Course description
MA / PGDip / PGCert
These are interesting times for international studies: issues such as globalisation, environmental degradation, poverty and deprivation, international conflict, the rise of religious fundamentalism, the future of democracy - among many others - challenge us to understand trends taking place in modern society. International Studies is quintessentially concerned with these issues. These postgraduate degrees enable students to increase their understanding of contemporary issues in a global context.
All four named awards place an emphasis on gaining critical perspectives on contemporary theory and practice in international studies. They will not only enable you to evaluate and explain contemporary issues in international studies, but will also allow you to gain insight into the nature, development, and history of contemporary theoretical perspectives. The course also aims to provide a sound grounding in research methods in the social sciences.
Course content
These courses are offered at three levels: a Master's Degree (MA), a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert). To gain a Master's in International Studies, you will have to pass all the taught modules and the dissertation. To gain a PG Dip you will have to pass all the taught modules but not the dissertation. A PG Cert is awarded upon successful completion of three taught modules (specific modules are specified for each named award).
Each of the four named awards share common modules during the first semester. These three modules are compulsory and provide the foundation for the specific pathways taken in the second semester and the dissertation.
Compulsory Modules
International Relations in Theory and Practice provides an advanced investigation into theoretical approaches in the discipline of International Relations, as well as an overview of contemporary debates. The module aims to establish a clear understanding of the role and purpose of theory, and its relation to substantive issues in international relations.
Global Political Economy examines the emerging global political economy through the vantage point of competing theoretical perspectives and the evolution of these perspectives, resulting from theoretical debates and the progressive encounter with empirical developments. Different theories reveal different aspects and dimensions of the global political economy and they will thus be used to present key historical developments and contemporary issues of the global political economic order.
Readings in Social Science provides graduate students with a critical introduction to the practices and controversies of contemporary social analysis and to their relevance to substantive research. Its overall aim is to identify and analyse the bases - and hence implications - of the methodological choices social scientists make. Particular attention is paid to meta-theoretical controversies that have surfaced in social science over recent years and decades. Rather than remaining deracinated, these points of controversy are rooted in concrete examples and substantive debates - with emphasis on their implications for concrete research projects and relevance for the techniques of contemporary political analysis.
As part of the general research training provided, all four named awards also require students to take the following module in the second semester:
Research Methods in the Social Sciences acquaints students with basic social science research methods so that they can understand how evidence is produced and critically appraise the research they use. It includes discussion of research strategies and study design; research ethics; principles and methods of sampling; questionnaire design, interviewing and focus groups; principles of qualitative, documentary and survey analysis; comparative historical analysis; statistical analysis using SPSS; presenting findings and writing up research.
During the rest of the second semester students then take specific modules related to their chosen pathway within the International Studies programme.
MA in International Studies (International Relations)
Students choose two optional modules from:
* International Security in the Global Era
* Global Governance, Civil Society and Social Movements
* International Development
* International Relations of East Asia
* Global Theory: From Kant to Hardt and Negri
* Citizenship in Theory and Practice
* Gender in a Global Context
* Global Politics and the Environment
* Independent Study
MA in International Studies (Globalisation)
Students take Production, Finance and Global Governance plus one optional module from:
* Global Governance, Civil Society and Social Movements
* Global Theory: From Kant to Hardt and Negri
* Gender in a Global Context
* Global Politics and the Environment
* Independent Study
MA in International Studies (Security)
Students take International Security in the Global Era plus one optional module from:
* International Development
* International Relations of East Asia
* Global Politics and the Environment
* Refugees and Migration Studies: Comparative and International Perspectives
* Freedom of Movement: Mobility and Citizenship in Europe
* Independent Study
MA in International Studies (Citizenship and Global Justice)
Students take Citizenship in Theory and Practice plus one optional module from:
* Global Governance, Civil Society and Social Movements
* International Development
* Global Theory: From Kant to Hardt and Negri
* Freedom of Movement: Mobility and Citizenship in Europe
* Gender in a Global Context
* Independent Study
Dissertation
The final part of all four MA pathways is the dissertation. This carries forward topics that students may have found of particular interest or relevance into an individual project. It reflects the specific degree programme that the student is taking. This is an extended and supervised piece of work on an appropriate field-based or documentary-based topic chosen in consultation with course tutors. Students are encouraged to choose a topic that relates to their professional, voluntary, political, or research interests. Part of the dissertation involves a presentation at the annual Postgraduate Day which is held every summer. This event brings together a guest speaker from outside the University, research students and all students on the International Studies programme.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Diverse teaching methods are employed throughout the different degrees in order to aid the quality of learning opportunities for students' knowledge and understanding of international studies. Teaching methods include lectures, tutor/group led seminars, analysis of case studies, groupwork presentations, individual presentations, individual and small group tutorials.
Assessment will be conducted through a variety of assignments linked to the expected learning outcomes. Assignments will include essays, presentations, projects, reports and the dissertation. These will be spread over the year to provide constant feedback and assessment. One of the core modules will also be assessed by a comprehensive final exam.
