IR3023 US Foreign Policy: The Dilemmas of Power

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Wednesday 12 noon

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D J Miles

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr David Miles

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The module will be descriptive, explanatory, and evaluative. The first week of class will be devoted to a brief survey of theories of foreign policy, focusing on a range of positivist and post-positivist debates. From that point onwards, theoretical debates will be subsumed into the various historical, constitutional and structural descriptions of how US foreign policy is formulated and executed. Throughout the module we will also explore various normative critiques of the conduct of US foreign policy.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Online Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

278

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.