Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 13:41
Arguably the world’s only superpower, and a cultural behemoth, what happens in the US influences and interests the world. This course takes an in-depth look at the institutions, the actors and the issues that make American politics a fascinating subject for observers the world over.
This course is co-taught by Professor Richardson Dilworth at Drexel University and contains elements of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), combining live in-person and interactive online lectures and trans-continental group-work.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
Arguably the world’s only superpower, and a cultural behemoth, what happens in the US influences and interests the world. This course takes an in-depth look at the institutions, the actors and the issues that make American politics a fascinating subject for observers the world over.
This course is co-taught by Professor Richardson Dilworth at Drexel University and contains elements of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), combining live in-person and interactive online lectures and trans-continental group-work.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,500-word Group Briefing Document worth 40% of the overall grade. Feedback on essay and report will be provided in a timely fashion, in line with the university's guidelines. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
3,000-word Essay worth 60% of the overall grade. Feedback on essay and report will be provided in a timely fashion, in line with the university's guidelines |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 18,19 | Feedback Weeks | 21 | |
| Feedback |
Formative email exchange exercise: students from Drexel will write 500 words defending the US electoral system; Aberdeen students will then critique that email in 500 words. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the electoral college through an email exchange between students at Aberdeen and Drexel. |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflect upon developments in American politics in the 21st century in an essay completed to a high standard. |
| Conceptual | Create | Explain the roles of the different branches of government in the United States by preparing a briefing document at a level suitable for presenting to government officials. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the electoral college through an email exchange between students at Aberdeen and Drexel. |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to for this site or .
