COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA Journalism, Communications and Politics degree combines the study of media, communications, and political science to explore the interconnections between contemporary journalism and political life. In the first year, students take 60 credits in each school, studying core modules on the history of mass communication, media scholarship, and journalism studies, alongside optional modules in political science, international relations, political thought, and government. Teaching combines lectures with applied, team-based seminars to develop foundational knowledge and skills. In the second year, students select from a wide range of optional modules across both fields, covering topics such as media and society, political communication, international relations, political theory, digital politics, and environmental politics, while learning research methods and developing skills for independent projects and dissertations. By the end of year two, students are prepared to design, conduct, and write research projects in their chosen areas. In the third year, students choose at least two modules from each school and may undertake a dissertation, with teaching methods becoming more diverse and assignments more complex. Students carry out independent research, apply theoretical approaches to practical or analytical work, and may focus on topics including global politics, media and public relations, international security, political economy, social movements, and the governance of contemporary issues, equipping them for careers in journalism, communications, public policy, and political analysis.