About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Arts
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Code
Subject available through multiple programmes
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Subject Title
Politics
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College
Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, International Education Office
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Qualifications
BA (Hons)
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Fees
See Fees and Costs for full details.
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Entry Requirements
See Requirements for full details.
Course Outline
A degree in Politics gives you a flexible qualification for the 21st century, providing you with sought-after analytical and practical skills in research, communication and IT.
Politics is available in all three years of the BA degree, and you may study it as a single, major, or joint honours subject.
Politics is built around three pillars with contributions from the Department of Government, the School of History and the Department of Philosophy.
Year 1 modules
PO1001 Introduction to Politics (15 credits)
Year 2 modules
Core:
PO2001 Political Analysis.
Electives:
Comparative European Politics; USA Politics; Elections and Voting; Feminist Philosophy; An Introduction to Political Philosophy; Conflict and Conflict Resolution; Chinese Politics; Northern Ireland; Applied Ethics; Mediterranean Politics; Political Economy-Trade; Gender Perspectives on Politics; Knowledge and Reality; Violence and War; Citizen Participation; The European Union and the International System; EU: Political and Institutional Development; Chinese Philosophy, 1989 Revolutions: Poland & East Central Europe - transition to Democracy; Model European Union; Ancient Philosophy; Capitalism & Welfare; History of Philosophy.
Year 3*/4 modules:
Core
PO3001 Dissertation.
Electives:
Ireland and International Relations; Global Governance; Professional Ethics; International Relations; Issues in Irish Politics; Moral Psychology; Nuclear Politics and Proliferation; The Politics of Church and State; Contemporary Ecological and Anti-Capitalist Politics; Soviet Communism in World Politics; Politics in Northern Ireland; Contemporary Debates in Ireland; Political Philosophy in Theory and Practice; Political Ideologies and Social Change; Moral Responsibility; Democracy: Theories and Innovations; European Security, Identity & Displacement, History of Philosophy.
*BA International students spend third year studying in an approved foreign university in a country of the student's major language or subject. They will return to complete their final year in UCC in year 4.
See the College Calendar for additional information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for further information on modules.
Course Practicalities
Assessment
Diverse assessment techniques are used throughout the politics programme. Many modules are assessed exclusively through continuous assessment while a small number retain an end of semester written exam.
Core research and communication skills are developed through traditional methods such as reviews, in-class tests and essays, but assessments also include more practical and innovative methods such as:
- poster design
- policy reports
- individual and group presentations
- social media analysis reports
- participation in negotiation simulation exercises designed around international institutions
- writing opinion editorials and completing funding applications.
The varied assessment profile is designed to ensure that you acquire diverse skills during your degree.
Who teaches this course
Lecturers from the three participating units – Department of Government and Politics, the School of History and the Department of Philosophy – teach on the Politics course.
Why Choose This Course
The BA Politics at UCC is taught jointly by staff from the Department of Government, the School of History and the Department of Philosophy. Our staff are drawn from a broad range of specialist backgrounds creating a diverse and innovative learning environment for students.
Over the course of the degree, you can participate in field trips to Irish and international political institutions, contribute to national policy analysis by making submissions to policy reviews, publish your work in the student online journal Government and Politics Review and attend and speak at a wide range of conferences organised by staff across the course.
Students have amazing opportunities during their degree, such as the Washington Ireland Programme in Washington DC, the Kosovo International Summer Academy and the Fleishman Hillard EU Internship Programme in Brussels.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Study abroad
If you are studying through the BA International, you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities abroad. We currently have links with universities in Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden Mexico, and the USA.
Work placement
If you study through the BA or the BA International, you will have the opportunity to avail of a work placement in Year 2. You can find out more here.
Skills and Careers Information
We aim to help our students develop a broad set of skills that will enhance their development as resourceful and reflective citizens. Politics graduates have excellent analytical and critical thinking skills and we emphasise effective communication skills throughout the programme. This means a focus on clear and insightful writing but also on effective oral communication, from making presentations to contributing to classroom discussions.
Our graduates have gone on to become:
- political advisers
- journalists
- officials in international organisations
- teachers
- business analysts
- campaign coordinators for charities, interest groups and political parties
- policy analysts
- administrators
- recruitment consultants
and of course, a small number have become politicians!
Politics and Society is now a Leaving Certificate subject and this has opened up significant teaching opportunities for our graduates.
Requirements
Mature entry applicants
Find out about the mature entry requirements here.
Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page.
Refer to our International Office page for more information on how to apply to UCC.
Fees and Costs
For International Fees see our Fees Schedule page.
How Do I Apply
Refer to CK101 and CK108. Students choose Arts subjects when registering for first year.
EU Applicants: The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions. Refer to the CAO page for further information.
Mature Applicants (age 23 or over): See the CAO Mature Applicants page and the Mature Students Admissions Pathway (MSAP) page for essential information on the application process for mature students.
QQI FET: See our QQI FET Applicants page.
Non-EU Applicants: Non-EU applicants apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page.
All Applicants: Please note that the modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course and are subject to change from year to year. Please check the College Calendar for the full academic content of any given course for the current year.
- In UCC, we use the terms programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.