Bachelor in Political Science

About

The programme aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain an appreciation of national and international perspectives on many aspects of professional life; which in turn can facilitate graduate career paths in various fields, like the diplomatic service, journalism, academia, law, and non-governmental development organisations. This includes awareness of regional politics, cultural sensitivity, exposure to international politics, and familiarity with legal and economic frameworks.

Distinctive features of the programme

The BUE delivers programmes based on a British philosophy of education. This results in programmes that are very much focused on the student rather than those who deliver the material. Graduates from UK programmes typically exhibit:

• the ability to think creatively and with strong problem-solving skills;
• high-level key and transferable skill sets;
• the ability to maintain independently a high level of professional and subject-specific competence (often through CPD);
• the ability to conceptualise problems at a high level (i.e. to see the big picture);
• diligent and ethical working practices;
• the ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• flexibility and the ability to apply their subject-specific knowledge to fields outside their own.

Furthermore, this programme is delivered both with a local and UK flavour giving students the opportunity to gain an appreciation of national and international perspectives on many aspects of professional life. This includes awareness of regional politics, cultural sensitivity, exposure to international politics, and familiarity with legal and economic frameworks.

In addition to these attributes, the Political Science Programme receives validation (in line with QAA and professional body subject benchmark statements) from the UK validating partner. The outcome of this is the dual award of both an Egyptian degree and a BA from the UK validating partner in Political Science.

At the time of writing and to the best of our knowledge this combination of a programme based on a learning culture fostering key and transferable skills sets in addition to technical ones together with UK academic validation makes our programme in Political Science quite unique in Egypt as well as in the Middle East.

That the Political Science Programme is a strong one can be attributed to the fact that:

1. BUE is one of the few universities in the region that offers a Final Year Project module which seeks to develop students’ research skills and their abilities to manage a major writing project independently and in self-directed learning by requiring them to submit a substantial research paper which they will work on over a period of two semesters under the supervision of a faculty member.
2. Offers a module in the final year of undergraduate study that helps to train students for the Foreign Service; as well as other modules that specifically address foreign policy issues.
3. Offers students a comprehensive programme of study that incorporates modules from a variety of sub-disciplines like international law, political economy, and development.

Programme aims

To offer an honours degree programme in the field of Political Science. At the end of the Programme, students should be able to:

• demonstrate enhanced critical and analytical skills, look for underlying principles, and identify and analyse key concepts;
• demonstrate the skill of independent thinking, good writing skills, a facility for independent learning, investigation and effective organisational skills;
• present their own critical understanding of the issues studied to tutors and peers, and to engage in dialogue with them;
• establish an awareness of key theoretical and methodological issues involved in the study of regional and international politics, and to be able to distinguish between a variety of methods of enquiry;
• analyse key topics related to the discipline on the basis of directed and independent reading, and to produce good quality essays while meeting deadlines;
• understand and use the main concepts, approaches and theories of the discipline; to analyse, interpret and evaluate political events, ideas and institutions; and to relate the academic study of politics to questions of public concern which are transferable to a wide range of employment contexts and life experiences;
• place questions of political and international order and decision-making at the centre of analysis;
• understand elements of continuity and change in the study of politics and to be able to apply their knowledge to specific case studies;
• work within a supportive and responsive learning environment that is enriched by research and in which the academic development and career opportunities of students are enhanced;
• acquire key transferable skills including analysis of opinion, argument and fact; evaluation of evidence and hypothesis; synthesis of debate; appropriate use of communication and information technology; and clear communication – all of which lead to students becoming productive and interactive members of society.