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  • American Politics (MSc / MRes)

Contact our course team

Department of Politics
tel: 020 7631 6789
email: office@pol-soc.bbk.ac.uk

Admissions tutors

Professor Rob Singh

  • Duration
      • Two years part-time or one year full-time.
  • Attendance
      • Two evenings a week part-time; four evenings a week full-time.
      • October–June.
  • Location
      • Central London.
  • Entry requirements
      • Good honours degree in a social science or other relevant subject.
  • Teaching

    • A mix of lectures and classes employing a variety of formats.

  • Assessment

    • Core courses assessed by written examinations; option modules assessed by coursework and written examinations. There is a dissertation element.

  • Fees (2009/2010)
      • Part-time (home/EU students): £2658 pa
      • Part-time (overseas students): £6168 pa
      • Full-time (home/EU students): £4032 pa
      • Full-time (overseas students): £12,336 pa
  • Funding

    • For UK or EU applicants intending to pursue research, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) studentships (one year for the Master’s programme followed by three years of funding for research) may be available for candidates with a strong academic background. Applications for ESRC funding must reach the Department of Politics by 30 March.

  • When to apply
      • Applications from January.
      • UK-based candidates satisfying entry requirements interviewed March–September.
  • Make your application
  • Supplementary information

American Politics (MSc / MRes) - 2010/2011 entry


Why study this course at Birkbeck?

  • Combines an advanced analysis of the government and politics of the USA with a critical examination of American foreign policy.
  • Good foundation for a career in policy research, journalism or work in international organisations, or for MPhil/PhD research on a US-related theme.

The United States of America is the world’s leading economic and military power, and an influential cultural force globally. Few nations are unaffected by American political and economic decisions, and the ‘American Dream’ continues to exert a powerful pull on many outside America. But the uniquely complex American political system is frequently misunderstood, both within and outside the USA, while the sources, influence and nature of American foreign policy are the subject of deep disagreements.

This programme is especially suitable if you are interested in, or affected by, American public policies, and are looking for a specialised programme in US politics. You will develop the capacity to analyse political debates and issues in a critical manner, and improved teamwork, written and oral communication skills.

What will I be studying?

You will take core courses and option modules, and will write a dissertation.

Core courses:

  • The Government and Politics of the United States: examines the institutions of American government, the policy process and a series of issues and controversies in contemporary American politics, such as gun control, capital punishment and abortion
  • American Foreign Policy: investigates the content of American foreign policy since 1945, the processes by which it is formulated and implemented, and case studies of its varying effectiveness during the Cold War and post-Cold War eras.

A range of thematic or regional option modules allow you to tailor the degree to your own specific personal or career interests. Option modules are normally available in:

  • British, US and European government and politics
  • international relations, international security, and US foreign policy
  • politics of globalisation and international political economy
  • politics, policy and administration of the EU
  • political theory and political sociology
  • war, conflict, nationalism, politics and religion
  • policy analysis, policy-making processes and comparative public policy
  • public management and public sector reform
  • research methods.

For MRes students, research methods training forms part of the programme's core elements.

Find out more about our modules.

Study resources

Birkbeck Library has an extensive teaching collection of books and journals in politics and sociology. It also has an impressive range of electronic resources, including bibliographic databases and over 17,000 electronic journals. Most of these resources can be accessed via the Internet 24 hours a day. It is worth spending some time on the Library website to familiarise yourself with its collections and services.

Students can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library. 

The Department of Politics organises a lively programme of seminars and conferences.

Make your application

You can apply online from the link below.

What can I go on to do?

If you are interested in further research, we offer an MPhil/PhD in Politics/Sociology.

Politics graduates also go on to careers in local and national government, the diplomatic service, policy work, the voluntary sector, or as researchers or journalists.

Last modified: 11 Mar 2010 14.39

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