International Relations / Spanish

Program Overview

Students develop fluency in Spanish while exploring key concepts in international relations, preparing them for careers in fields such as international organizations, government, and journalism.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This four-year BA program combines the study of International Relations with Spanish language and culture. It aims to provide students with a deep understanding of global challenges and the opportunities and obstacles that shape their management. The Spanish component focuses on language, culture, literature, and art, while developing linguistic competencies in Spanish. The program offers an ideal combination of intensive language training and exploration of key concepts in international relations, such as power, conflict, security, democracy, inequality, ethics, rights, justice, gender, development, and political participation.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Behind the Headlines (IP12620, 20 credits)
• Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills (IP12420, 20 credits)
• Beginners Spanish 1 (SP10820, 20 credits)
• Beginners Spanish 2 (SP11020, 20 credits)
• Spanish Language Advanced (SP19930, 30 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• Globalization and Global Development (IP12520, 20 credits)
• Politics in the 21st Century (IP12920, 20 credits)
• The Making of the Modern World: War Peace and Revolution since 1789 (IP12820, 20 credits)
• War, Strategy and Intelligence (IP10320, 20 credits)
• Brazilian Portuguese (Basic) (EL10720, 20 credits)
• Introduction to European Film (EL10520, 20 credits)
• Language, Culture, and Identity in Europe (EL10820, 20 credits)
• Study and Research Skills in Spanish and Latin American Studies (SP11120, 20 credits)
• Hispanic Civilization (SP10610, 10 credits)

Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• International Relations: Perspectives and Debates (IP20120, 20 credits)
• Spanish Language (SP20130, 30 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century (IP28320, 20 credits)
• Britain and Ireland in War and Peace since 1800 (IP28820, 20 credits)
• Britain and World Politics from Global Empire to Brexit: The Diplomacy of Decline (IQ22620, 20 credits)
• Capitalism and International Politics (IQ22820, 20 credits)
• China From the Opium War to the Present (IP29820, 20 credits)
• Climate Change Politics (IP21420, 20 credits)
• Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene (IP20720, 20 credits)
• Climate Coloniality (IP29520, 20 credits)
• Contemporary Latin America (IP28720, 20 credits)
• Devolution and Wales (IP25020, 20 credits)
• Economic Diplomacy and Leadership (IQ24320, 20 credits)
• European Security in 21st Century (IP23620, 20 credits)
• Gender, Conflict and Security (IP26720, 20 credits)
• Global Politics and the Refugee Regime (IQ25520, 20 credits)
• International Politics and Global Development (IP29220, 20 credits)
• International Politics and the Nuclear Age (IP20420, 20 credits)
• Intervention and Humanitarianism (IQ20220, 20 credits)
• Knowing about Violent Conflict in International Politics (IQ24420, 20 credits)
• Middle Powers in the Global Political Economy (IQ27120, 20 credits)
• Militaries and Crisis: Where Strategy Meets Society (IP20820, 20 credits)
• Nationalism in Theory and Practice (IP29920, 20 credits)
• People and Power: Understanding Comparative Politics Today (IQ23920, 20 credits)
• Political Theory (IP22220, 20 credits)
• Politics in Diverse Societies (IQ23720, 20 credits)
• Questions of International Politics (IP26820, 20 credits)
• Race in Global Politics (IQ20020, 20 credits)
• Refugee Simulation (IQ25620, 20 credits)
• Russian Security in the 21st Century (IP21820, 20 credits)
• Russian intelligence from Lenin to Putin (IQ24920, 20 credits)
• Science, Technology, and International Relations (IP23020, 20 credits)
• Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics (IQ25120, 20 credits)
• Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War (IP24520, 20 credits)
• The Arab-Israeli Wars (IP21320, 20 credits)
• The BRICS in World Politics (IQ20320, 20 credits)
• The British Army's Image in Battle, from the Crimean to the Present (IQ20920, 20 credits)
• The European Union: Politics, Policies, Problems (IP23820, 20 credits)
• The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module (IP22320, 20 credits)
• The Long Shadow of the Second World War (IP22720, 20 credits)
• The Past and Present US Intelligence (IP26020, 20 credits)
• The Politics and Paradoxes of International Organisations (IQ26020, 20 credits)
• The Second World War in Europe (IP26420, 20 credits)
• Total War, Total Peace (IQ23420, 20 credits)
• Trade Wars and the Liberal Order (IQ21620, 20 credits)
• UK Politics Today: A Union Under Strain?
(IQ23820, 20 credits)
• War Crimes (IQ25720, 20 credits)
• Warfare after Waterloo: Military History 1815-1918 (IP25320, 20 credits)
• Women and Global Development (IP29620, 20 credits)
• Brazilian / Portuguese Language II (EL20720, 20 credits)
• Cuba in Revolution (SP26020, 20 credits)
• Cuban Cinema of the Revolution: Crisis, National Identity and the Critique of Contemporary Society (SP27020, 20 credits)
• Extended Essay Module (EL20510, 10 credits)
• Language of Business and Current Affairs 1 (SP20310, 10 credits)
• Seeing Spain Through Cinema (SP25020, 20 credits)
• Spanish American Cinema (SP26120, 20 credits)
• The Spanish Avant-Garde (SP20010, 10 credits)

Year 3:

• Year Abroad: Students spend their third year living independently in a Spanish-speaking country.
They can choose to study at a university, work as a language assistant, or participate in other work placements.

Year 4:

• Core Modules:
• Spanish Language (SP30130, 30 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century (IP38320, 20 credits)
• Britain and Ireland in War and Peace since 1800 (IP38820, 20 credits)
• Britain and World Politics from Global Empire to Brexit: the Diplomacy of Decline: (IQ32620, 20 credits)
• Capitalism and International Politics (IQ32820, 20 credits)
• China From the Opium War to the Present (IP39820, 20 credits)
• Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene (IP30720, 20 credits)
• Climate Coloniality (IP39520, 20 credits)
• Contemporary Latin America (IP38720, 20 credits)
• Devolution and Wales (IP35020, 20 credits)
• Dissertation (IP30040, 40 credits)
• Economic Diplomacy and Leadership (IQ34320, 20 credits)
• European Security in the 21st Century (IP33620, 20 credits)
• Gender, Conflict and Security (IP36720, 20 credits)
• Global Politics and the Refugee Regime (IQ35520, 20 credits)
• International Politics and the Nuclear Age (IP30420, 20 credits)
• Intervention and Humanitarianism (IQ30220, 20 credits)
• Knowing about Violent Conflict in International Politics (IQ34420, 20 credits)
• Middle Powers in the Global Political Economy (IQ37120, 20 credits)
• Militaries and Crisis: Where Strategy Meets Society (IP30820, 20 credits)
• Nationalism in Theory and Practice (IP39920, 20 credits)
• Political Theory (IP32220, 20 credits)
• Politics in Diverse Societies (IQ33720, 20 credits)
• Race in Global Politics (IQ30020, 20 credits)
• Refugee Simulation (IQ35620, 20 credits)
• Russian Security in the 21st Century (IP31820, 20 credits)
• Russian intelligence from Lenin to Putin (IQ34920, 20 credits)
• Science, Technology, and International Relations (IP33020, 20 credits)
• Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War (IP34520, 20 credits)
• The Arab Israeli Wars (IP31320, 20 credits)
• The BRICS in World Politics (IQ30320, 20 credits)
• The British Army's Image in Battle, from the Crimean to the Present (IQ30920, 20 credits)
• The European Union: Politics, Policies, Problems (IP33820, 20 credits)
• The Long Shadow of the Second World War (IP32720, 20 credits)
• The Past and Present of US Intelligence (IP36020, 20 credits)
• The Politics and Paradoxes of International Organisations (IQ36020, 20 credits)
• The Second World War in Europe (IP36420, 20 credits)
• Total War, Total Peace (IQ33420, 20 credits)
• Trade Wars and the Liberal Order (IQ31620, 20 credits)
• UK Politics Today: A Union Under Strain?
(IQ33820, 20 credits)
• War Crimes (IQ35720, 20 credits)
• Women and Global Development (IP39620, 20 credits)
• Brazilian / Portuguese Language III (EL30720, 20 credits)
• Cuba in Revolution (SP36020, 20 credits)
• Cuban Cinema of the Revolution: Crisis, National Identity and the Critique of Contemporary Society (SP37020, 20 credits)
• Extended Essay Module (EL30510, 10 credits)
• Reading Late 19th Century Literature (SP35120, 20 credits)
• Seeing Spain Through Cinema (SP35020, 20 credits)
• Traducción al español (SP39910, 10 credits)

Assessment:

The program uses a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Essays
• Reports
• Examinations
• Book reviews
• Learning logs
• Presentations

Teaching:

• The program is delivered through lectures and seminars.
• Students are assigned a personal tutor who provides academic and personal support throughout the degree.
• The program encourages participation in the Crisis Games, a yearly residential event that simulates political, economic, and diplomatic scenarios.

Careers:

The program equips students with a range of transferable skills, including:

• Communication skills (written and oral)
• Problem-solving and creative thinking
• Time management and organization
• Self-motivation and self-reliance
• Teamwork
• Research skills
These skills are highly valued by employers across various sectors. The program provides a solid foundation for careers in:
• International organizations
• Government agencies
• Non-profit organizations
• Journalism
• Research
• Education
• Business

Other:

• The Department of International Politics operates a Parliamentary Placement scheme, allowing students to gain experience working with MPs or AMs.
• The department also houses Interstate, a student-run international politics journal, providing opportunities for publication and editorial experience.
• The department offers a range of student societies, fostering a strong sense of community and providing opportunities for political debates, guest speakers, conferences, workshops, and social activities.
• The Careers Service offers various opportunities to enhance employability prospects.
• The program is available to both beginners and advanced Spanish students.
Beginners will follow an intensive course in the first year.
• The program is available through the medium of Welsh, partially or entirely.