At the end of the programme students will:
I. Be conversant with the discipline’s core teachings and methods.
• Students will acquire a command of the fundamentals of political science and their epistemological grounding, with a view to answering the key research questions addressed by the discipline. In particular, and proceeding in a step-by-step manner, students will:
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Acquire a sophisticated grounding in political science across its different branches: international relations, European Studies, Political Institutions and Systems (national), Study of Political Parties and Pressure Groups, Analysis of Public Policy Analysis, Policy Ideas, etc.
All political science CU in BAS 2 and 3.
II. Possess a grounding in fields that are complementary to political science
• Students will learn to exploit, within an interdisciplinary approach, knowledge and know-how from diverse fields of the social sciences for the analysis of contemporary or historically situated societal phenomena. In particular, students will:
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Acquire a broad and in-depth grounding in the human and social sciences, based on an understanding of the different disciplines’ principal assumptions and lessons, as well as their methods and ethical dimensions.
CU in moral philosophy, economics, law, history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and information-communication, beginning with BAS 1.
III. Know how to use the scientific method
Students will :
• Acquire a command of and undertake academic work in accordance with political science’s academic standards and ethical principles.
• Be able to gather and analyse with discernement quantitative and qualitative empirical information.
The specific goals are, proceeding in a step-by-step manner, to:
Acquire the ability to produce, either independently or in a team, a piece of analytical work on contemporary political or policy issues.
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Develop the ability to gather information effectively using the most relevant techniques (statistical etc., etc.).
Presence of Specific Learning Activities backed by Lectures in BAS 1 et 2; Multidisciplinary workshop in BAS 3.
Students will learn :
• To carry out an analysis either independently or jointly with peers.
• Critical thinking skills and independent judgement.
• To communicate in a structured, relevant and reasoned manner, using the concepts and methods of the discipline.
The specific goals are to:
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Acquire the ability to communicate the results of analysis in a clear, coherent, structured and attractive manner, both in oral and written formats.
Presence of Specific Learning Activities backed by Lectures in BAS 1 et 2; Multidisciplinary workshop in BAS 3.
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Acquire the ability to analyse information, based on a review of relevant existing research work in the field and to do so using the most appropriate analytical methods.
All CU on methodology in BAS 2 and BAS 3.
IV. Have a command of oral and written communication.
• Students will develop language skills in at least one foreign language. The specific goals are:
For students following multilingual programmes:
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To acquire the language skills needed to be able to follow a course, study and take an oral or written exam in the target language (Dutch and/or English) ;
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To acquire an understanding of the cultural universe, unique features and ways of thinking associated with the target language (Dutch and/or English);
For students following multilingual programmes with Dutch :
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To acquire the ability to undertake research in the field of social sciences, and produce a significant piece of university-quality work in Dutch.
All CU in foreign languages in the multilingual programmes, in particular for the Programmes with Dutch: the seminar : Media en politieke, sociale actualiteiten.
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To acquire a command of oral and written English and Dutch; more specifically, the ability to maintain an everyday conversation and to communicate in relation to the subjects and analyses of the social sciences.
All CU in Dutch and English in BAS 1,2 and 3.
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To acquire the ability to communicate the results of analysis in a clear, coherent, structured and attractive manner, both in oral and written formats.
CU organised in seminar form in BAS 1, 2 and BAS 3.
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The Programme includes a period of ‘immersion’ in a language other than the student’s mother tongue (language trips abroad).
ERASMUS exchanges in BAS 3.
Teaching profile