Academic Content of the BSc in Government
What is the Study of Government?
The practice of democratic government is a specific and sometime tedious business – seeking nomination, winning election and serving constituents is the concern, for the most part, of career politicians. The study of government, on the other hand, is quite different. Students of government learn to understand, using the tools of applied social research, some of the fundamental puzzles and outcomes that shape our world.
Over the course of four years, students reading for a BA in Government are trained to address a range of substantive issues across Irish, European and international politics. Courses, as a rule, are formed around a series of key questions that direct scholarly inquiry. Consider some of the following questions that concern government students:
- Is tension between East and West the result of a deep and inevitable ‘class of civilisations’?
- Can we trace the origins of genocide to ‘ancient tribal animosities’?
- Why did Irish democracy – conceived at a time when many European democracies were failing – survive?
- Why do some democracies fail (Weimar Germany, Zimbabwe) while others succeed (Ireland, South Africa)?
- Can ideas shape the course of political history (Enlightenment thought and political liberalisation)?
The BSc in Government also contains a hard-nosed quality: students have the opportunity to study business and language modules offered within the School of Commerce that will prepare students for a career in the financial or business community. Students, in an equally practical vein, also take modules where they learn qualitative and quantitative research skills that are considered essential to both further study and careers in policy-making.
Entry Requirements
Prospective students are required to achieve the minimum grade of HC3 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at Higher or Ordinary Level in the Leaving Certificate from: Irish, English, another language, Mathematics and two other subjects recognised for entry purposes. In addition, students must also have requisite points. Mature students, Access students and others with a disability may qualify for entry to the BSc Government by other routes. Further information is available from the Admissions office (http://www.ucc.ie/en/ProspectiveStudents/Admissions).