Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 360 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
Our world is divided into many different societies. Yet it is increasingly interconnected. Relationships between nations, companies, cultures and individuals extend across regions and the globe. The BA/BSc (Honours) International Studies enables you to explore the political, economic and cultural issues that these complex interconnections create. The core concerns of this degree course range from international politics, diplomacy, cooperation, war and security to international economics and development; from cultural and religious interactions between different societies to global environmental problems. Although International Studies at the OU has a particular emphasis on development and the issues and problems facing developing countries, this degree is also concerned with the overall political make-up of the international system and the sources of order and disorder within it. Throughout your studies, you’ll have specialist, subject-based academic support and the chance to join in online communities of other social sciences students for teaching, learning and peer support.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you’re new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start with a module at Level 1. Although the subject matter of the Level 1 choice varies, all the choices you can make will help you attain the necessary set of skills to undertake higher levels of study as well as credits to count towards your degree.
You should note the time limitations on individual modules as mentioned below.
You should also note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 120 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you (with the exception of an undergraduate-level qualification of less than 120 credits). If you have graduated with an OU BA/BSc degree without honours and are continuing your studies on to honours, this minimum requirement is reduced to 60 credits. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications on the way to your OU honours degree, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your degree.
Career relevance and employability
An international studies degree is applicable to a wide range of professions in the private and public sectors, including international agencies and government bodies (national and European), businesses and non-governmental organisations. If you choose one of the language options, it may add to your professional opportunities.
Employers value the diversity of transferable skills that this degree course develops, along with breadth of mind and ability to critically analyse processes of change. You’ll be able to analyse problems relating to a range of international issues including: co-operation and conflict; cultural difference; development and international economic change. Key transferable skills include the ability to:
- use a range of communication technologies to independently research, select and present information
- analyse and critically evaluate information and data
- write and communicate concisely and clearly
- assemble reasoned arguments for particular audiences
- use a range of formats: essays, presentations, reports, collaborative working, online forums
- use strategies to update your knowledge
- value critical feedback to reflect on your progress and improve your work.
These skills will also be valuable for other roles not directly related to your degree – whether you’re already working, volunteering or changing careers.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this 360-credit honours degree you require:
60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)
-
|
60 |
|
- You and your money: personal finance in context (DB123)*
-
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules of excluded combinations, the discontinued 60-credit modules D103, DD100, DD101, the discontinued 30-credit modules DD121, DD122, DD131, DD132, DSE141,T171, T172, T175
*Can only be studied if you have already completed one of the discontinued 30-credit modules listed
And 60 credits from the following compulsory module:
Level 2 compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- International development: making sense of a changing world (TD223)
-
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module U213
And at least 60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 2 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Environment: sharing a dynamic planet (DST206)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 FINAL |
- Envol: upper intermediate French (L211)
|
60 |
|
- Exploring religion: places, practices, texts and experiences (A227)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
- Living in a globalised world (DD205)
|
60 |
|
- Motive: upper intermediate German (L203)
|
60 |
|
- Running the economy (DD209)
|
60 |
|
- Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
- Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204)
|
60 |
|
- Worlds of English (U214)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A200, A213, A217, AD252, D214, D215, D216, D271, DD200, DD202, DD203, DDZX200, DT210, L210 paired with L302, L213 paired with L303, L221/LL221 paired with L224, L230/LL230 paired with L231, LL203, LL204, LZX203*, LZX204, LZX211, U205, U206, U210, U212, U216
And 60 credits from the following compulsory module:
Level 3 compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- International relations: continuity and change in global politics (DD313)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module DU301
And at least 60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 3 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- A buen puerto: advanced Spanish (L314)
|
60 |
|
- Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)
|
60 |
|
- Empire: 1492-1975 (A326)
|
60 |
|
- Europe 1914–1989: war, peace, modernity [A327] (60)}
|
60 |
Sep 2024 |
- Living political ideas (DD306)
|
60 |
|
- Making sense of strategy (B301)
|
60 |
|
- Mises au point: advanced French (L310)
|
60 |
|
- Variationen: advanced German (L313)
|
60 |
|
Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules AA300, AA307, AAZX300, AT308, B300, D308, D312, D316, DD302, DD304, DU310, L210 paired with L302/LZX302, L303 paired with L213, LZX310, LZX313, LZX314
And a maximum of 60 credits of free choice from any OU Level 1, 2 or 3 modules to bring your total number of credits to 360. Within the total, you must ensure that you have at least the required minimum number of credits at each level and no more than 30 from Openings modules or the discontinued Short module S154.
The Level 1 and compulsory modules listed can count towards this degree after we have stopped presenting them: for twenty years for Level 1 modules and ten years for compulsory modules. Please see the module descriptions for future availability.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required number and type of modules you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (Honours) International Studies degree. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by the best grades you achieve in 240 credits from those modules above Level 1 listed above. At least 120 of those credits must come from modules at Level 3. You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification