BA (Honours) International Studies: Standard pathway

Stage 1

You’ll begin your studies by choosing one of our two 60-credit introductory modules. The first, Introducing the social sciences (DD101)Introducing the social sciences::This key introductory Level 1 course is an ideal introduction to the social sciences – psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology – through study of contemporary UK society. Using a blend of text, audio, DVD and online materials, you’ll explore a wide range of topics, including questions of society’s relationship to the environment, questions of identity and issues of social order and governance – all considered in their national and international contexts – that will equip you with a range of skills for independent study and for your personal and working life.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DD101,,1, focuses on social sciences and will introduce you to a broad and absorbing range of social science subjects including geography, economics, sociology, psychology, politics and international studies. The second, Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)Environment: journeys through a changing world::Our world is changing fast – we are experiencing pressure from climate change, growing demands for finite resources and the extinction of many plants and animals. Environment: journeys through a changing world introduces you to environmental studies and the issues arising from environmental change. It shows how people are seeking positive solutions to environmental challenges where you live, in the Arctic, Africa, the Amazon and China. It also develops the key skills and concepts needed to understand our changing world. You do not need any prior knowledge to study this key introductory Level 1 course, just an interest in the future of our planet.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,U116,,1, takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues ranging from the Arctic to the Amazon to China, as well as some of the world’s great cities. Whichever you choose, these modules will develop your study skills and prepare you for further academic work.

Next, you’ll study the compulsory 60-credit module International development: making sense of a changing world (TD223)International development: making sense of a changing world::In this interdisciplinary course you’ll cover key areas of international development. These include: different models of development; shifting power in the international system; the relationship between poverty, inequality and livelihoods; the impact of conflict and insecurity; and the role of technology and the environment. The history of development as a process of change, the power relationships in that process and the different scales at which development takes place from transnational to local, are themes running throughout the course. These themes integrate the material – using a mix of case studies, interactive activities, text and DVD – to provide a central narrative encouraging critical appraisal and curiosity.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,TD223,,1, which tackles such vital issues as:

• the rise of ‘new great powers’ such as China, India and Brazil
• international efforts to tackle poverty and inequality
• the impact of conflict and civil wars on development
• the role of technology in changing patterns of development.

You’ll be introduced to some of the key ideas and theories of International Studies, have the opportunity to reflect on your own engagement with the issues you encounter during your learning, and further develop your study skills.

Stage 2

At Stage 2, you’ll start to tailor your degree to the subject areas that most interest you or which are most relevant to your career development. You’ll choose two 60-credit modules from the following areas:

• politics, the most closely related subject to international studies, where we offer Power, dissent, equality: understanding contemporary politics (DD203)Power, dissent, equality: understanding contemporary politics::Tumultuous events like 9/11 and the war in Iraq have reminded people how vital – and sometimes how deadly – the world of politics can be. Even at the very local level, the everyday politics of schools, hospitals, petitioning and local council debate affects people’s lives. This course invites you into the world of politics in a fresh and accessible way, using a wide variety of case studies drawn from the UK and beyond. It sheds light on the inner workings of power, decision making and protest, and it covers politics from parliament to the street, and the politics of ideas as well as institutions.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DD203,,1
• history and humanities, where you can either study Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900 (A200)Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900::This course is a varied and wide-ranging introduction to historical study and will teach you the techniques of professional historians. It covers: fifteenth-century France, Burgundy and England during the Hundred Years’ War; the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century; the civil wars of the British Isles in the seventeenth century; slavery and serfdom in the Atlantic world in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; the development of nation states in western Europe following the French Revolution; and European imperialism in Africa. To ensure coherence and focus, the course is linked by common themes, enabling you to study a long chronological period.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,A200,,1 or Introducing religions (A217)Introducing religions::This course offers an introduction to the study of religions, and to six living religious traditions that have had – and continue to have – a major influence on world affairs: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. You will explore their historical development and contemporary manifestations, developing your knowledge and understanding of different practices and beliefs and their underpinning concepts and principles. You will also examine aspects of the religious dimension in current affairs – while developing skills of analysis and evaluation that will benefit future studies in religion and other academic disciplines.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,A217,,1
• economics, where you can study Running the economy (DD209)Running the economy::This course responds to the need to understand the problems of running national and global economies in the wake of a major economic crisis. It starts with macroeconomics, looking at how economies work from global and integrated perspectives. It then moves to microeconomics, drilling down into the behaviour of people, firms and governments. This combined analysis allows you to explore how policy affects, and is affected by, the economy and its constituent members. Using a simulator, you will apply what you have learned, taking on the role of an economic analyst to make or advise on policy choices.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DD209,,1
• geography and environment, includes Living in a globalised world (DD205)Living in a globalised world::It is commonplace now to say that the world has gone global. Whenever we buy food and clothes, listen to music, or watch the news, we can see how different parts of the world, often thousands of miles apart, are connected together. And with these multiple and various connections comes a sense of the world as being a complex and exciting place. This course will help you to understand that complexity, giving you some key geographical concepts which help to make sense of the processes and patterns shaping our globalised world.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DD205,,1 and Environment: sharing a dynamic planet (DST206)Environment: sharing a dynamic planet::Environmental issues pose challenges. What are the biophysical and social causes of environmental change? What exactly is an environmental issue and why are they often controversial and difficult to resolve? How can we make a difference? You will address all of these questions as you explore four key global environmental concerns – life, water, carbon, and food – through a rich and interactive set of study materials. As you do so, you will develop a distinctive way of thinking about environments and environmental issues that draws on the insights of both natural and social sciences to be at once intellectually innovative and practically relevant.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DST206,,1
• languages, with a choice from Envol: upper intermediate French (L211)Envol: upper intermediate French::This course builds on Ouverture: intermediate French (L120), or equivalent knowledge. It will extend your language skills, enhance your cultural knowledge, and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level. You’ll learn to communicate in a wide range of situations; express your opinions; report what other people have said; explain processes and trends; communicate by letter and telephone; make structured notes; and write different types of text. You’ll also improve your command of grammar and vocabulary. A compulsory residential school takes place in France (or you can study an online alternative).undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,L211,,1, Motive: upper intermediate German (L203)Motive: upper intermediate German::This course builds on Auftakt: intermediate German (L130), or equivalent knowledge. It will extend your language skills, enhance your cultural knowledge and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level. You’ll learn to communicate in a wide range of situations; express your opinions; report what other people have said; explain processes and trends; communicate by email, letter and telephone; make structured notes; and write different types of text. You’ll also improve your command of grammar and vocabulary. A compulsory residential school takes place in Germany (or you can study an online alternative).undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,L203,,1 or Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204)Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish::This course builds on En rumbo: intermediate Spanish (L140), or equivalent knowledge. It will continue to develop your practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. By studying a variety of authentic audio, video and printed materials from Spain and Latin America, you will learn how to communicate in situations ranging from everyday conversation to putting forward your point of view in a debate. You will also have the opportunity to work on grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary acquisition. A compulsory residential school takes place in Spain (or you can study an online alternative).undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,L204,,1
• the English language – Worlds of English (U214)Worlds of English::What are the origins of the English language? How has it spread internationally? Is the worldwide influence of English a cause for celebration or concern? How is it changing in response to social, cultural, and technological developments? These are just a few of the questions that you will investigate in this course which looks at the history, diversity, and use of English around the world. Using a combination of printed materials and computer-based resources you will be introduced to the major debates in the field, and to some of the ways language is described and analysed.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,U214,,1.

In making your choice you might want to deepen your understanding of politics; or broaden your knowledge of global history and the processes and events that shape today’s international systems. You might want to focus on the environment, perhaps the most prominent global concern facing our divided world. Or you can choose a language option to gain additional professional skills or to explore the origins of the English language.

Alternatively, you could opt to study the other Level 1 module from Stage 1 of this degree profile.

Stage 3

You’ll begin Stage 3 with A world of whose making? (DU301)A world of whose making?::How can we best understand and analyse international developments such as the role of the World Trade Organisation, the power of the USA, the rise of China and India, or contests over religion, culture and rights? What are the main features of international order, how are they changing, and what can we expect in the future? This interdisciplinary course provides the tools of political and economic analysis needed to answer such questions. You will also review and debate the power politics of dominant states; struggles for rights and justice; economic and technological developments; and how world order is changing.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DU301,,1 (60 credits), which tackles a broad range of issues including the role of the World Trade Organisation; the power of the USA; the rise of China and India; clashes between culture, religion and rights; the rise of terrorist and protest networks; and the role of international aid.

To help you make sense of these issues you’ll acquire the key analytical tools of international relations and economics – engaging with overarching ideas about international order as a whole, how it’s changing, and the processes driving transformation. You’ll also develop your skills as an independent learner able to research complex issues and communicate your ideas clearly and accessibly.

You’ll choose your final module from the following subject areas:

• politics – Living political ideas (DD306)Living political ideas::Should religious beliefs shape how politics are conducted in the contemporary world? Does violence have a role in politics? Should animals as well as humans be represented in politics? What do bodies and sexuality have to do with politics? Living political ideas is an exciting Level 3 politics and international studies course that debates these and similar questions. It demonstrates the relevance of political ideas for understanding contemporary issues in national and world politics. The award winning study materials include software, video and audio on the website (British Universities Film & Video Council, Learning on Screen Awards 2009).undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DD306,,1
• history – Empire: 1492-1975 (A326)Empire: 1492-1975::Empires have had a remarkable impact on world history over the last five centuries. The six blocks of this course each focus on a particular question, from ‘What are empires?’ to ‘Why do empires end?’, considering the British Empire in detail before drawing comparisons with others, including those of France, the Netherlands, Russia, China and Spain. You’ll study a wide range of primary sources, including letters and diaries, newspapers, political papers, paintings, photographs and newsreel footage. The course is a natural choice if you have already studied Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900 (A200), and can be included in a range of degree programmes.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,A326,,1 or Europe 1914-1989: war, peace, modernity (A327)Europe 1914-1989: war, peace, modernity::This course will give you an overview of Europe's twentieth-century history. It begins with Europe on the eve of the First World War and ends with the reunification of Germany at the end of the Cold War. As well as analysing political and military developments, it will introduce you to the key themes in Europe’s economic, social, medical and cultural history. A central focus of the course is how historians have studied the period. You will be introduced to historical debates, and to the vast resources for the study of twentieth-century history that are now being made available online.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,A327,,1
• business studies – Making sense of strategy (B301)Making sense of strategy::The fascinating world of strategy – from its origins and development as a subject to the controversies that dominate contemporary strategic debate – is introduced in this course. It’s relevant to anyone interested in how organisations and individuals make sense of the world and strive for success. You’ll develop skills in clear thinking, independent enquiry and collaborative working as you analyse and apply the ideas and approaches that have done most to influence how strategy is conceived and carried out in today’s organisations, whether commercial or not-for-profit, locally, nationally and internationally. You’ll take part in an online collaboration with other students for a month during the summer.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,B301,,1
• geography and environment – Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context::This innovative course explores the causes and consequences of a range of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation. Particular attention is paid to climate change. You’ll learn how political divisions, inequalities and contentions over values and knowledge can hinder policy responses to environmental problems, and evaluate what can and should be done in the future at both political and individual levels. The course is ideal if you wish to develop a policy-relevant understanding of international environmental problems for either personal interest or career development.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,DU311,,1
• languages – Mises au point: advanced French (L310)Mises au point: advanced French::This course follows on from Envol: upper intermediate French (L211). It continues to develop your knowledge and understanding of the society and culture of contemporary France and French-speaking countries, and to extend the practical skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The study resources include online authentic audio and video, comprising interviews, documentaries and reportages, and illustrated printed materials. You will also develop your academic writing, critical and analytical skills, and intercultural competence. The course has six themes that give both broad and focused coverage of different aspects of historical and contemporary France and French-speaking countries.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,L310,,1, Variationen: advanced German (L313)Variationen: advanced German::This course follows on from Motive: upper intermediate German (L203). It continues to develop your knowledge and understanding of the society and culture of contemporary Germany and German-speaking countries, and to extend the practical skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The study resources include online authentic audio and video, comprising interviews, documentaries and reportages, and illustrated printed materials. You will also develop your academic writing, critical and analytical skills, and intercultural competence. The course has six themes that give both broad and focused coverage of different aspects of historical and contemporary Germany and German-speaking countries.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,L313,,1 or A buen puerto: advanced Spanish (L314)A buen puerto: advanced Spanish::This course follows on from Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204). It continues to develop your knowledge and understanding of the society and culture of Spain and Latin America and to extend the practical skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The study resources include online authentic audio and video, comprising interviews and documentaries, and illustrated printed materials. You will also develop your critical, analytical and intercultural skills. The course is structured around six themes, which give a broad introduction to different aspects of society and culture in Spanish speaking countries.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q11-1,module,L314,,1.

The modules are designed to complement those offered at Stage 2, enabling you to deepen or broaden your subject knowledge.

By the end of your studies, you will be an independent social scientific thinker; confident at finding, evaluating and presenting complex data and information. You’ll be able to build robust, reasoned arguments backed up by appropriate evidence – and you’ll have a portfolio of critical, analytical and practical skills that you can apply to a range of workplace environments.

If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards an Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible, and before you register for your chosen qualification. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.