MA Global Security Challenges

Year 1

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:

to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of concepts, debates and challenges at the forefront of the field of international security studies;

to exhibit mastery in the exercise of subject-specific intellectual abilities in international security;

to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of analytical skills applicable to their own research and learning area;

to take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others through group work;

proactively to formulate ideas and hypotheses and to develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these;

critically and creatively to evaluate current issues, global security challenges, research and advanced scholarship in the discipline.

Transferable (key) skills

skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree in the field of security studies or international relations, and/or for employment in a higher capacity in a related area of professional practice such as the civil service, armed forces, international non-governmental organisations, risk assessment, or journalism;

the ability to evaluate their own achievement and that of others;


self-direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations, in particular in relation to security-related challenges;


independent learning relevant to theoretical and empirical security issues and challenges, and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;


to critically engage in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms related to the evolving security agenda, including debates about the added value of securitisation in different policy areas, future trends related to security, the strengths and weaknesses of policy frameworks, the inter-connections between different security challenges, and issues of justice.

Assessment

evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the field of international security;

demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;

drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;

evaluating and criticising received opinion;

making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.