Politics.

Coventry University offers you an exciting and innovative International Relations degree. You will learn about international affairs in depth by:

• Studying questions of power, political decision-making, conflict, peace, foreign policy, democracy, human rights, and social movements.

• Considering how foreign policy decision-makers and international organisations respond in the face of war, social movements, terrorism, political struggles, democratic advances, and setbacks.

• Reflecting on how these issues have impacted regions around the world, such as the Middle East, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and China.

Key Course Benefits

• You should get a deeper understanding of the rationale for and value of cooperative relationships between nations, and of the foreign policy challenges.

• You will explore how the world is becoming ever more interdependent with the resulting global socio-political changes. This includes the rising cost of foreign aid and the impact of non-English speaking immigrants within the education system – increasingly affecting people at a local level.

• You will examine major themes of post-war international politics, including: The dominant relationship between the superpowers, the consequences of decolonisation, the emergence of the 'Third World', the spread of revolutionary wars, the development of European integration, the spread and final collapse of communism and its effect on world politics at the end of the Cold War.

This course has a common first year. The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).
Year One Modules
Ideas and Concepts that Shape the World
Nations and Nationalism: From to Unification to Annihilation
The Making of the Globalised World
After Destruction: The World since 1945
Power, People, and the State
Freedom, Rights and Democracy

Year Two
In year two, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: global security, foreign policy, and the far right in contemporary Europe, amongst others.

Modules
Contemporary Global Security
Foreign Policy Analysis
Emerging Powers and Global Order
Ethics and International Relations
Humanity and the Natural World
The Far Right in Contemporary Europe

Placement Year
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement* can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee* of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Final Year
Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from year one and two. You will have the chance to develop your interests and choose from a wide range of optional modules. For example, you could choose modules on the Middle East, the United States, or China to enhance your intercultural and political awareness.

Modules
Independent Project
United States' Foreign Policy since 1945
Chinese Politics, Foreign Relations and Security
International Relations of South Asia
Global Organised Crime
Politics of the Middle East
Nationalism and Democratisation in Post-Communist Europe
Race and Resistance in the Americas

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content.

*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website