Montpellier Political Science

Bachelor's degree

1. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE LICENSE

ISO 9001 certified since 2016 (attesting to the educational and administrative quality of the program), the Bachelor's degree in Political Science offers a specific curriculum in political science from L1 to L3. Focused on understanding the contemporary world, it offers students the opportunity to acquire:

  • the body of knowledge necessary for analyzing policy inthe broad sense of "corporate governance" (generalist teaching in L1, consolidated in L2, specialized in L3)
  • To build asolid general knowledge base
  • To strengthenwriting and speaking skills
  • To learn a widerange of methodological tools that can be usedin the various professional sectors to which this training provides access (writing all types of documents, producing all types of oral presentations, designing and conducting qualitative and quantitative surveys or studies, documentary research, mastery of information and communication techniques, etc.).
  • Prepare for the next step (further study or entering the workforce) withsix academic and professional support modulesfrom L1 to L3.

2. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

In accordance with the LMD model, which has become standard at the European level, the Bachelor's degree in Political Science consists of six semesters (two semesters per year). The program is structured around a progression model. The first year is devoted to acquiring the fundamentals of the discipline, combined with courses in law, history, social sciences, economics, etc. From L2 onwards, students take more specialized courses corresponding to the majors that are then found in the Master 2 programs. The entire program allows students to acquire a solid basic training in political science, as well as a good command of English, general culture, and social science methods. 

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, 1st year (L1)

 Semester 1

> TU WITH COMPULSORY SEMINARS
TU to Political Sociology: the frameworks of political activity (33 hours 4C + 15 hours TD 2C)
TU French politicalTU : 1789-1958 (33 hours-4C + 15 hours TD-2C)
TU General constitutionalTU (33 hours-4C + 15 hours TD-2C)

> TU WITHOUT TUTORIALS
TU of Social Sciences (33 hours-3C)
TU InternationalTU (33 hours-3C)
TU C2i (14 hours including 10.5 hours of tutorials-2C)
TU with University Integration 1: Succeeding in Your First Year (10 hours-2C)
TU Institutions and American Institutions (20 hours CM-2C)

Semester 2

> TU WITH COMPULSORY SEMINARS
TU to political sociology 2: political actors and behavior (33 hours-4C + 15 hours TD-2C)
TU French politicalTU under the Fifth Republic (33 hours-4C+ 15 hours TD-2C)
TU ConstitutionalTU of the Fifth Republic (33 hours-4C + 15 hours TD-2C)

> TU WITHOUT TUTORIALS
TU to documentary research (10 hours-1C)
TU with university integration 2: individual interview – interim assessment (15 hours-2C)
TU PoliticalTU (22 hours-3C)
TU AdministrativeTU (22h-3C)
TU and Analyzing Press Articles (20h CM-3C)

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, 2nd year (L2) 

Semester 3

> TU WITH MANDATORY TUTORIALS
TU PoliticalTU (33 hours-4C + 15 hours tutorial-2C)
TU and Social Movements (33 hours-4C + 15 hours tutorial-2C)

> TU WITHOUT SEMINARS
TU GeneralTU 1: Major Political and Social Issues (33 hours-5C)
TU HistoricalTU of the State (33 hours-5C)
TU Political and EconomicTU of Globalization (22 hours-3C)
TU CareerTU 1: Careers in Political Science: An Introduction (20 hours-2C)
TU American History (20 hours-3C)

Semester 4

> TU WITH COMPULSORY SEMINARS
TU of Public Organizations (33 hours-4C+15 hours seminars-2C)
TU ComparativeTU 1: Western democracies (33 hours-4C+15 hours TD-2C)
> TU WITHOUTTU
TU GeneralTU 2: current affairs lectures (33 hours-5C)
TU of political ideas (22 hours-3C) shared
TU Contemporary politicalTU (22 hours-4C)
TU C2i (14 hours, including 10.5 hours of tutorials-1C)
TU IntegrationTU 2: individual interviews on career plans (15 hours-2C)
TU Political Speeches (20 hours of lectures-3C)

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, 3rd year (L3)

Semester 5

> TU WITH COMPULSORY SEMINARS
TU to qualitative methods (33 hours-3C+15 hours TD-2C)
TU ComparativeTU 2: dictatorships (33 hours-3C+15 hours TD-2C)
TU to public policy (33 hours-3C+15 hours TD-2C)

> TU WITHOUT SEMINARS
TU of European Integration (33 hours-3C)
TU International Issues (33 hours-4C)
TU to Local Authorities (33 hours-3C)
TU Personal CareerTU 1: Defining Your Career Path (22 hours-2C)
TU European Union (20 hours seminars-3C)

Semester 6

> TU WITH MANDATORY TUTORIALS
TU to Quantitative Methods (33 hours-4C+15 hours TD-2C)
TU European UnionTU (33 hours-4C+15 hours TD-2C)
TU Great Classics of Sociology (33 hours-4C+15 hours TD-2C)

> TU WITHOUT TUTORIALS
TU Authors in Economics (33 hours-4C)
TU in Europe (22 hours-3C)
TU Personal ProfessionalTU 2: development and management of a collective project or internship or teaching-related project (22 hours-2C)
TU , Equality, and Social Justice (20 hours TD-3C)

3. INTERNSHIPS, SUPERVISED PROJECTS

As part ofTU ProfessionalTU (semester 6), students can choose either an TU (three weeks) or a Personal and Professional TU .

4. EXPECTATIONS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Interest in political and social issues

An interest in political and social issues and, more broadly, in the functioning of contemporary societies is essential for enrollment in a Bachelor's degree program in Political Science. Political science programs include the study of political life and institutions, as well as courses in sociology, international relations, and political theory. The Bachelor's degree in Political Science is multidisciplinary, and courses in law and economics are also offered. The courses taught include a significant European and international dimension. An interest in transnational issues and in the diversity of political and social systems is therefore also expected.

A specific interest in social sciences and literary subjects during your school career (particularly history, geography, and economics and social sciences) and civic engagement may be assets.

Ability to express oneself in writing and orally

This expectation highlights the importance of mastery of written and spoken French for political science students. In university political science programs, the exercises given to students in tutorials and exams consist mainly of presentations, commentary on various texts and documents, and essays. It is therefore important to master the fundamentals of the language (spelling, grammar, syntax, etc.), which are essential for constructing well-argued analyses.

Ability to understand and analyze documents

This expectation highlights the importance, for the political science field, of the candidate's ability to "understand" and interpret documents from various sources.

The Bachelor's degree program in Political Science is based on the combined analysis of a variety of documents (including academic texts, official documents, political speeches, administrative reports, media productions, etc.), which students must be able to understand, put into perspective, and critique using scientific reasoning. Political science programs aim to equip students with disciplinary skills and knowledge, but also to develop their scientific analysis and critical thinking skills.

Ability to work independently and organize one's work

This expectation highlights the importance, for political science students, of being able to work independently. Like many university programs, the political science bachelor's degree program places a strong emphasis on personal organization and work. Students also carry out group projects.