The pathway is designed to provide students with the necessary conceptual tools and research skills critically to examine the profound challenges faced in contemporary politics. The degree enables students to work across the various specialisms of the School in the areas of Comparative Politics, Parties and Elections, Policy Studies, Public Policy, Environmental Politics and Policy, and Political and International Theory. This MA pathway is best suited for generalists who wish to get a degree in Politics but do not want to follow a particular area. It allows for maximum choice for modules offered. Contemporary societies are confronted with an array of complex challenges: economic globalisation, democratic malaise, ecological degradation, and terrorism, to name but a few. The pathway provides students with the knowledge and tools required to critically analyse these forces, including the main theories and paradigms within political analysis. It also aims to develop the methodological capacity of students. Through developing these skills and techniques, the pathway prepares students for undertaking a dissertation under the guidance of experienced staff.