Seminar

The bachelor's seminar is conducted over three semesters, starting in the fourth semester, and continuing through the fifth and sixth semesters. Each semester concludes with a grade reflecting the progress made in preparing the bachelor's thesis and achieving the learning outcomes. According to the UMCS Study Regulations, the condition for passing the sixth semester is submitting a thesis approved by the supervisor in the APD system.

The aim of the seminar is to prepare the student to write a bachelor's thesis and to guide the process of writing it, including preparing for the defense. This goal is achieved by organizing the seminar with a clearly defined structure of tasks, such as: 1) defining the research area of the thesis, formulating its topic, and conducting a literature review (first semester); 2) proposing a structure for the thesis, divided into chapters and subchapters; 3) developing research assumptions for solving the research problem undertaken, taking into account the theoretical and methodological identity of the discipline of "international relations" (second semester); 4) writing a dissertation while maintaining the identity of the discipline of "international relations" and demonstrating creative thinking and critical thinking regarding the existing state of research, and mastering the formal elements of a thesis (third semester); 5) preparing the student for and conducting a defense of the bachelor's thesis. Achieving the above-mentioned objectives of the thesis seminar requires the student to master at least basic research competencies.

The thesis seminar concludes with the student taking a thesis examination and defending the thesis, conducted in accordance with the UMCS Study Regulations and the thesis procedure used at the UMCS Faculty of Political Science and Journalism.

Literature recommended

S. Halperin, O. Heath, Political Research. Methods and practical skills. Oxford 2020

Ch Lamont, Research Methods in International Relations, London 2022

M. Pietraś, Levels of decision-making determinants in the European Council of the EU in 2010-2022, Polish Political Science Yearbook” 2022, vol. 51,

E. Babbie, W.E. Wagner, J. Zaino, Adventures in Social Research. Data Analysis Using IBM SPSS Statistics, 11th Edition, 2022

D. Sprinz, Y. Wolinski-Nahmias, Models, Numbers, and Cases: Methods for Studying International Relations, 2004

D. McNabb, Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Method Approaches, London 2020

Philip H. Pollock III, Barry C. Edwards, The Essentials of Political Analysis, 2019

R. Sil, P. J. Katzenstein, Analytic Eclecticism in the Study of World Politics: Reconfiguring Problems and Mechanisms across Research Traditions, „Perspectives on Politics” 2010, nr 2, Vol. 8

D. Silverman, Doing Qualitative Research. A Practical Handbook, London 2005

J. Butholph Jonson, H. Reynolds, Political Science Research Methods, Thousand Oaks 2012

M. Bruter; M. Lodge, Political science research methods in action, Basingstocke 2013

G. Marsh, G. Stoker (ed.), Theory and methods in political science, New York 2010

R. Dahl, B. Stinebrickner, Modern political analysis, Upper Saddle River 2003

student knows and understands:

K_W01 the essence and the specificity of studies on international relations and their place in the structure of social sciences

K_W07 on the basic knowledge level, the schools of thought in the studies on international relations

K_W08 basic methods and research techniques of studies on international relations

K_W10 fundamental ideas and principles of intellectual property protection and intellectual property law

graduate can:

K_U01 use knowledge to identify and solve complex and not typical problems and tasks resulting from the dynamics and changeability of international environment

K_U02 search for and select information about intra-state, international and transnational processes

K_U03 make the right selection of sources and information in them for the evaluation, critical analysis and synthesis of this information, select and apply appropriate methods and tools to study problems in the field of international relations

K_U04 use advanced information and communication techniques to acquire and process the information and to present the results of his/her own research

graduate is ready to:

K_K01 critical approach to the knowledge and received content in learning process and in public debate