Political psychology

The course is a core course and is given as a stand-alone course at master's level (second cycle).

For admission to the course, completion of university education of at least 180 credits is required at first cycle level. Language skills equivalent to: English 6/English course B from Swedish upper-secondary school or the equivalent knowledge from an international confessed test, such as TOEFL or IELTS.

The course should provide advanced theoretical knowledge regarding psychological methods on political phenomena and problems. A delimited application of the theoretical knowledge is documented in an independently planned work.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• define political psychology as a scientific field
• describe important research results in political psychology and relate these to underlying psychological principles and theories and apply these research results, principles and theories on specific political problems 

Competence and skills

• independently describe and analyse problems by using theories and concepts in political psychology
• distinguish and describe basic methods that can be used to study specific political problems

Judgement and approach

• critically evaluate the benefit of psychological knowledge and analyse, understand and apply this knowledge in order to suggest solutions to political problems

Teaching is given in the form of lectures and seminars. Language of instruction: English

The examination consists of two parts:

1. Active participation in the obligatory seminars as well as written assignments;

2. An individual written assignment, where theories in political psychology are applied on a chosen issue.

Seminars including written assignments are obligatory. All teaching can constitute basis for examination. Absence is made up according to the instructions of the course coordinator.

A student who has failed the same examination twice by the same examiner has the right to change the examiner. The student shall submit a written request to the Department. The request shall be granted unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6, Section 22 of Higher Education Ordinance).

A student with a recommendation for special educational support from the University of Gothenburg may receive an adapted examination or alternative examination form provided that the examiner decides it is compatible with the course objectives and it does not require unreasonable resources.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, though at most two years after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies for internships and on-the-job trainings, but with a restriction to only one additional examination session.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

In order to obtain the grade Pass in the course, the following is required:

• Active attendance in the seminars as well as the grade Pass on all linked written assignments as well as;
• The grade Pass on the individually completed written work.

To pass the course with distinction the following is required:

• Active attendance in the seminars as well as the grade Pass with distinction (VG) on the majority of the written assignments as well as; 
• The grade Pass on the individually written assignment

The course leader is responsible for ensuring that students are given the opportunity to make an anonymous written evaluation at the end of the course. After the course ends, the course leader writes a course report, which includes a summary of the student feedback. The course report is discussed in the relevant review group and is communicated both to the students who submitted their feedback and to the students who will start the course. Course reports are made available to students.

If the course requires access to a computer, internet or any other digital resources, it is the student's responsibility to ensure they have access to such tools and resources.