Economics and Politics
(BA) Economics and Politics
Entry for 2019
FHEQ level
This course is set at Level 6 in the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
Course Aims
1. To provide our undergraduates with a training in the economics discipline, develop their interest in the subject and encourage them to examine both economic and other social problems from an analytical and critical perspective.
2. To provide our undergraduates with a flexible curriculum that allows the approaches and methodologies of other disciplines to be explored through the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary structures at Sussex and instil in them an openness and flexibility to alternative views.
3. To provide our students with a set of general skills that enable them to think analytically, express themselves clearly, work independently, meet deadlines and encourage initiative.
4. To provide our students with a set of subject-specific skills appropriate to the level of their course that enable them to access, analyse and appraise economic theories and related evidence; to present and sustain coherent and logical argument; and to implement and complete independent research in economics.
5. To give our students the opportunity to participate in processes of module review and evaluation.
6. To enable students to understand the importance of Politics in the contemporary world.
7. To ensure that students acquire knowledge and understanding in appropriate areas of theory and analysis.
8. To enable students to understand and use the concepts, approaches and methods of the disciplines and develop an understanding of the contested nature and problematic character of inquiry in the disciplines.
9. To provide students with the opportunity to combine the insights and methods of the two disciplines.
10. To develop students' capacities to critically analyse events, ideas, institutions and practices.
11. To provide students with opportunities to develop their intellectual, personal and interpersonal skills so as to enable them to participate meaningfully in their societies.
12. Provide a curriculum supported by scholarship, staff development and a research culture that promotes breadth and depth of intellectual enquiry and debate.
13. Provide students with a supportive and receptive learning environment.nt.
Course learning outcomes
1. Have demonstrated knowledge of the core principles of economics
4. Have demonstrated a knowledge of quantitative techniques appropriate to the study of economics or finance (as appropriate)
5. Be able to use the power of abstraction to focus upon the essential features of an economic problem and to provide a framework for the evaluation of the effects of policy or other exogenous events.
6. Be able to analyse an economic problem or issue using an appropriate theoretical framework.
7. Have displayed a knowledge of sources and content of economic information and data
10. Have demonstrated the ability to carry out self-directed study and research
11. Have demonstrated an understanding of appropriate concepts in economics that may be of wider use in a decision-making context (e.g. opportunity cost)
11b. Have demonstrated an understanding of appropriate concepts in finance that may be of wider use in a decision-making context (e.g. discounting)
12. Have learnt to communicate economic ideas, concepts and information using means of communication appropriate to the audience and the problem at issue.
13. Have learned to appreciate the importance of, and be able to construct, rigorous argument to help evaluate ideas.
14. Have demonstrated a facility in numeracy and other quantitative techniques, such as correctly interpreting graphs.
15. Have demonstrated competence in the use of an appropriate range of computer software.
16. Identify and describe and illustrate key approaches to the study of Politics and understand the contested nature of knowledge and understanding
17. Identify and understand the key normative ideas and concepts which serve the foundations of politics
18. Describe and illustrate the structure and operation of different political systems
19. Describe and illustrate the key explanatory concepts and theories used in the study of politics
20. Develop a familiarity with major methods of data collection in politics, and their appropriate uses
21. Develop a knowledge of British politics and the key concepts and approaches used to explain British politics
22. Critically evaluate the nature of political change in a political system or with regrad to a political issue
23. Ability to understand and critique political philosophical arguments made by political theorists
24. An ability to compare different political systems in order to develop a general understanding of the functioning of politics
25. Plan and carry out a research project relating to a political topic which sustains a line of arguments and draws on a body of academic literature
Full-time course composition
Course convenors
Senior Lecturer
Lecturer in Economics
About your joint honours course
Sussex has always promoted interdisciplinary study by encouraging students to combine different subjects and different approaches to learning. Joint-honours courses are an ideal option if you want to study more than one subject in depth. A key idea behind joint-honours is to experience the range of ways that different academic disciplines use to teach, learn and research. Those differences are stimulating and challenging, but they can also be confusing, so you will find some useful information below to help you get the most out of your course.
- To find information about the individual modules that make up your course, go to the school that teaches the module. Each module is assessed by the school that teaches it, so on their website you will find (under “student information”) information about the assessment criteria being used, the referencing style you need to use for your work, contact times for your tutors, information about the student reps scheme and lots of other useful information.
- To find general information about joint honours, use the Frequently Asked Questions list
- For information about the rules and regulations that govern all Sussex students, start with the general student handbook
- For help in improving your study skills, using the library and with careers, try the Skills Hub.
And if you have any other questions, contact the convenors for your course; they are here to help you.
Useful links
Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.
The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.