Course summary

Politics at York St John University is about more than the sound and fury of the daily headlines. It examines the point where power, principle and policy intersect, and gets to grip with the practical implications of some of the most pressing questions of our time. How should the state respond to the challenge of planetary climate change? Are new communications technologies making historical patterns of political participation redundant, or more urgent? What are the new horizons for social justice? And how might we imagine the good society in an era of globalisation? The Politics degree at York St John will familiarise you with the history of political thought and help you to understand its implications for national and global governance in the twenty-first century. You will be based in the School of Humanities, Religion and Philosophy, which is home to experts not just in politics and government, but also history, ethics and rhetoric. You will examine the role of political institutions in determining social behaviour, the means by which these institutions are held to account, and the broader conflicts that are transforming the ways in which we understand the relationship between citizen and state. By the end of your degree, you will be able to explain the historical drivers of social change, analyse the current political landscape and identify the challenges that will shape our shared future. The History degree programmes at York St John give you the chance to study a broad range of types and periods of history, from medieval to modern, with opportunities for individual specialisation and research. We provide an excellent learning environment in the historic centre of the City of York, with a rich selection of museums, libraries and historical sites to complement and enhance the academic programme. This programme gives you the chance to study a broad range of types and periods of history, from medieval to modern, with opportunities for individual specialisation and research. We offer exciting and innovative programmes which cover many different types and periods of history, from medieval to modern. The flexible structure of this degree programme allows you to choose your own modules, enabling you to construct your own study pathway. There is the opportunity to undertake independent research and to specialise in the kinds of history that interest you most. We welcome applications from anyone with a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the past.