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Regular version of the site

Summary of Degree Programme

Field of Studies

41.03.04 Political Science

Approved by
приказ от 30.07.2014 № 8.3.6.2-08/36
Last Update
14.03.2023, протокол заседания совета факультета Санкт-Петербургская школа социaльных наук и востоковедения № 8.3.2.3-07/6
Network Programme

No

Length of Studies, Mode of Studies, Credit Load

4 years

Full-time, 240

Language of instruction

RUSENG

Choice of a Russian or English track

Qualification upon graduation

Bachelor

Double-degree Programme

Yes

Use of online learning

With online tools

Competitive Advantages

The programme provides professional training for students in the fields of socio-political development and governance in contemporary states, as well as international cooperation of governmental, non-governmental and business organizations. Students obtain up-to-date knowledge of socio-political processes in the world, as well as relevant skills in research, analytics and governance.

Advantages of the programme are based on its following unique features.

First, the programme provides enhanced language training. Courses are conducted in English (some elements of the curriculum can be studied in Russian at a student’s choice – Economic Theory, Mathematics and Statistics, Minors, Projects, Educational and Work Experience Internships, Term Papers and the Graduation Thesis). Students also learn the second foreign language: Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, intakes since 2022 – also Spanish.

Secondly, the programme is based on the complex analysis of contemporary global politics and society, which includes internal and international aspects. In this regard, the study plan contains both disciplines in Political Science and World Politics and International Relations.

Thirdly, students of the programme may choose the region they will concentrate on:

  1. Europe and the European Union
  2. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), intakes since 2022 – China
  3. Post-Soviet Countries

The regional track implies that senior students may choose disciplines, devoted to the peculiarities of political, economic and social development in the selected region, as well as learn the second foreign language.

Fourthly, the programme combines professional training in Political Science and World Politics with the applied skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, as well as in socio-political projects development and governance at the local, regional, national and international levels.

Professional Activities and Competencies of Programme Graduates

For intakes since 2020

Professional competencies (planned educational programme development results) are specific to the alumni of the programme. They are defined on the basis of the relevant professional standards, labor market analysis, best international practices, as well as consultations with potential employers.

Graduates of HSE University also acquire universal competencies (defined in the HSE University Educational Standard) and general professional competencies (defined in the Annex to the HSE University Educational Standard for the related field of studies).

The development of all universal (UC), general professional (GPC) and professional competencies (PC) ensures the ability of the graduates to carry out professional activities in at least one area or field of professional activity or solve professional tasks of at least one type specified in the Educational Standard.

Professional Competencies:

  • PC-1: Able to apply theories, methodologies and concepts of Political Science to solving professional tasks in government and public administration, non-governmental and international organizations, political organizations, business companies, and the media.
  • PC-2: Able to analyze and interpret global and international political, social and economic processes in order to facilitate decision-making and develop analytical materials, including materials for the mass media.
  • PC-3: Able to conduct a comparative analysis of political, organizational and administrative processes, as well as public policies, to determine the peculiarities of their functioning and to formulate proposals for their transformation.
  • PC-4: Able to determine features and trends of the socio-political development of regions and countries, and to take them into account when solving professional tasks.
  • PC-5: Able to apply the methods of mathematical and game-theoretic modeling, economic analysis to the study of socio-political and economic processes.
  • PC-6: Able to perform professional tasks, related to research and analytics, using relevant data collection and analysis methods.

Area of Professional Activities

Types of Professional Tasks

PC

01 Education and Research (in the field of Political Science)

Research

PC-5, PC-6

07 Administrative, managerial and office activities (in the areas of resolving political conflicts and disputes through the mediation procedure; managing relationship between public authorities, business organizations, public organizations and citizens; political and administrative activities in political parties, international organizations, political and public institutions, economic and educational organizations; organizational and and documentary support of organization management).

 

Organizational and Managerial

 

Project

PC-1, PC-2, PC-3, PC-4

11 Mass media (in the field of journalistic activities related to the coverage of domestic and foreign policy and politics issues in the media, periodicals, as well as in socio-political literature, popular science literature and fiction)

Information and Communication

PC-1, PC-2, PC-4

The sphere of expert and analytics and interaction with public authorities and administration, non-governmental and international organizations

Expertise and Analytics

Consultative

PC-1, PC-2, PC-3, PC-4, PC-6

 

For intakes before 2020

Types of professional activities for the graduates of the programme:

  • Science and research
  • Management and administration
  • Projects
  • Analytics

Graduates of the programme should have the following professional competencies:

  • PC-1: Student is capable of posing research problems relevant to the study of political phenomena and political processes; setting particular research tasks; and putting together a research design.
  • PC-2: Student is capable of choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks.
  • PC-3: Student is capable of participating in organizing and implementing various management processes, and of achieving the goals set by his/her superiors: - both as a rank-and-file participant and as a low-level manager; - in public administration, in political and business structures alike.
  • PC-4: Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field.
  • PC-5: Student is capable of participating in organization and implementation of political campaigns in accordance with the goals set by the management of the campaign / the client.
  • PC-6: Student is capable of allocating tasks among project participants as part of planning the political projects; student is also capable of processing the respective paperwork, including the performance specifications for each participant.
  • PC-7: Student is capable of taking part in information dissemination through various media and information channels (both mass and individual), as well as in information campaigns.
  • PC-8: Student is capable of executing applied analysis of the political phenomena and political processes: - by using political science methods, - and in support of practical decision-making process.
  • PC-9: Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); - and depending on the target audience.
Programme Modules

The Major includes the Core Professional Block and the Elective Professional Block. The Core Professional Block incudes the key compulsory courses on Political Science, International Relations, History, Methods of Political and Social Research, Sociology, Economic and Mathematics.

Elective Professional Block includes the Research Seminar, the Second Foreign Language, chosen by a student from the following options: Chinese, German, French, Portuguese, Russia (for intakes since 2022 – also Spanish), as well as the elective disciplines, divided into several blocks:

  • Regional Track: courses, devoted to the peculiarities of political, social and economic development of one of the three political and geographical regions: Europe and the EU, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and Post-Soviet Space.
  • Comparative Policy Studies: courses devoted to the selected aspects of socio-political processes in Russia and foreign countries, as well as the selected public policy areas in a comparative perspective.
  • World Politics: courses, devoted to the selected topics and issues in International Relations and World Politics.

For intakes since 2022 student may choose electives within the following blocks:

  • Regional Track: courses, devoted to the peculiarities of political, social and economic development of one of the three political and geographical regions: Europe and the EU, China and Post-Soviet Space.
  • Comparative Politics: courses devoted to the selected aspects of socio-political processes in Russia and foreign countries.
  • Public Policy: courses on the selected public policy areas in a comparative perspective.
  • Research Methods and Decision-Making: disciplines, aimed at developing research skills in particular techniques of data collection and analysis within Political Science, as well as decision-making in Politics and Governance.
  • World Politics: courses, devoted to the selected topics and issues in International Relations and World Politics.

Internships include Professional Internship, Project Internship and Research Internship.

Professional Internship includes Educational Internship (3rd year of study) and Work Experience Internship (4th year of study). Project Internship includes projects and (if selected by a student) Project Term Paper (3rd year of study) and Project Graduation Thesis (4th year of study).

Research Internship includes Research Term Paper on the second year of study, if selected by a student – Research Term Paper (3rd year of study) and Research Graduation Thesis (4th year of study).

The type of the Term Paper on the third year of study and the Graduation Thesis (project or research) is defined by the student. Depending on the choice, the student will get credits either for project or research Internship.

General Courses include the following disciplines

  • Intake 2020: Law, Philosophy, Economics, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training
  • Intake 2021: Communications and Media Competence in Modern World, Law, Philosophy, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training
  • Intake 2022: Communications and Media Competence in Modern World, Law, Safe Living Basics, Physical Training, one optional general course.

Minor is a package of disciplines or four disciplines out of the list offered by the HSE University. The selection is carried out by students according to the rules, established in the University.

The English language module includes optional courses on English and Academic English Writing, as well as Independent English Exam, English Language Integrative Exam and Project Proposal.

Data Culture includes the course on the basics of programming in Python, from intake 2022 – also Independent Programming Test, Independent Data Science Test and Independent Digital Literacy Test.

Final State Certification includes Presenting of Graduation Thesis and the State Exam of the Field of Study.

For intakes before 2020

General courses are studied on the 1st year of study.

The Major includes:

  • Basic Component, where 2 disciplines may be taken either in English or Russian.
  • Basic Field-Specific Component, including the second foreign language (Chinese, Portuguese, German or French), studied for 2 years.
  • Elective Component, which consists of 2 compulsory disciplines and 3 elective blocks, including the one related to the regional specialization (Europe, BRICS, Post-Soviet Space).
  • Elective courses, including 5 elective blocks.

Minor is an extra educational track for students, in addition to training in the main field.

Internships, Project and / or Research Work include such elements as Research Seminar, Project Seminar, Introduction to Profession, Projects, Term Papers, Educational and Work Placement Internships, Graduation Thesis Preparation, Project Proposal. The Research Seminar is conducted throughout four years of study and is aimed at preparing students for written assignments – term papers and Graduation Thesis.

Final State Certification includes Presenting of Graduation Thesis and the State Interdisciplinary Examination.

Students also may choose the following optional courses:

  • English (1st and 2nd year of study)
  • English for Beginners (1st year of study)
  • English Academic Writing (4th year of study).
Options for Students with Disabilities

This degree programme of HSE University is adapted for students with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. There is a specially designed Physical Education course available for such students (Syllabus of the adapted Physical Education course). Special assistive technology and teaching aids are used for collective and individual learning of students with SEN and disabilities. The specific adaptive features of the programme are listed in each subject's full syllabus and are available to students through the online Learning Management System.

Programme Documentation

All documents of the degree programme are stored electronically on this website. Curricula, calendar plans, and syllabi are developed and approved electronically in corporate information systems. Their current versions are automatically published on the website of the degree programme. Up-to-date teaching and learning guides, assessment tools, and other relevant documents are stored on the website of the degree programme in accordance with the local regulatory acts of HSE University.

I hereby confirm that the degree programme documents posted on this website are fully up-to-date.

Vice Rector Sergey Yu. Roshchin

Summary of Degree Programme 'Political Science and World Politics'

Go to Programme Contents and Structure