This module engages in experiential learning through a collaborative, applied project with an external organisation, applying your academic skills and knowledge in real-world contexts while carrying out authentic professional activities. You’ll develop awareness and understanding of the impacts, challenges and opportunities facing local governance in a changing world – including a broad overview of the theoretical and practical development of local government frameworks, governance, local service, welfare provisions – as well as global issues such as human rights.  

You’ll apply learning and skills such as: 

• Reflection on your project management and employability  
• The task, its parameters and required outputs 
• Role allocation, work allocation and project timelines 
• Understanding and analysing current local governance structures  
• Identifying policy challenges and implementation challenges  
• Analysing institutional policy frameworks and theories of governance  
• Awareness of rules and budgetary constraints 
• Applied creative problem solving and policy communication 
• The development of volunteering and the voluntary sector 
• The implementation of relevant government policies 

This module explores the nature of ethnic identity and its political manifestations in Northern Ireland, South Africa, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Israel/Palestine – societies that have witnessed inter-ethnic hostility and political violence. The module seeks to explain the historical and contemporary factors related to ethnic difference and conflict in these contexts, including how fixed or fluid ethnic identity is, especially in deeply divided societies.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Ethno-politics 

• Religion  

• Territoriality and segregation  

• Alienation  

• Political violence  

• Peacebuilding and reconciliation  

This module introduces contemporary issues in the relationships between societies and nature, from the impacts of global climate crises to critically analysing a variety of approaches and concepts that examine the nature of environmental politics. We’ll cover a range of contemporary and dynamic real-world issues that reflect current challenges and opportunities. 

You’ll study topics such as:  

• Historical and political dimensions of environmentalism  

• Global economy, ecology, people and nature 

• Sustainable development and environmental politics 

• Green thought, political ideologies, party politics and lobbying 

• Global policy responses to environmental resistance 

This module is for undergraduate students to study abroad in their second year, Semester 2 (only for courses that offer this option). With this module, you can spend a semester at one of the University’s approved partner institutions worldwide – from Europe to the Americas, Asia Australia or Canada.  

Study Abroad plays an important role in the University's commitment to an engaging, challenging, and thriving learning culture. It offers opportunities to experience other academic cultures and foster intellectual maturity while enhancing co-curricular skills and students' long-term employability. 

Study abroad for credit is permitted on existing university-approved courses only. Students are awarded credits and grades at the partner institution, which are converted into Sheffield Hallam credits and grades on return and included in the Sheffield Hallam degree classification. 

Please check and refer to the webpage How study abroad works. You must submit a Learning Agreement outlining the modules you will be taking at the partner institution. The Learning Agreement will be signed off by your academic tutor to ensure that the Learning broadly covers the Learning Outcomes set out in your course curriculum during your study abroad.

This module critically examines the role of the USA and its foreign policy in the world. Through an analysis of the political history of the USA, you will explore the relationship between USA politics and ideas about race, equality, liberty and war. You’ll develop critical tools to analyse how these connections have evolved over time and the way they manifest in USA foreign policy today. 

You’ll study topics such as:  

• The political history and systems of the USA 

• The evolution of their policies and politics  

• Race and ethnicity  

• War and security  

• International incursions  

• Humanitarianism  

• Social resistance 

Module aim:    

The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).  

A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will: 

• Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course 

• Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.  

• Grow their student network and relationship building skills. 

• Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs 

• Help student make informed graduate careers choices. 

Indicative Content:  

In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.  

Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.  

To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work. 

This module critically explores how sex, gender and sexualities infuse and inform international security, through case-study and policy-focused interactive workshops. You’ll analyse how key states, militaries and international organisations are gendered, and how gender informs their international security policies.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Gender, war and militarism 

• Gender mainstreaming and international organisations  

• Gender and the state 

• The women, peace and security agenda 

• Opportunities and limitations for international security 

This module explores contemporary understandings and issues relating to international political economy – critically analysing the economic impacts, challenges and opportunities facing individuals, countries and international organisations. You’ll explore and evaluate the relationship between the global economy and global politics in relation to significant challenges in a changing world.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Capitalist development and free trade 

• Liberalism, mercantilism and globalisation  

• Historical pathways to the modern industrial state  

• The growth of international trade 

• Global patterns of trade and world resources 

• International dependence and interdependence 

• Economic regionalism and international organisations 

• IPE and global environmental challenges 

This module explores the phenomenon of terrorism – taking into consideration the motivational factors in the decision by groups to use this kind of extreme violence, as well as accounting for the Counter-Terrorist (CT) strategies adopted by states. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Terrorism as a particular expression of politically motivated violence 

• Expressions of terrorism in different political contexts  

• CT and state responses 

• Debating CT strategies 

• State terror and the treatment of the state’s own and foreign population groups 

• Theoretical perspectives of terrorism and CT 

This module critically examines key debates and contemporary challenges surrounding the theory and international practice of human rights. You’ll engage with radical critiques of human rights and alternative forms of cosmopolitan thought and practice from decolonial, feminist and ecological perspectives.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Understanding the ‘human’ 

• Biopolitics 

• Universalism 

• History of human rights 

• Decoloniality and postcolonialism 

• International politics