Political Science and Geography
Handbook 2013—2014
Department of Geography
Department of Political Science
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Course Overview
In a rapidly changing international economic, political, security and
environmental context the tools of Political Science and Geography are becoming
increasingly important to analyze global problems and provide policy solutions.
This course combines analytical rigor with an understanding of real world
variations and complexities. The two disciplines have been associated through
the sub-fields of political geography, which covers geographical differences in
voting patterns, for example, and through geo-politics which examines how the
great powers influence other parts of the planet. These days, in a context of
globalization, interdisciplinary understandings of socio-environmental issues are
becoming increasing key to solving the problems of the future such as political
instability in parts of the developing world as a result of climate change, for
example. Environmental politics, and the politics of the environment, are
becoming ever more important.
This is the course for you if you are interested in the disciplines of politics
and geography and you hope to develop a critical understanding of the
relationship between the Earth's natural and human phenomena and its political
institutions and systems.
Program Structure
In the Freshman (first two) years, students studying on the Political Science and
Geography degree will study a variety of political science and geography
subjects.
Junior Freshman (First Year) Modules
Political Science Modules
PO1600 Introduction to political science (10 ECTS) required (this
module is non-compensatable and must be passed in order to
progress)
SO1310 Introduction to sociology (10 ECTS) required
EC1040 Introduction to economic policy (10 ECTS) required
Geography Modules
GG1021 Introduction to geography I: Physical (10 ECTS) required
GG1022 Introduction to geography II: Human - Environment (10 ECTS)
required
GG1023 Introduction to geography III: Human (10 ECTS) required
Senior Freshman (Second Year) Modules
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Political Science Modules
PO2610 History of political thought (10 ECTS) pre-requisite for
PO4610: Contemporary political theories
PO2640 International relations (10 ECTS) pre-requisite for PO4700:
Contemporary International Relations
PO2650 Comparative politics (10 ECTS)
Geography Modules
GG2021Changing environments (past, present and future) (10 ECTS)
GG2022 Human Geography – Changing Worlds (10 ECTS)
GG2023 Geography seminars (10 ECTS)
Junior Sophister (Third Year) Modules
In the Junior Sophister year students take a combination of modules totalling 60
ECTs of which 30 must be from the Department of Political Science and 30 from
the Department of Geography. Students may also choose to spend their third
year abroad.
Political Science Modules
PO3600 Research methods for political scientists (10 ECTS) required for
students intending to take political science only in the Senior
Sophister year
PO3630 Irish politics (10 ECTS)
PO3650 Government and politics of the United States (10 ECTS)
PO3670 Democracy and development (10 ECTS)
PO3680 European Union politics (10 ECTS)
Geography Modules
GG3033 Geographic information systems (5 ECTS) (optional and
restricted based on second year performance)
GG3012 History and philosophy of geography (5ECTS) (optional)
GG3028 Advanced research methods in geography 1 (5 ECTS) required
for students intending to take Geography only in the Senior
Sophister year
GG3025 Advanced research methods in geography 2 (5 ECTS) required
for students intending to take Geography only in the Senior
Sophister year
Please see the combined undergraduate handbook for a list of other
module options
(http://www.tcd.ie/Geography/assets/pdf/geography%20ug%20handb
ook%20201213%20310512.pdf)
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Progression Options
If students take both subjects equally in their Senior Sophister year, they
must pass the geography component as a whole as well as the political
science component as a whole. The final degree result is based
exclusively on results in the Senior Sophister year.
If students concentrate exclusively on political science in their Senior
Sophister year, they must achieve at least an overall second class grade in
the political science component as a whole. The final degree mark is
calculated by combining the results from Senior Sophister year (50%)
with the Junior Sophister (50%).
If students concentrate exclusively on geography in their Senior Sophister
year, they must achieve at least an overall second class grade in the
geography component of the course. The final degree mark is calculated
by combining the results from Senior Sophister year (50%) with the
Junior Sophister (50%).
Senior Sophister (Forth Year) Modules
In the Senior Sophister (fourth) year students may choose from a range of
course options and may choose to
1. combine political science and geography courses (30ECTS from Political
Science and 30ECTS from Geography).
2. specialize entirely in either Political Science or Geography courses.
Students must take modules equivalent to 60 ECTS.
For students taking both political science and geography courses
Political Science Modules
PO4610 Contemporary political theories (15 ECTS)
PO4620 Comparative political institutions (15 ECTS)
PO4670 Political Parties (15 ECTS)
PO4690 Issues in contemporary politics (15 ECTS)
PO4700 Contemporary international relations (15 ECTS)
PO 4710 African politics (15 ECTS)
PO4730 The Politics of Inequality (15 ECTS)
PO4740 Topics in Political Science (15 ECTS)
Geography Modules
Please see the listing in the combined course handbook.
For students taking political science only
Political Science Modules
PO4600 Research seminar in political science (15 ECTS) required
PO4690 Issues in contemporary politics (15 ECTS) required
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And two from the following
PO4610 Contemporary political theories (15 ECTS)
PO4620 Comparative political institutions (15 ECTS)
PO4670 Political Parties (15 ECTS)
PO4690 Issues in contemporary politics (15 ECTS)
PO4700 Contemporary international relations (15 ECTS)
PO4710 African politics (15 ECTS)
PO4730 The Politics of Inequality (15 ECTS)
PO4740 Topics in Political Science (15 ECTS)
For students taking geography only
Geography Modules
GG4030 Research dissertation (20 ECTS) required
And 40 ECTS from optional modules.
Program Outcomes:
Career opportunities for graduates lie in fields such as public and European
affairs, overseas assistance, resource management and risk assessment, the
supply of environment-related advice to governments and industry, the study
and practice of environmental policymaking, and teaching and higher education.
Broad Curriculum and Language Options
In Senior Freshman year, students may replace one module (10 ECTS) in
Political Science with two modules (5 ECTS each) from the Broad
Curriculum and Language options.
In Junior Sophister year, students may substitute 10 ECTS of elective
Geography modules for modules from Broad Curriculum and Language
options.
Students studying Geography only in their final year may substitute a
minimum of 5 ECTS up to a maximum of 20 ECTS for elective modules
outside of this core program (including Broad Curriculum modules) if you
have not already done so during Junior Sophister year.
Please Note: In making module selections, it is your responsibility to ensure
that: 1) module timetables do not clash (you must be able to attend all
components of a module; 2) you pay careful attention to the pre-requisites for
modules in the Sophister years.
Erasmus Program
Before contacting the Erasmus coordinator in political science and
geography, students should ensure that both political science and
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geography modules are offered by the university or college to which the
are applying.
While on a Study Abroad programme, students must pass a minimum of
45 ECTS to rise with their year. For students taking the Political Science
and Geography Moderatorship, a minimum of 22.5 ECTS in Political
Science modules and 22.5 ECTS in Geography modules must be obtained.
Please note that this is the minimum number of ECTS required and that
students are strongly advised to take more ECTS than the minimum of 45
during their Eramus year
If students plan to choose political science only in the Senior Sophister
year, they need to take a research methods module in their host
University which is equivalent to PO3600: Research Methods for Political
Scientists. Students need to get the pre-approval from the instructor of
the Research Methods module.
If students plan to choose Geography only in the Senior Sophister year,
they need to take module(s) in their host University which cover a
curriculum equivalent to GG3028 and GG3025 (Advanced Research
Methods in Geography1&2). Students need to get the pre-approval from
the co-ordinator of the Research Methods module. Students planning to
take Geography only must also prepare a dissertation proposal during
their Junior Sophister year which is a requisite for GG4030, the
compulsory Dissertation module in Senior Sophister year.
European Credit Transfers
Students reading for the political science and geography degree at Trinity
College Dublin must study 240 ECTS over the duration of the four years.
Generally this entails 60 ECTS per year.
The ECTS weighting for a module is a measure of the student input or
workload required for that module, based on factors such as the number of
contact hours, the number and length of written or verbally presented
assessment exercises, class preparation and private study time, classes, and
examinations. There is no intrinsic relationship between the credit volume of a
module and its level of difficulty.
In Trinity College Dublin, 1 ECTS unit is defined as 20-25 hours of student
input so a 10-credit module will be designed to require 200-250 hours of student
input including class contact time, private study and assessments.
Sutudent 2 Student
From the moment you arrive in College right the way through to your end of
year exams Student 2 Student (S2S) is here to make sure your first year is
fun, engaging and a great foundation for the rest of your time in Trinity.
You’ll meet your two S2S mentors in Freshers’ Week and they’ll ma ke sure
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you know other people in your course before your classes even start.
They’ll keep in regular touch with you throughout your first year and invite
you to events on and off campus. They’ll also give you useful information
about your course and what to look out for. Mentors are students who have
been through first year and know exactly what it feels like, so you never
have to worry about asking them a question or talking to them about
anything that’s worrying you.
S2S also offers trained Peer Supporters if you want to talk confidentially to
another student or just to meet a friendly face for a coffee and a chat.
S2S is supported by the Senior Tutor's Office and the Student Counselling
Service.
http://student2student.tcd.ie
E-mail: [email protected],
Phone: + 353 1 896 2438
Contacts:
Geography Coordinator: Professor Pádraig Carmody ([email protected])
Political Science Coordinator: Professor Koji Kagotani ([email protected])
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