BA (Hons) International Studies with Spanish

Course Outline

An important feature of the modern world which is widely recognised and commented upon by business people, journalists, politicians, diplomats, teachers and virtually anyone with the alertness to look about them, is its increasing inter-dependence and ‘internationalisation’. Your ability to read this message on the World Wide Web is itself a manifestation of the power of ideas to transcend national boundaries with great rapidity and at low cost. Technology has proved to be an agent which encourages co-operation across national boundaries. Technological developments in transport, telecommunications and computing have encouraged economic changes such as the decline in barriers to trade, the internationalisation of financial markets, the rise of global companies, and a massive increase in the volume of international trade in goods and services. These trends have been accompanied by political developments such as the rise of regional trading groupings of countries, international efforts to agree about common legal and technical rules to govern business dealings, arguments about ‘tax competition’ between countries, as well as increasing concern about the environmental consequences associated with world economic development. Enormous social tensions arise as these international forces come into conflict with long established ways of doing things in every country. Political and social systems are in a continuous process of adjustment to an increasingly open world.

The International Studies programme at Buckingham gives you an opportunity to learn about these fundamental problems. With students coming to Buckingham from over 80 countries, it is an ideal environment to learn about matters of international concern and to discuss them with people from differing cultural backgrounds. The programme is inter-disciplinary and covers economic, political, legal, historical and cultural dimensions. Graduates from the International Studies programme will have acquired a knowledge of economics sufficient to analyse and understand the global marketplace; a familiarity with political systems in a range of different countries; and a good historical understanding of how the international framework has evolved over time.

Students wishing to pursue careers in the media, journalism, international business, politics, diplomacy or education should find the programme very attractive for their first degree. Many students following an International Studies degree programme will be aiming to work in an international environment where the knowledge of several languages is expected. Some may wish to acquire language skills in order better to understand particular regional political and economic developments. The Department therefore offers programmes in which students can take a language along with an International Studies ‘major’. The ‘major’ comprises the main politics, international relations and history components of International Studies.

Teaching Methods

The Department employs a variety of teaching methods in different modules. Lectures and small group tutorials form the backbone of the teaching. Personal contact with members of the academic staff is considered to be essential if each student’s personal enthusiasm for their studies is to be stimulated. A range of activities is pursued within the tutorial groups depending upon the module. Some modules emphasise problem solving as a means of reinforcing and cementing the important ideas – for example the module in Microeconomic Theory. Occasionally we use game playing to encourage discussion and understanding – for example when competing groups of students try to control a computer model of the economy in Principles of Macroeconomics. Other modules place greater emphasis on writing short and accurate technical pieces (Welfare Economics) or longer more discursive papers.

Course Options

The International Studies major component of the course comprises of a combinations of the following subjects:

• European Industrial Revolutions
• Government and Politics of the UK and the US
• Western European Political Systems
• Liberalism and Nationalism
• Rivalries and Alliances 1879-1914
• The European Union in the International System
• Intervention, Free Trade and Protection
• Contemporary Political Theory
• Politics of Culture and Identity
• International Law
• Theories of Empire and India
• Politics of Latin America
• Africa and the Dominions
• International Organisations
• The Rise of the Dictators
• The Bipolar World 1945-1975
• Social Theory and Social Welfare
• The New International Society 1975-2005
• International Relations: Theories and Concepts
• Appeasement and War

*Students wishing to undertake a foreign language minor without any previous experience of the language must commence their studies in September in order for their degree to qualify them.

What our students and alumni say

“I studied International Studies and Spanish at Buckingham University; to learn another language can be invaluable whether professionally or for pleasure. Spanish is at the moment the fourth most spoken language in the world and growing in numbers, so I thought to be able to combine learning another language with my degree subjects would be perfect.

In my experience I have found that the university is committed to helping you achieve your potential and best possible grades and this is reflected in the dedicated hard work of the lecturers. The department offers you the chance to begin at a level that suits you if you have had previous experience of learning the language or to start from the beginning – like I did. The classes in Spanish are small numbers and this means you get the attention of the lecturers that you otherwise may lack from a larger university; lecturers also reassure you that they are always available to assist even outside of lesson times, which is especially helpful near exam time!

I have totally enjoyed my course at Buckingham University and would definitely recommend learning another language!”
Student profile: Sarah Kerrison (International Studies with Spanish)