Bachelor of Science in Political Science

In politics, the key word is power: who makes the decisions, how are decisions made, and why? Political science will try to answer these questions in a sound academic way, and highlighting different angles in so doing, including the historical, legal, psychological, demographic, sociological, economic, ... perspective.

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Bachelor's Programme

3 year 180 credits

Faculty of Political and Social Sciences

Dutch

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Postgraduate studies

Study programme content subject to change

First year

(version 21 )

1 General Courses

1.1 Master courses in political and social sciences

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to Political Sciences	1	sem 1	nl	Carl Devos	6

Communication Science	1	sem 1	nl	Stijn Joye	6

Sociology	1	sem 1	nl	Bart Van de Putte	6

Research Methods in the Social Sciences	1	sem 2	nl	Henk Roose	6

Statistics	1	sem 1	nl	John Lievens	6

Social and Political Systems	1	sem 1	nl	Sami Zemni	5

1.2 General Courses Bachelor of Political Science

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
History of International Politics	1	sem 2	nl	Dries Lesage	6

Belgian Politics	1	sem 2	nl	Herwig Reynaert	6

Current Political Problems	1	year	nl	Tim Haesebrouck	4

Economics	1	sem 2	nl	Stijn Baert	4

Social Psychology	1	sem 2	nl	Arne Roets	5

Second year

(version 21 )

1 General Courses

1.2 General Courses Bachelor of Political Science

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
European Political Integration	2	sem 1	nl	Hendrik Vos	6

Structure and Conflict in the Global South	2	sem 2	nl	Koenraad Bogaert	6

Politics of Sustainability	2	sem 2	nl	Erik Paredis	6

Comparative Politics	2	sem 2	nl	Kristof Steyvers	5

International Relations Theory	2	sem 2	en	Dries Lesage	6

Political Philosophy	2	sem 2	nl	Patrick Loobuyck	5

Belgian Public Law	2	sem 1	nl	Mathieu Leloup	6

Public Administration. An Introduction	2	sem 1	nl	Bram Verschuere	6

Academic and Professional Skills	2	year	nl	Tom Verhelst	6

Qualitative Research Design	2	sem 1	nl	Peter Stevens	3

Quantitative Analysis	2	sem 1	nl	Jannick Demanet	5

Third year

(version 21 )

1 General Courses

1.2 General Courses Bachelor of Political Science

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Comparative Political Economy	3	sem 2	nl	Mattias Vermeiren	6

Applied Policy Analysis	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Verhelst	6

Methods in Political Science	3	year	nl	Ferdi De Ville	6

2 Minors

Subscribe to 1 minor from the following list.

Students having taken the Minor Education are granted immediate admission to the educational master's programme.

2.1 Minor Administration and Public Management

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Public Policy	3	sem 1	en	Bishoy Zaki	6

Public Management	3	sem 2	en	Ben Suykens	5

Introduction to Accounting in the Not-for-Profit and Public Sector	3	sem 2	nl	Johan Christiaens	5

Socio-Economic Policy	3	sem 1	nl	Luc Van Ootegem	5

2.2 Minor Sociology

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Sociological Perspectives	3	sem 2	nl	Mieke Van Houtte	4

Sociology of Modernity	3	sem 1	nl	Raf Vanderstraeten	5

Contemporary Sociological Theories	3	sem 1	nl	Raf Vanderstraeten	6

Demography	3	sem 2	nl	John Lievens	5

Social Inequality	3	sem 1	nl	Raf Vanderstraeten	6

Historical Sociology	3	sem 2	nl	Bart Van de Putte	6

Organisations Theory	3	sem 2	nl	Jeroen Huisman	5

2.3 Minor Communication Sciences

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
International Communication	3	sem 2	nl	Stijn Joye	5

Media Economy and Media Structures	3	sem 2	nl	Tom Evens	5

Mediapsychology	3	sem 2	nl	Koen Ponnet	5

Media Law and Copyright	3	sem 1	nl	Katrien Van der Perre	5

Persuasive communication	3	sem 2	nl	Elisabeth Van den Abeele	5

Media History	3	sem 2	nl	Daniël Biltereyst	5

Media Technology and Innovation	3	sem 2	nl	Lieven De Marez	5

2.4 Minor Economy and Business Administration

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Markets and Prices	3	sem 1	nl	Dirk Van de gaer	5

Business Cycles and Growth	3	sem 1	nl	Freddy Heylen	5

Financial Markets and Institutions	3	sem 2	nl	Rudi Vander Vennet	5

Business Administration	3	sem 2	nl	Mirjam Knockaert	4

Development of Economic Thought	3	sem 2	nl	Glenn Rayp	5

Public Finance	3	sem 1	nl	Carine Smolders	5

Environmental Economics	3	sem 1	nl	Johan Albrecht	4

Marketing Management	3	sem 1	nl	Maggie Geuens	6

2.5 Minor Law and Criminology

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to criminology	3	sem 1	nl	Charlotte Colman	6

Police and Judicial Organisation	3	sem 2	nl	Antoinette Verhage	6

Moral Philosophy and Philosophy of Law	3	sem 2	nl	Jan Verplaetse	5

Administrative Law and Environmental Law	3	sem 1	nl	Liesbeth Todts	8

Fundamental Rights	3	sem 1	nl	Yves Haeck	6

General Introduction to Law	3	sem 2	nl	Pieter Cannoot	5

Social Security Law	3	sem 2	nl	Inger De Wilde	4

2.6 Minor History

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Historical Criticism	3	sem 1	nl	Jan Dumolyn	3

Introduction to World History	3	sem 2	nl	Wouter Ryckbosch	3

Introduction to Global Economic History	3	sem 2	en	Frank Caestecker	5

History of China	3	sem 1	nl	Ann Heirman	5

History of Japan	3	sem 1	nl	Christian Uhl	5

History of South Asia	3	sem 1	nl	Tine Vekemans	5

Introduction to the History of Islamic West Asia (600-1800)	3	sem 2	nl	Jo Van Steenbergen	5

History of South East Europe	3	sem 2	nl	Pieter Troch	5

History of Russia	3	sem 1	nl	Ben Dhooge	5

History of Africa	3	sem 1	en	Gillian Mathys	5

History of the Americas	3				5

Gender History	3	sem 2	nl	Gita Deneckere	5

Intellectual History	3	sem 2	en	Steven Vanden Broecke	5

History of Central Asia and the Pontic-Caspian Steppe	3	sem 1	nl	Bruno De Cordier	5

2.7 Minor Philosophy and Moral Science

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Logic I	3	year	nl	Joke Meheus	5

Philosophy of Science I	3	sem 2	nl	Karim Zahidi	5

Moral Science	3	sem 2	nl	Seppe Segers	5

History of Contemporary Philosophy	3	sem 1	nl	Bart Vandenabeele	5

Philosophical Anthropology	3	sem 2	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	5

2.8 Minor Politics of the Global South

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Cultural Anthropology	3	sem 2	nl	Koenraad Stroeken	5

Politics and Society in a Global World	3	sem 2	en		6

Development in the Global South	3	sem 1	en	Bert Suykens	6

Political Ethnography	3	sem 1	en	Karen Büscher	6

2.9 Minor Sustainability

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Environmental History		3	sem 2	nl	Christophe Verbruggen	5

Sustainable Cities		3	year	nl	Michiel Dehaene	6

Environmental Economics		3	sem 1	nl	Johan Albrecht	4

Animal Welfare, Law and Ethics	UKV	3	sem 2	nl	Sarne De Vliegher	3

Human Rights: Multidisciplinary Perspectives	UKV	3	sem 2	en	Eva Brems	5

Global Minds	UKV	3	sem 2	en	Ines Keygnaert	5

2.10 Minor Africa

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3			Michael Limberger	5

History of Africa	3	sem 1	en	Gillian Mathys	5

Africa: Current Affairs, Discourse and Representation	3	sem 2	nl	Inge Brinkman	5

Anthropology and Ethnography in Africa	3	sem 2	nl	Koenraad Stroeken	5

Introduction to the Anthropology of the Middle East and North Africa	3	sem 2	en	Aymon Kreil	5

2.11 Minor Asia

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3			Michael Limberger	5

History of China	3	sem 1	nl	Ann Heirman	5

History of Japan	3	sem 1	nl	Christian Uhl	5

History of South Asia	3	sem 1	nl	Tine Vekemans	5

History of Central Asia and the Pontic-Caspian Steppe	3	sem 1	nl	Bruno De Cordier	5

Introduction to the History of Islamic West Asia (600-1800)	3	sem 2	nl	Jo Van Steenbergen	5

Society and Current Affairs: China	3	sem 2	en	Bart Dessein	5

Society and Current Affairs: Japan	3	sem 1	en	Andreas Niehaus	5

Society and Current Affairs: South Asia	3			Tine Vekemans	5

2.12 Minoir Eastern Europe

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3			Michael Limberger	5

History of South East Europe	3	sem 2	nl	Pieter Troch	5

History of Russia	3	sem 1	nl	Ben Dhooge	5

Introduction to Eastern Europe	3	sem 1	nl,en	Aleksey Yudin	5

2.13 Minor Education

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Powerful Learning Environments	3	sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Teaching Methodology: Social Sciences I	3	year	nl	Tony Valcke	9

2.14 Minor Americas

Course	MT1	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3	Michael Limberger	5

History of the Americas	3		5

3 Majors

Subscribe to 1 major from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

3.1 Major National Politics

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Local Politics	3	sem 1	nl	Herwig Reynaert	6

Contemporary Issues in the Local Politics	3	sem 2	nl	Koenraad De Ceuninck	6

State Government	3	sem 2	nl	Bram Wauters	5

3.1.1 Internship

Subscribe to one Internship from the following list. Students taking the Minor Education,are required to take the Internship of 10 ECTS. All other students are required to take the Intership of 15 ECTS. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Internship	3	year	nl	Koenraad De Ceuninck	15

Internship	3	year	nl	Koenraad De Ceuninck	10

3.2 Major European Politics and Word Politics

3.2.1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
The Policies of the European Union	3	sem 1	nl	Hendrik Vos	6

Conflict Studies	3	sem 2	en	Koen Vlassenroot	6

European and Regional Integration Theories	3	sem 1	nl	Jan Orbie	6

International Public Law	3	sem 1	nl	An Cliquet	5

3.2.2 Research Paper

Subscribe to one Research Paper from the following list. Students taking the Minor Education, are required to combine this with the Research Paper of 6 ECTS. All other students, are required to take one of the other Research Papers. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Research Paper International Politics	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Dries Lesage	9

Research Paper EU Studies	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Jan Orbie	9

Research Paper Conflict and Development	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Koen Vlassenroot	9

Research Paper Education	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Tony Valcke	6

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to Political Sciences	1	sem 1	nl	Carl Devos	6

Communication Science	1	sem 1	nl	Stijn Joye	6

Sociology	1	sem 1	nl	Bart Van de Putte	6

Research Methods in the Social Sciences	1	sem 2	nl	Henk Roose	6

Statistics	1	sem 1	nl	John Lievens	6

Social and Political Systems	1	sem 1	nl	Sami Zemni	5

1.2 General Courses Bachelor of Political Science

103

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
History of International Politics	1	sem 2	nl	Dries Lesage	6

Belgian Politics	1	sem 2	nl	Herwig Reynaert	6

Current Political Problems	1	year	nl	Tim Haesebrouck	4

Economics	1	sem 2	nl	Stijn Baert	4

Social Psychology	1	sem 2	nl	Arne Roets	5

European Political Integration	2	sem 1	nl	Hendrik Vos	6

Structure and Conflict in the Global South	2	sem 2	nl	Koenraad Bogaert	6

Politics of Sustainability	2	sem 2	nl	Erik Paredis	6

Comparative Politics	2	sem 2	nl	Kristof Steyvers	5

International Relations Theory	2	sem 2	en	Dries Lesage	6

Political Philosophy	2	sem 2	nl	Patrick Loobuyck	5

Belgian Public Law	2	sem 1	nl	Mathieu Leloup	6

Public Administration. An Introduction	2	sem 1	nl	Bram Verschuere	6

Academic and Professional Skills	2	year	nl	Tom Verhelst	6

Qualitative Research Design	2	sem 1	nl	Peter Stevens	3

Quantitative Analysis	2	sem 1	nl	Jannick Demanet	5

Comparative Political Economy	3	sem 2	nl	Mattias Vermeiren	6

Applied Policy Analysis	3	sem 1	nl	Tom Verhelst	6

Methods in Political Science	3	year	nl	Ferdi De Ville	6

2 Minors

Subscribe to 1 minor from the following list.

Students having taken the Minor Education are granted immediate admission to the educational master's programme.

2.1 Minor Administration and Public Management

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Public Policy	3	sem 1	en	Bishoy Zaki	6

Public Management	3	sem 2	en	Ben Suykens	5

Introduction to Accounting in the Not-for-Profit and Public Sector	3	sem 2	nl	Johan Christiaens	5

Socio-Economic Policy	3	sem 1	nl	Luc Van Ootegem	5

2.2 Minor Sociology

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Sociological Perspectives	3	sem 2	nl	Mieke Van Houtte	4

Sociology of Modernity	3	sem 1	nl	Raf Vanderstraeten	5

Contemporary Sociological Theories	3	sem 1	nl	Raf Vanderstraeten	6

Demography	3	sem 2	nl	John Lievens	5

Social Inequality	3	sem 1	nl	Raf Vanderstraeten	6

Historical Sociology	3	sem 2	nl	Bart Van de Putte	6

Organisations Theory	3	sem 2	nl	Jeroen Huisman	5

2.3 Minor Communication Sciences

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
International Communication	3	sem 2	nl	Stijn Joye	5

Media Economy and Media Structures	3	sem 2	nl	Tom Evens	5

Mediapsychology	3	sem 2	nl	Koen Ponnet	5

Media Law and Copyright	3	sem 1	nl	Katrien Van der Perre	5

Persuasive communication	3	sem 2	nl	Elisabeth Van den Abeele	5

Media History	3	sem 2	nl	Daniël Biltereyst	5

Media Technology and Innovation	3	sem 2	nl	Lieven De Marez	5

2.4 Minor Economy and Business Administration

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Markets and Prices	3	sem 1	nl	Dirk Van de gaer	5

Business Cycles and Growth	3	sem 1	nl	Freddy Heylen	5

Financial Markets and Institutions	3	sem 2	nl	Rudi Vander Vennet	5

Business Administration	3	sem 2	nl	Mirjam Knockaert	4

Development of Economic Thought	3	sem 2	nl	Glenn Rayp	5

Public Finance	3	sem 1	nl	Carine Smolders	5

Environmental Economics	3	sem 1	nl	Johan Albrecht	4

Marketing Management	3	sem 1	nl	Maggie Geuens	6

2.5 Minor Law and Criminology

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to criminology	3	sem 1	nl	Charlotte Colman	6

Police and Judicial Organisation	3	sem 2	nl	Antoinette Verhage	6

Moral Philosophy and Philosophy of Law	3	sem 2	nl	Jan Verplaetse	5

Administrative Law and Environmental Law	3	sem 1	nl	Liesbeth Todts	8

Fundamental Rights	3	sem 1	nl	Yves Haeck	6

General Introduction to Law	3	sem 2	nl	Pieter Cannoot	5

Social Security Law	3	sem 2	nl	Inger De Wilde	4

2.6 Minor History

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Historical Criticism	3	sem 1	nl	Jan Dumolyn	3

Introduction to World History	3	sem 2	nl	Wouter Ryckbosch	3

Introduction to Global Economic History	3	sem 2	en	Frank Caestecker	5

History of China	3	sem 1	nl	Ann Heirman	5

History of Japan	3	sem 1	nl	Christian Uhl	5

History of South Asia	3	sem 1	nl	Tine Vekemans	5

Introduction to the History of Islamic West Asia (600-1800)	3	sem 2	nl	Jo Van Steenbergen	5

History of South East Europe	3	sem 2	nl	Pieter Troch	5

History of Russia	3	sem 1	nl	Ben Dhooge	5

History of Africa	3	sem 1	en	Gillian Mathys	5

History of the Americas	3				5

Gender History	3	sem 2	nl	Gita Deneckere	5

Intellectual History	3	sem 2	en	Steven Vanden Broecke	5

History of Central Asia and the Pontic-Caspian Steppe	3	sem 1	nl	Bruno De Cordier	5

2.7 Minor Philosophy and Moral Science

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Logic I	3	year	nl	Joke Meheus	5

Philosophy of Science I	3	sem 2	nl	Karim Zahidi	5

Moral Science	3	sem 2	nl	Seppe Segers	5

History of Contemporary Philosophy	3	sem 1	nl	Bart Vandenabeele	5

Philosophical Anthropology	3	sem 2	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	5

2.8 Minor Politics of the Global South

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Cultural Anthropology	3	sem 2	nl	Koenraad Stroeken	5

Politics and Society in a Global World	3	sem 2	en		6

Development in the Global South	3	sem 1	en	Bert Suykens	6

Political Ethnography	3	sem 1	en	Karen Büscher	6

2.9 Minor Sustainability

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Environmental History		3	sem 2	nl	Christophe Verbruggen	5

Sustainable Cities		3	year	nl	Michiel Dehaene	6

Environmental Economics		3	sem 1	nl	Johan Albrecht	4

Animal Welfare, Law and Ethics	UKV	3	sem 2	nl	Sarne De Vliegher	3

Human Rights: Multidisciplinary Perspectives	UKV	3	sem 2	en	Eva Brems	5

Global Minds	UKV	3	sem 2	en	Ines Keygnaert	5

2.10 Minor Africa

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3			Michael Limberger	5

History of Africa	3	sem 1	en	Gillian Mathys	5

Africa: Current Affairs, Discourse and Representation	3	sem 2	nl	Inge Brinkman	5

Anthropology and Ethnography in Africa	3	sem 2	nl	Koenraad Stroeken	5

Introduction to the Anthropology of the Middle East and North Africa	3	sem 2	en	Aymon Kreil	5

2.11 Minor Asia

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3			Michael Limberger	5

History of China	3	sem 1	nl	Ann Heirman	5

History of Japan	3	sem 1	nl	Christian Uhl	5

History of South Asia	3	sem 1	nl	Tine Vekemans	5

History of Central Asia and the Pontic-Caspian Steppe	3	sem 1	nl	Bruno De Cordier	5

Introduction to the History of Islamic West Asia (600-1800)	3	sem 2	nl	Jo Van Steenbergen	5

Society and Current Affairs: China	3	sem 2	en	Bart Dessein	5

Society and Current Affairs: Japan	3	sem 1	en	Andreas Niehaus	5

Society and Current Affairs: South Asia	3			Tine Vekemans	5

2.12 Minoir Eastern Europe

Subscribe to 10 credit units from the following list.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3			Michael Limberger	5

History of South East Europe	3	sem 2	nl	Pieter Troch	5

History of Russia	3	sem 1	nl	Ben Dhooge	5

Introduction to Eastern Europe	3	sem 1	nl,en	Aleksey Yudin	5

2.13 Minor Education

15

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Powerful Learning Environments	3	sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Teaching Methodology: Social Sciences I	3	year	nl	Tony Valcke	9

2.14 Minor Americas

10

Course	MT1	Instructor	Crdt
Global Developments in Historical Perspective	3	Michael Limberger	5

History of the Americas	3		5

3 Majors 32

Subscribe to 1 major from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

3.1 Major National Politics

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Local Politics	3	sem 1	nl	Herwig Reynaert	6

Contemporary Issues in the Local Politics	3	sem 2	nl	Koenraad De Ceuninck	6

State Government	3	sem 2	nl	Bram Wauters	5

3.1.1 Internship

15

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Internship	3	year	nl	Koenraad De Ceuninck	15

Internship	3	year	nl	Koenraad De Ceuninck	10

3.2 Major European Politics and Word Politics

3.2.1 General Courses

23

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
The Policies of the European Union	3	sem 1	nl	Hendrik Vos	6

Conflict Studies	3	sem 2	en	Koen Vlassenroot	6

European and Regional Integration Theories	3	sem 1	nl	Jan Orbie	6

International Public Law	3	sem 1	nl	An Cliquet	5

3.2.2 Research Paper

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Research Paper International Politics	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Dries Lesage	9

Research Paper EU Studies	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Jan Orbie	9

Research Paper Conflict and Development	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Koen Vlassenroot	9

Research Paper Education	3	year sem 1	nl nl	Tony Valcke	6

Bachelor of Science in Political Science

Final Competences of the Study Programme