Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2057: Security Studies

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module will introduce you to the study of war and the use of force in world politics. It will explore three schools of thought (strategic studies, contemporary security studies and peace studies) and examine the theories and concepts they deploy to understand contemporary conflict. Moreover, it will examine cases of political violence and address current issues relating to strategy, security and peace. The module will focus first on strategic studies and the pursuit or order and national security, before going on to look at (international) security more broadly and the old and new concerns it raises, and then finally considering peace and international interventions to end conflict. The module provides a broad survey of strategy, security and peace which will provide a basis for more detailed studies at Level 3 and in undergraduate and postgraduate research.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate knowledge of a specific case of conflict with regard to the following schools of thought: strategic studies, contemporary security studies and peace studies;
2. situate this knowledge critically with respect to the other schools of thought;
3. understand how these concepts and cases inform our study of the general field of International Relations;
Discipline-Specific Skills4. critically analyse secondary source material including audio-visual material in the field of politics;
5. understand and use political theory;
6. construct well-structured and rigorous political arguments;
Personal and Key Skills7. demonstrate the ability to digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent and cogent argument, developed through the mode of assessment;
8. demonstrate competence to use the internet and other IT resources.