Joint Honours
Politics
Modern History
International Relations
American Studies
Asia Studies
Development Studies
Public Policy

Postgraduate MA
Politics
British & European Politics
British Women's History
International Relations

Postgraduate MPhil/PhD
Politics
Modern History
International Relations

Postgraduate
Full Time 1 year
Part-Time (Maximum) 5 years (max)

Politics
The Politics degree proceeds in three distinct levels. Each level builds upon the last ensuring that students develop a clear understanding of the discipline. The large faculty ensures that there is a very wide choice of specialist units to study.

Level 1: Students will gain a thorough grounding in political studies through core units that will introduce them to fundamental political issues, political concepts, government structures, historical approaches to political studies, international politics, and research methods.

Level 2: To provide, among other things, a thorough grounding in theoretical approaches to politics. Students must take either History of Political Thought and/or Modern Political Ideas at level 2, but can develop the rest of their Programme of Studies according to their needs, interests, and aspirations. The varied menu of units on offer at level 2 provides focus on British and foreign political systems, political change, international relations, political history, government and policy making, and political behaviour.

Level 3: Students will develop capacity for independent study and research or work experience by taking either the Project or the Work Placement (both may not be taken). Students will also engage in advanced specialist study by taking an additional 3 units in each semester in their final year.

History
History is both a social science and an art, and the aims and objectives of the degree course reflect its dual nature. In studying history you students develop analytical skills - the ability to break down complicated structures and processes into their component parts, to make systematic and sometimes testable comparisons between different societies and time periods, to differentiate between causes and effects. But students also broaden their imaginative horizons - learning the ways of unfamiliar cultures and eras, striving to understand them as they understand their own, and finding ways of communicating their understanding that will be satisfying and useful in the present. To that end, the expertise in the department means that students can pursue many different interests. We have specialists in British, European, American, Third World, International and Women's history.

Like other degree programmes in the university, studies in Modern History are pursued within the Undergraduate Programme. This allows you to study at varying levels of specialisation, with other subjects accompanying your work in Modern History; it also gives you considerable flexibility in changing the course of your studies after the first year. All of these History degree programmes seek to integrate the distinctive skills and subject matter of historical study with other subjects.

International Relations
The International Relations degree course aims to provide students with a broad perspective of the subject that includes political, economic, and historical aspects. This will provide students with the opportunity to develop understanding of the forces shaping international affairs; the processes of foreign policy making at national and international level; the domestic bases of international relations; the nature and processes of international political change; the economic context of global and regional development; the historical development of the international system; issues of equity and law in international relations; and theoretical explanations of international relations.

As a discipline International Relations has moved away from a traditional focus on "Great Power" politics to become one of the most innovative subject areas in the broad spectrum of social sciences. The course seeks to reflect this and to emphasise the multi-disciplinary approach of the subject. As the boundaries between the internal and external arenas of politics have become progressively eroded in recent years, the techniques of political analysis have become increasingly internationalised. Moving beyond the single dimension of the nation-state, the course aims to examine the development, operation and dynamics of international relations. In addition to systemic analysis, the course will analyse how foreign policy is made and the relationship between domestic and international concerns in this process. From a historical perspective, the course seeks to explore the main trends in the international history of the twentieth century, focusing in particular on the rise and decline of influential actors in international relations, the changing nature of power, multilateral efforts to manage relations between nations in both political and economic terms, and the evolving relationship between the West and the non-western world. Finally, the course provides an area-studies perspective of International Relations. It gives students the opportunity to examine the foreign policy of a key global actor like the United States, regional issues pertaining to Europe and the Middle East, and the geo-economic significance of the role of the Third World and Pacific Asia in the international system.

American Studies
The American Studies Joint degree provides the opportunity to study the history, culture and politics of the nation that has been the leading actor in global politics during the second half of the 20th century and which will continue to have a profound influence on the 21st century world. The course promotes a multi-disciplinary perspective of the internal dynamics and external influence of the United States through units that examine this nation's history, governmental structures, foreign policy and culture, particularly literature, drama and film. Issues addressed include the nature of American democracy, how the United States has dealt with racial matters, Americans' self-image as a 'people of plenty', and the modern and post-modern elements of American culture.

At Level 1 students take core units in American Studies. At Level 2, students have a choice from a number of units, including American Politics, American History, American Foreign Policy, American Literature, American Drama and American Film. At Level 3, students take core units in the Politics and Culture of Hollywood, Contemporary American History and a project.

Asia Studies
The Asia Studies Joint degree provides the opportunity to study the politics, modern history and economic development of one of the world's most dynamic regions and an area that is certain to have immense influence on global affairs in the 21st century. It offers the opportunity to study the internal dynamics and external influence of leading countries and sub-regions of Asia. As such it can be an interesting field of study to those seeking greater knowledge of Asia for reasons either of their own background or to enhance their employability with firms and institutions linked to Asia.

At Level 1, students take core units in the history and politics of modern Asia. At Level 2, students have a choice from a number of units, including ones concerned with politics and religion, the Middle East, Modern China, Asian Development and Japanese Business. At Level 3, there are core units covering India and Pakistan, Pacific Asia and a project.

Development Studies
The Development studies degree course aims to provide students with a broad inter-disciplinary understanding of historic and contemporary patterns and processes of development. This is achieved through the study of development issues from a variety of perspectives, namely, Politics, Modern History, Geography, Sociology, Economics and Languages. Development Studies enables students to cover all aspects of development processes, from a variety of disciplinary viewpoints. This integration is increasingly relevant in the context of the growing level of global interdependence and provides a sound basis for employment in a wide range of fields.

At Level 1, students gain a basic understanding of contemporary global and national patterns and processes of development, their origins and the range of theoretical explanations applied to them. At Level 2, the foundations of Level 1 are built upon with the study of more specialist and more firmly discipline-based systematic units. At Level 3, students study at an advanced level and undertake a substantial piece of interdisciplinary research.

Public Policy
The Public Policy Joint degree subject is a multi-disciplinary course, which covers the dynamics and concerns of public policy issues and governmental decision-making processes within a British, European Union and United States context. Students gain an understanding of the nature and process of public policy and policy making. This will enhance their employability in governmental organisations, businesses and non-governmental organisations whose interests are closely related to the sphere of public policy.

At Level 1, students take core foundation units in political science. At Level 2, there are core units covering public policy in Britain and the EU, together with a choice of units, including Parliament and the Legislative Process, EU Politics, American Politics and British Political Communication. At Level 3, there are core units in public policy case studies as well as a project. In addition, students a choice of units, including International Relations and Modern British Politics.

London Guildhall University is a multi-site institution situated in the City of London. It offers wide ranging courses that have been recognized as of excellent quality. The politics and Modern History department has 22 academic staff. It was given an excellent rating of 22 in the UK Quality Assurance Agency's Subject Review of its teaching in 2000. Its research was also rated excellent in the most recent UK research assessment exercise. The Department has a wide range of undergraduate and post graduate courses. Building on the success of its BA International Relations course, it launched a new MA in International Relations in 2001.