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Minor

Political Theory

Politicians and other political actors try to justify and increase their power and support by proclaiming to be fighting for ‘freedom’, ‘equality’, ‘human rights’, and ‘democracy’. But what do these noble words mean, really? The minor Political Theory provides students with conceptual and theoretical toolkits needed to think critically about both ideological claims and complex normative issues, such as those concerning diversity, migration, and inequality. Political theorists focus on principles, rather than interests, and use the former to provide guidance to policy makers.

For whom?

Students who are interested in topics such as:

  • Political ideas and thinkers
  • Critical thinking and normative analysis
  • International political theory
  • Reasoned debates over political values
COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Introduction to political theory: utopia and dystopia
    12
  • Core module - Political theory
    12
  • Restricted-choice electives: Electives:
    6
  • The Political Theory of Migration
    6
  • The Animal Rights Debate: An Introduction
    6
  • Diversity, equality and justice
    6
  • History of political thought
    6
  • Markets and Values
    6
  • Feminist theories
    12
Read more in the Course Catalogue

Related Master's programme

This minor may serve as a good preparation for academic Bachelor’s students who want to apply for admission to the Master's programme in Political Theory (Political Science). Always check the entry requirements of the Master’s programme you are interested in.

Entry requirements

Completed first year of a bachelor’s programme. A completed first year of applied sciences (HBO) does not grant access to the minor.

Application

International exchange students are contacted by their programme coordinator regarding enrolment. Students from Dutch universities can enrol the following way:

  • Students from other universities may enrol as a guest student in this minor programme at the UvA.
  • Fill in the application form on the minor page of the digital Course Catalogue
  • Use your student ID number to register for the course in SIS.
Facts & Figures
Credits 30 ECTS,
Language of instruction English
Starts in September