Module: Principles of Comparative Politics

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Principles of Comparative Politics
Module Code	LG148 (ITS) / POL1025 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
Module Co-ordinator	-
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	6	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only
Research paper on an hypotheses in comparative policits using the comparative method.

Description

The module provides an overview of some of the key theoretical frameworks, concepts, and analytical methods of this field of study. We study democratic political systems with a view to understanding and explaining their differences and similarities with respect to their political institutions, the behaviour of their key political actors, and their policy-making processes and performance. The module examines the building blocks of the comparative approach. We describe, explain and examine the consequences of different political institutions, with a focus on established democracies, including constitutions, the state, executive-legislative relations, electoral systems, and policy-making process.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe and assess the study of comparative politics in a systematic, social-scientific way
2. Examine key issues in the comparative politics of industrialized democracies
3. Identify and test interesting research questions in comparative politics

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Class Presentation	11	No Description
Independent Study	92	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
In Class Test	MCQ test that tests the knowledge of the comparative politics literature and key questions.	50%	n/a
Extended Essay / Dissertation	Research paper testing a hypothesis using the comparative method	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

William Roberts Clark,Matt Golder: 2017, Principles of Comparative Politics, CQ Press, 9781506318127

Other Resources

None