Prospectus

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Political Science: International Relations and Organisations (The Hague)

Political Science, global affairs and the dynamics of international cooperation and conflict.
The international, English-taught 3-year programme of IRO is part of Leiden University’s Political Science curriculum and is based in The Hague, the city in which politics and international relations converge.

In this specialised bachelor’s programme you'll address transboundary issues from a social sciences point of view. IRO has a strong focus on diplomacy and current world problems, with particular attention paid to the role of major powers such as China, Russia, the USA and the EU, and organisations such as the IMF, NATO, UN, and the World Bank.

It is the right choice for you if you are fascinated by political science, global affairs and the dynamics of international cooperation and conflict. Themes such as war and peace, poverty, refugee crises, humanitarian cooperation, nuclear weapons reduction, and globalisation are covered in detail.

Practical Information

Please find below more information about:

INFORMATION SESSIONS

COURSE AND EXAM REGISTRATION

COURSE MATERIALS

PLAGIARISM

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

BOARD OF EXAMINERS

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Throughout the course of your IRO programme, you will be invited (Umail) for plenary information sessions to discuss matters that are relevant in different phases of your study. If you have questions about your study progress or planning, these are the occasions to share them. You can find all information shared during each session in the Brightspace page: Academic Career Support BSc Political Science.
An online newsletter will be sent out after each session to share links, dates and important information.
If you would like to discuss your personal situation, you can plan a meeting with your Study Adviser. Individual questions related to study planning and progress can only be discussed in a personal meeting if you cannot find the answer in the Brightspace page or the information provided by your study advisers.

Information sessions Year 1:

  • IRO Orientation Day - Friday before classes start 9:00-17:00

  • Block 1 Information Session: The do’s and don’ts in IRO - Thursday 17/9/2020 13:15 - 15:00 online

  • Block 2 information session: Keeping up in the first semester - Monday 9/11/2020 13:15 - 15:00 online

  • Block 3 information session: Making choices for your IRO future - Monday 15/2/2021 13:15 - 15:00 online

  • Block 4 information session: Reflect and flash forward - Monday 26/4/2021 13:15 - 15:00 online

Information sessions Year 2:

  • Block 1 Welcome back session: (tba)

  • Block 1 Plenary Session for Academic Skills - Research Design & planning preview for semester I: Tuesday 1/9/2020 11:15 - 13:00 online

  • Block 2 Making choices for your IRO Future: Thursday 19/11/2020, 13:15 - 15:00 online

  • Block 3 Plenary Session for Academic Skills Data Analysis: Wednesday 3/2/2021, 13:15 - 15:00 online

  • Block 3 Making choices for your IRO future and beyond: Thursday 04/03/2021, 14:15 - 16:00 online

  • Block 4 Info session Planning in year 3: Minor, Bachelor Project and Bachelor Seminar: Thursday 22/4/2021, 13:15 - 14:00 online

COURSE & EXAM REGISTRATION

Both first year students and students re-sitting courses from last year will be registered for all courses and work groups in semester 1 by the Student Services Centre (SSC – ssc.pol@leiden.edu),
In the week before your classes start you can see in uSis for which classes and work group(s) you have been registered for semester 1. If you need to retake previous courses, your schedule will be taken into account. Once registered, changing of work groups is not possible.

As of semester 2 (block 3 & 4), first year students can register themselves via uSis, according to this scheme. Second and Third year studenst register themselvers in both semesters:

Block 1: Monday 13 July 2020, 10.00h -Sunday 23 August 2020, 23.59h
Block 2: Monday 13 July 2020, 10.00h - Sunday 18 October 2020, 23.59h
Block 3: Monday 7 December 2020, 10.00h - Sunday 24 January 2021, 23.59h
Block 4: Monday 7 December 2020, 10.00h - Sunday 21 March 2021, 23.59h

For transition regulations, please check the Course and Examination Regulations OER

COURSE MATERIALS

You can find additional course information and materials (textbooks, articles) in the Prospectus as well as in the Brightspace page of the course. Your instructor will communicate with you in Brightspace via your umail account. Make sure you have access to this account before your classes start.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a violation of academic integrity that can have serious consequences for the perpetrator. To prevent plagiarism, all your written work is checked via Turnitin. Turnitin is an external tool that has been integrated in Brightspace to assess assignments/papers/etc. and to check for plagiarism. Turnitin provides instructors with the tools to provide specific personalized feedback and check similarity to other papers, bibliographic and online sources and grade assignments.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Note that some elements in the IRO programme require completion of specific courses (Study Abroad, Bachelor Project, Bachelor Seminar) or a minimum GPA (Study Abroad, continuation with a Master programme) You can find information about prerequisites in the Education & Examination Regulations (OER) or contact your study adviser for further information (studyadvisers.iro@fsw.leidenuniv.nl)

BOARD OF EXAMINERS

The role of the Board of Examiners is to ensure that study programmes adhere to their Course and Examination Regulations. The Board of Examiners oversees all tests and examinations within the institute and determines whether students have acquired the knowledge and skills required for the awarding of their degree. As a Bachelor student, you will need to request approval for non-Political Science Institute elements in your programme such as your electives, Study Abroad courses, research internship and a minor at different university. If you are planning on taking electives next to your IRO courses you should always contact your Study Adviser to discuss study planning. If you want to have a short overview of for specific situations you would need to seek their advice, please take a look at their FAQ.
The Board of Examiners can be reached via: examencommpol@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Year 1

Programme components year 1 (60 EC)

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Block I

Introduction to International Organisations 5
Introduction to International Relations 8

Block II

Economics for Political Scientists 5
Statistics 1 - Description and Inference 5
Actors in World Politics 7

Block III

Global History 5
Statistics 2 - Applied Quantitative Analysis 5
Introduction to Comparative Politics 7

Block IV

Politics of the European Union 5
Introduction to Political Science 8

Year 2

Programme components year 2 (60 EC)

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Block I

Comparative Analysis of Political Systems 5
Research Methods in Political Science 10
Academic Skills: Research Design 5

Block II

Analyzing International Relations 5
International Political Economy 5

Block III

Contemporary Political Philosophy 5
Global Security 5
International Development 5
Academic Skills: Data Analysis 5

Block IV

International Law and Human Rights 5
Rational Choice Theory 5

Year 3

Programme components year 3 (60 EC)

1. Elective Space (30 EC)

2. Bachelor Seminar (10 EC, Block 1, 2, 3 or 4)

3. Bachelor Project (Thesis) (20 EC, semester 1 or 2)

More information about the programme can also be found on Brightspace page Academic Career Support

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Elective Space

Elective Space Year 3

Bachelor Seminars

Political Psychology in International Relations 10
The Power of the Past: The Contemporary Relevance of Histories 10
Gender and Sexuality in International Politics 10
Global Governance and Multilateral Institutions 10
Latin American Populism in the 21st Century 10
The Politicization of European Integration 10
Climate Justice 10
Crisis Management 10
Critical Readings in Political Philosophy 10
Extreme Right in Western Europe: Theory, Methodology and Comparative Approaches 10
International Institutions and Security Governance 10
Media and Public Opinion in International Relations 10
Negotiations in the European Union 10
Organizing, Managing, Analyzing and Interpreting Political Science Data 10
Politics of Memory 10
Democracy, Multiculturism and Pluralism 10
Politics of Migration 10
The Psychological Origins of Mass Politics 10
UN Peacekeeping: Change and Continuity 10

Bachelor Projects

Bachelor Project International Relations and Organisations 2020-2021 20

Academic Career Support

Your study adviser is an expert on all aspects of your study programme. Do you like the programme but you would need some extra challenges? Are you experiencing academic difficulties? Or are you falling behind in your studies due to personal circumstances? If so, it is essential that you speak to your study adviser as soon as possible. He or she can advise you on the best course of action and, if required, assist you in dealing with academic delay.

Throughout your programme, you will be invited (Umail) for plenary information sessions to discuss matters that are relevant in different phases of your study. During these sessions, your peers will share their experience related to the topic of each meeting. If you have questions about your study progress or planning, these are the occasions to share them. You can find all information shared during each session in the Brightspace page: Academic Career Support.

A newsletter (IRO News) will be sent out to you (Umail) after each session to share links, dates and important information. This Newsletter can be consulted at any time via the Brightspace page.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation, or study planning, you can plan a meeting with your Study Adviser. Individual questions related to study planning and progress can only be discussed in a personal meeting if you cannot find the answer in the Brightspace page or the information provided by your study advisers (plenary session or newsletter).

Study advising per year:

Year 1
The Leiden Study System with Binding Study Advice ensures that first year students are provided with study support and guidance. This guidance is given by the staff of your programme: the study advisers and Academic Skills workgroup instructors. (Read more sign) You are expected to meet certain academic requirements: the so-called Binding Study Advice (BSA) requirement. As full-time student you are expected to complete a minimum of 45 study credits (EC) out of the total of 60 study credits by the end of your first study year. This means that you are allowed to retake a maximum of 3 courses in the second academic year.

During your first year you will have weekly workgroups. In these workgroups you will practice academic skills that are essential to social scientific study and research. These skills will form the foundation of your study throughout the BSc in Political Science - International Relations and Organisations (IRO).

Your workgroup instructor will help you to acquire important academic skills: Academic Writing, Text interpretation, Argumentation, Critical Analysis, Presentation. The study advisers are there to help you with other study related questions (study planning, study delay, study challenges, rules & regulations or personal circumstances). Your study adviser will keep track of your study results during the first academic year because of the Binding Study Advice.

During four plenary study/career support sessions, the study advisers discuss specific study and planning skills. In the second semester, attention will also be given to extra challenges for talented students or extra help if you encounter study problems. By participating in these sessions, you will be encouraged to reflect on your own wishes and capabilities. You can find the dates of the meetings in uSis or under “Information Sessions” in this Prospectus.

Year 2
During year 2, the study advisers will offer 4 plenary information sessions during which information will be shared about course structure, course order as well as support for making the right choices for this year for your study progress. (check: rol studie adviseurs in deze plenaire sessies – uitleg over RMPS, aanpak en welkom terug Studenten (Sep & Feb)
You can find the topics and dates of the sessions under tab “Practical Information”, as well as in the Brightspace page (define name)

Year 3
In the first semester of year 3, most of you will be either studying abroad or busy with a minor or electives. You will be informed about the Bachelor Projects and Seminars for Semester 1 during a session in May of year 2. A second information session will be offered in December to discuss the topics of the Bachelor Projects and Bachelor Seminars and explain the registration procedure for the second Semester. Instructors will explain their plans for the Bachelor Projects and you can ask questions about your particular plans or ideas for the Bachelor Project. These sessions will be recorded for those students who are abroad.
Furthermore, the study advisers will organize a Reflection and planning support session in Semester 2 of year 3.

You can find the topics and dates of the sessions under tab “Practical Information”, as well as in the Brightspace page Academic Career Support

Study Advisers

Ariane Berends – IRO students with surnames starting with A to F
Ignacia Levy – IRO students with surnames starting with G to O
Ester Blom – IRO students with surnames starting with P to Z

Contact:

Studyadvisers.iro@fsw.leidenuniv.nl