Political Theory

Study mode:On campus Study type:Part-time Languages: English
Local:$ 12.6 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 19.4 k / Year(s)  
27 place StudyQA ranking:5175 Duration:12 months

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This programme is offered in a taught and research track.

Political theory is the study of the good society. Public debate is dominated by controversies such as what justice requires of citizens and the state; what the most important rights and liberties are and how they can be protected; and whether political decisions should be made by majorities. Political theory provides a scholarly examination of these questions, informed by moral philosophy, legal theory, historical study, political science, and rational and social choice theory.

These programmes are based in the Department of Government and offer the following benefits:

* The opportunity to study in a large, internationally renowned department in the only UK institution devoted solely to the social sciences.
* A good preparation for further research work or for a career in education, public administration or the private sector.
* The opportunity to study at least one course from another of the Department's programmes, or from master's programmes taught in other departments.
* Political theory has been central to the research and teaching at LSE since its founding in 1895. The Chair of Political Science in the Department of Government has been held by a succession of internationally recognised political theorists: Graham Wallas, Harold Laski, Michael Oakeshott, Maurice Cranston and Brian Barry. Currently, there are seven political theorists in the Department of Government, which is one of the largest concentrations of specialists in the world.
* Political theorists in the Department work in areas such as multiculturalism, ancient and medieval political thought, Locke, Kant, feminism, social choice theory and democracy, and contemporary theories of justice. Members of the Political Theory Group in the Department also contribute to the wider political theory community at LSE.
* Each student is assigned a personal tutor who is a member of the Political Theory Group. The personal tutor provides support for personal and academic well-being during the programme.

All students study the core course Methods in Political Theory and write a 10,000 word dissertation. In addition, students choose five courses from the course options (three for the research track). Students are also able to study suitable courses from other programmes in the Department and School, with the approval of the MSc course convener.

Students write a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic agreed with their supervisor. Previous dissertation titles include: 'Rawls on global distributive justice', 'Relativism, political liberalism, and impartiality', 'On the nature and boundaries of right in Kant's political theory: an argument in favour of a right to revolution', 'Liberal toleration and dissent: minority rights as a political challenge to democratic constitutional state', 'What obligation, if any, do governments have to preserve cultural heritage?', 'Is the debate between feminism and multiculturalism problematic in terms of women's autonomy?', 'Methods in the history of political thought: a critique of different approaches to Thomas Hobbes.'

The MSc in Political Theory (Research) is structured to comply with the requirements for financial support from the ESRC under the 1+3 formula, which is available only to applicants from the EU. The programme itself is open to students from any part of the world. A 1+3 programme is a linked programme of a one year master's followed by PhD study. If you wish to be considered for the research track you must include an outline research proposal with your application. This proposal should be a brief description of the research topic you are considering pursuing during your PhD and should explain why you are interested in this area of research. As your research interests will develop further over the year of your master's training your proposal need only be indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Each half unit course is taught through ten weekly two-hour seminars. These take place in the first and second terms with two weeks of revision scheduled for the third term. Methods of assessment differ from course to course, and may include unseen written exams in the summer term and/or assessed essays. In addition you will meet with your supervisor and work on your dissertation.

If you are studying full-time you should arrange your study so that you are not taking more than three courses (in addition to the Methods in Political Theory course) in either of the first two terms. If you are studying part-time your programme will span two years. You must take the Methods in Political Theory course in the first year along with up to three others; the remaining courses and the dissertation are completed during the second year.

Compulsory courses
(* half unit)

* Foundations of Political Theory
* Dissertation
* Foundations of Social Research (research track only)

Options

Choose the equivalent of 2 units (1 for the research track) from:

* Feminist Political Theory*
* Contemporary Disputes about Justice*
* Twentieth-Century European Liberal Thought*
* Social Theory and Political Commitment: the Case of Max Weber and Nationalism*
* The Political Theory of Jurgen Habermas*
* The Philosophy and Politics of Environmental Change
* Advanced Study of Key Political Thinkers*
* Multiculturalism, Nationalism and Citizenship*
* Social Choice Theory and Democracy*
* Kant's Political Philosophy*
* The Liberal Idea of Freedom*
* Dilemmas of Equality*
* The Political Philosophy of John Locke*
* Introduction to International Political Theory*
* The International Political Theory of Humanitarian Intervention*
* The Politics of International Law*
* Philosophy, Morals and Politics

You may, if your supervisor agrees, choose one of your optional courses from the range of others on offer at graduate level in the Department of Government or in other departments at LSE.

Please note that not every course is necessarily available every year, and some may only be available with permission of the course proprietor. Please refer to the Government Department's web pages for a more up to date index of available courses.

You may choose only one option from these units.

Minimum entry requirement: * 2:1 in any discipline with a considered interest in the relevant area. We will consider applicants with good first degrees in any discipline, with a considered interest in the area covered by the MSc. English requirement: * TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 627 in the paper test or 107 in the internet based test * IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 7.0 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 627 TOEFL iBT® test: 107 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Fee reductions and rewards
LSE undergraduates starting taught postgraduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction in the region of ten per cent of the fee. These reductions are available for UK, EU and non-EU students. The School offers a range of rewards for early payment of fees for all self-financed students.

Scholarships for study at LSE

LSE makes available over £12 million annually in financial support for its students via a range of scholarships, bursaries and award schemes, details of which can be found on these pages. LSE's world class programmes attract a consistently high calibre of applicants, many of whom seek financial support from the School, so there is always much competition for our awards. Securing the necessary funds to attend LSE can be a difficult and time consuming process so you should start to think about it as early as possible. Please be aware that the School will be unable to offer you any financial assistance if you knowingly register under funded. The relevant link on the left will take you to the awards available for your chosen level of study.

The School would like to thank the many donors who have contributed to the New Futures Fund, which provides funds for a number of discretionary scholarships.

Diploma, LLM, MA, MSc and MSc (Research) programmes

There are a range of awards available for study at this level. Approximately 19% of taught masters offer holders are successful in obtaining some form of financial support from the School. The value of support ranges in value from 10% of the tuition fee to a full fees and maintenance award.

Graduate Support Scheme

LSE's major financial support scheme for study at taught masters level is the Graduate Support Scheme (GSS). This scheme is open to all applicants, with the exception of those undertaking specific modular or executive programmes such as the MSc in Finance (Part time) or the MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management. Around £2 million is available annually in the form of awards from the Graduate Support Scheme. The Scheme is designed to help students who do not have sufficient funds to meet all their costs of study. GSS awards range in value from £3,000 to a maximum of £10,000, and have an average value of £6,000. Application to the Graduate Support Scheme is via the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application form. This form will be made available to you once you have submitted an application for admission to the School. The form will then be available until 27 April 2011.

Awards

If you complete the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application form, and are made an offer of admission by 27 April 2011, you will also be automatically considered for any other awards being offered by LSE, for which you are eligible, with the exception of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding where there are separate, department led processes in place. AHRC and ESRC funding is relevant to Home UK and Home EU applicants only, and there are also subject restrictions in place. We offer a range of awards based on different criteria such as a specific programme of study, nationality, or country of permanent domicile. In addition, a number of external organisations offer funding to support postgraduate study. We recommend that applicants follow up as many avenues as possible to find funding. Please be aware that if you accept funding from an external source, it is your responsibility to check the terms of the award. Some awards are accompanied by specific terms and conditions which you should be sure you able to meet before accepting the award. Information about other Awards offered by LSE or external organisations. Please take some time to look at all the other awards available to support your study at LSE. The details of these awards are updated each October, but new LSE awards may become available during the course of the admissions cycle. We will only write to successful applicants for these awards. Selection for these awards will take place between May and July 2011 and all successful applicants will be notified by 31 July 2011.

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