Prospectus

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Elective: International Security

Course
2016-2017

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies who have succesfully completed the second year elective course.
The number of participants is limited to 25.

Description

In the wake of the latest civil wars in the Syria and Libya, the Ukrainian crisis, the migration flows across the Mediterranean and the latest terrorist attacks, Europe and the world at large are facing a growing number of both old and new security challenges. In order to provide students with an understanding of the key debates in security studies, this course will be divided as follows.

The first part of the course will discuss the main theories and approaches to the study of security, ranging from realism to constructivism.

The second part will then analyze the most crucial security issues, such as, interstate and intrastate war, terrorism, the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, cybersecurity, environmental security and migrations.

The final component of the course will apply the knowledge developed in the first two parts to the analysis of some topical cases, such as the civil war in Syria, the Ukraine crisis and migrations across the Mediterranean. Alternative or additional case studies will be selected based on students’ interests and the latest news.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • identify the main state and non-state actors involved in the provision of security

  • evaluate the key debates and theories in the study of security

  • apply those theories to the study of relevant security issues

The elective courses for International Studies are designed to teach students how to deal with state-of-the-art literature and research questions. They are chosen to enhance the students’ learning experience by building on the interdisciplinary perspectives they have developed so far, and to introduce them to the art of academic research. They are characterised by an international or comparative approach.
Academic skills that are trained include:
Oral presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using up-to-date presentation techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience;
3. to actively participate in a discussion following the presentation.
Collaboration skills:
1. to be socio-communicative in collaborative situations;
2. to provide and receive constructive criticism, and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position;
3. adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.
Basic research skills, including heuristic skills:
1. to collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques;
2. to analyze and assess this literature with regard to quality and reliability;
3. to formulate on this basis a sound research question;
4. to design under supervision a research plan of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved;
5. to formulate a substantiated conclusion.
Written presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured written presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website

Mode of instruction

Seminar and supervised research.

Course Load

Total course load for the course: 280 hours • Hours spent on attending lectures: 2 hours per week x 12 weeks = 24 hours • Readings, debates and presentation: 12 hours per week x 12 = 144 hours • Writing of final paper: 112 hours ### Assessment method

Course participation, oral presentations and final paper

Weighing

Student presentation(s): 20%
Participation in class discussion and debates: 20%
Final Paper: 60 %

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following: the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

To pass the course, the weighted average has to be 5.5 at least.

Resit

Resubmitting the final essay (insufficient grade only) will lead to a deduction of 1 point. The deadline for resubmission is 10 days after receiving the grade for the final essay.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.

Reading list

Course readings will be made available beforehand on Blackboard

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable

Contact

Dr. E. Cusumano

Remarks

The deadline for submission of the final essay is 9 June 2017.