Degree Title Master of Arts in International Security Studies. University University of Reading

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1 ISA Master s Degrees in International Relations & Political Science Degree Title Master of Arts in International Security Studies University University of Reading University Overview Ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world and named as one of the UK's 20 most research intensive universities, the University of Reading is a global university that enjoys a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise. The University is home to several centers of excellence and conducts world-class research across a broad range of disciplines, with over 87% of the university's research categorized as having international standing. Reading is fully accredited and recognized by the UK Department for Innovation, Universities, and Skills. For its outstanding achievement in overseas matters, the University of Reading was the first university to win the Queen's Award for Export Achievement in The University was also awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education four times (1998, 2006, 2009 and 2011). The Graduate Institute of Political and International Studies (GIPIS) at the University of Reading brings together expertise from across a number of departments at the University. The teaching and research activities cover important aspects of: European political and economic integration and culture, diplomacy, international politics, international law, globalization strategy and defense, security and terrorism, arms control and noproliferation, trade, international political economy, development, the Middle East, political theory and public ethics. Program Information Students who complete the International Security Studies track of the ISA Master's Degrees in International Relations & Political Science at the University of Reading will earn a Master of Arts in International Security Studies. The program aims to equip students with a thorough understanding of key theories, concepts and scholarly debates related to international and global security, broadly defined, and their relationship to contemporary security problems. As well, it aims to provide students with empirical knowledge of specific security issues, especially since the Cold War period, and with the ability to critically analyze these. Opportunities for specialization are offered in various areas of strategic studies, diplomacy and conflict resolution, and the international relations and politics of particular regions. Course Outline MA International Security Studies candidates are required to complete the two primary core modules in addition to their dissertation: Dissertation (60 credits) International Security Studies (30 credits)

2 International Relations (30 credits) In addition, students choose optional modules totaling 60 credits, from a list of optional modules some of which are listed below: Conflict and Conflict Resolution (30 credits) Political Integration in Europe (30 credits) Contemporary Diplomacy (30 credits) International Political Economy (30 credits) The United Nations, Humanitarian Intervention and Contemporary Warfare (30 credits) The Practice of Strategy in History (30 credits) Strategic Theory (30 credits) Modern Strategy (30 credits) The Origins and Causes of War (30 credits) Conflict in the Middle East (30 credits) Terrorism in a Globalizing World (30 credits) Cold War Culture (30 credits) International Human Rights Law (30 credits) Philosophical Issues in the Social Sciences (20 credits) Introduction to Research Methods in Politics and International Relations (20 credits) Advanced Research Methods in Politics and International Relations (20 credits) International Dispute Settlement (20 credits) European Legal Frameworks: Constitutionalism, Citizenship and Democracy (20 credits) Contemporary Issues in International Law (10 credits) Prosecuting International Crimes: Contemporary Issues and Problems (10 credits) Full course descriptions can be found at the end of this document. Next Steps For students interested in receiving their Master of Arts in International Security Studies from the University of Reading through the ISA International Relations & Political Science Masters Degree program, please submit your application here. Summary of Teaching and Assessment Teaching methods will vary from module to module but teaching will primarily be by means of seminars. Certain modules may be partially taught by means of lectures and tutorials. All modules are assessed by course work and examination. Failed coursework has to be re-submitted at the latest by 1st September the same year. If the examination is failed it has to be re-sat in September the same year. A failed dissertation has to be re-submitted within 12 months. To pass the MA students must gain an average mark of 50 or more overall including a mark of 50 or more for the dissertation and have no mark below 40 in any module. The total credit value of all modules marked below 50 must not exceed 55 credits. Students who gain an average mark of 70 or more overall including a mark of 60 or more for the dissertation and have no mark below 50 will be eligible for a Distinction. Those gaining an average mark of 60 or more overall including a mark of 50 or more for the dissertation and have no mark below 50 will be awarded eligible for a Merit.

3 Mark Interpretation % Distinction 60-69% Merit 50-59% Good standard (Pass) Failing categories: 40-49% Work below threshold standard 0-39% Unsatisfactory Work Program Outcomes KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING A. Knowledge and understanding of: 1) key theories, paradigms and concepts of international and global security, and their application to contemporary issues; 2) major debates in security studies; 3) empirical security issues and threats (military and non-military), and alternative means of managing them; 4) research methods and skills relevant to security studies. Teaching/learning methods and strategies: Teaching takes the form of seminars with student presentations and structured discussion, individual tutorials, and lectures where appropriate. Other provisions include training sessions in the University Library and an optional annual study trip to Brussels. The Core Module introduces students to concepts and issues of security, during and since the end of the Cold War. It surveys different approaches to questions about what security is and how to promote it, and who should be made secure. Critically examined are concepts of 'international', 'global' and 'human' security; the nature of various threats to security; and ways in which states and other actors have sought and now seek to tackle them. The Option modules provide students with opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge of particular areas and issues including strategic studies, diplomacy, conflict resolution, terrorism, and the politics of specific regions. The Research Methods module introduces a broad range of research tools (quantitative and qualitative), and provides training in different methods of data collection and analysis. It provides students with knowledge of the major epistemological and theoretical issues in the social sciences. In the Dissertation module, students apply, under the guidance of dissertation supervisor, appropriate methods of research and analysis to a specific topic. Assessment Students' knowledge is tested through a combination of coursework, examinations and a dissertation. Skills And Other Attributes B. Intellectual skills - able to:

4 1) critically assess and compare major paradigms and concepts of security; 2) apply current debates and paradigms of security to empirical issues and events, and visa versa; 3) formulate and defend intellectual positions effectively, including with reference to relevant scholarly literature and empirical evidence; 4) undertake independent research, and in so doing demonstrate understanding of and the ability to apply research methods appropriate to the field of security studies. Teaching/learning methods and strategies These intellectual skills are taught in the Core and Optional Modules, in the work on the Dissertation, and (for the MA with research training) Research Methods. The teaching takes the form of seminars with student presentations and structured discussions, individual tutorials, and the preparation of essays and a dissertation. Additional training is available, as needed, through the support of Study Advisors and a variety of library and research resources. Assessment These intellectual skills are assessed throughout the program in essays, examinations and the dissertation. C. Practical skills - able to: 1) select and assess quality materials on assigned topics, using library and electronic resources; 2) distil the essence of and organize large amounts of information on contested issues, and prepare it for presentation orally and in writing; 3) refer effectively to key concepts, theories and empirical data in support of one's arguments; 4) manage time effectively in the completion of weekly assignments, termly essays, exam preparation, and the writing of a dissertation. Teaching/learning methods and strategies The Induction Program at the beginning of the academic year, as well as the Core and Optional Modules, introduce students to library collections and internet resources, and advise them on how to use these in their work. Effective processing and presentation of information, and the use of concepts and empirical data, are demonstrated and practiced in seminars and assignments. Time management and other study skills are acquired by students independently, and/or via Course Conveners and Study Skills Advisors. Assessment The practical skills developed during the course form an integral part of knowledge and intellectual skills acquisition. They are assessed throughout the program in coursework, exams and the writing of the dissertation. D. Transferable skills - able to: 1) undertake independent study and research, including through the use of IT; 2) evaluate different sources of information and evidence, and formulate and defend positions and arguments effectively;

5 3) process large amounts of information, and present it and one's arguments effectively orally and in writing; 4) manage time effectively in the completion of work assignments. Teaching/learning methods and strategies These skills are taught through weekly assignments to prepare for seminar discussions, oral presentations to fellow students and participation in seminar debates, and the preparation of essays and a dissertation. Additional tuition is available from Study Skills Advisors and Course Conveners Assessment The practical skills developed during the course form an integral part of knowledge and intellectual skills acquisition. They are assessed throughout the program in coursework, exams and the writing of the dissertation. Course Descriptions Applicants should note that optional modules are arranged on an annual basis. It is possible that a module may be modified in its content, suspended for a session, or discontinued. New modules may become available in any given year. The final decision on which module options a successful candidate will follow will be made by the Institute in consultation with the candidate before the start of the session. Below is a brief introduction to a selection of each module: Conflict & Conflict Resolutions One of the key challenges of our time is the problem of war, especially civil war, and international responses to it. Civil wars not only affect the soldiers and civilians caught up in them, but have often have wider consequences for the countries and regions they affect: they weaken governance, increase poverty, and can spill over into neighboring countries, e.g. through refugee flows. The international community has also developed a growing range of instruments to respond to the challenge of civil war, including not only peacekeeping operations, but also efforts to reform political, economic, and security institutions in the affected countries. In this module, we engage with the most recent debates on the complex causes of civil conflict, and explore the diverse responses to conflict, from the brokering of peace agreements to efforts to regulate the trade in so-called conflict commodities. Throughout the module, we draw on topical case studies to explore particular issues and examine them in a real world context. Conflict in the Middle East The Middle East has recently experienced a wave of potentially transformative revolutions. With the hope for democracy, however, has come the risk of widespread violence and destabilization. Is the region about to descend into a long, dark 'Arab winter'? This course addresses Middle Eastern conflict as a broad area of inquiry and investigates the political, economic and social conditions from which it arises. It begins with an examination of how the pre-modern heritage of the region, the impact of imperialism, the rise of competing ideologies and the advance of modernization have shaped contemporary politics and engendered the power struggles of the present day. This is followed by an assessment of the origins and evolution of religious fundamentalism, with a strong focus on political Islam and its many facets. We examine the dynamics of interstate, intra-state and inter-ethnic conflicts, with a particular focus on Iraq, Iran, Syria and Lebanon and the role of foreign intervention. The course also covers all aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Contemporary Diplomacy When at the Paris Peace Conferences that ended the First World War, English was first used at an international conference, British alongside French diplomats gained recognition as setting the gold standard in the know-

6 how and style of diplomacy world-wide. Since then, and especially since the end of the following world war, since which there has been a great and increasing proliferation of international organizations and international conferences, diplomacy has changed significantly in many ways. This module examines bilateral and multilateral negotiation; foreign policy and diplomatic strategies; negotiation in multilateral institutions e.g. UN Security Council WTO, IMF and environmental regulation; disaster and international emergency diplomacy and the effects of international terrorism on diplomacy. It also ponders the constraints and impact of diplomacy in a period of international instability. The course usually includes a visit to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and input from current and former high ranking diplomats and other guest speakers who are practitioners add to the practical experience of this course. International Law and World Order This module provides students with an introduction to theoretical and practical approaches to the separate disciplines of International Law and International Relations and to set students on the path towards the development of inter-disciplinary analysis of the two disciplines. It enables students to identify the basic theoretical underpinnings of both International Law and International Relations, identify and analyze practical issues of interest to each discipline and undertake rudimentary forms of interdisciplinary analysis of specific problems. International Political Economy The current economic and financial crisis has increased our need to understand the interaction between states and markets. This module introduces students to the latest theoretical tools in International and Comparative Political Economy, applying them to crucial problems in the world economy. Analysis [of] how politics shapes markets and how markets affect politics at both the international and domestic levels illuminates our experiences in international trade, finance and production over the past five decades. We ask: how has the globalization of trade and finance affected the autonomy of the state? And what role has the state played in changing production structures of advanced industrialized economies? Further topical issues in development, international sanctions, globalization, social policy and environmental protection area also considered in the light of key debates, for example the effect of globalization. Students become acquainted with cutting edge research on pressing challenges for policy makers in the 21st century, including how to promote economic development, and whether economic growth necessarily leads to environmental destruction. International Relations How can we best think about the challenges facing contemporary statesmen and citizens? This module introduces students to the principal theoretical approaches to international order and to the problems associated with it. Incorporating analysis of contemporary statehood, international law and organizations, globalization, and the use of force, it equips students with the intellectual tools required to confront the security, economic, and environmental challenges that dominate contemporary world affairs. International Security Studies This module introduces students to concepts and issues of security since 1945.It surveys different approaches to questions about the nature and objectives of security and its promotion. It critically examines concepts of 'international', 'global' and 'human' security: the nature of various threats to security; and ways in which states and other actors have sought and seek to tackle them. It provides a general understanding of the thinking and concerns about security during the Cold War, the traditional inter-state security agenda and current debates over the meaning and new boundaries of security studies. Modern Strategy Focusing mostly on the period since 1789, this module is designed to introduce students to the concept of strategy and strategic behavior. This translates as the art of choice that binds together means, and ways with objectives. Paramount in this combination is the threat and use of force. This distinguishing feature can only be

7 understood and assessed in a number of unique historical contexts, and the focus here is especially on the wars of the French Revolution, Napoleon, the major wars of the 19th century, and the Two World Wars. However, the consequences of military power operate in a number of generic categories. Strategy needs to be conscious of geography and is often about geography. It has to find tactical expression and have operational effect. There has to enacted via a process of deciding priorities and sequencing. Finally, there has to be a vision of what victory eventually might look like. Throughout the course students will be required to ask the timeless strategist's questions, 'why' and 'so what' about the historical material that will be covered. The Origins and Causes of War Scholars in many disciplines have been preoccupied with society's worst disease: war. Biologists have established that humans are not the only species to fight in organized groups; paleoanthropologists have tried to ascertain when war first occurred and why; psychologists enquire into the minds of those who wage it; anthropologists study culturally diverse attitudes to war; while historians generate and political scientists analyze the greatest data bank on wars and conflicts. Is aggression a biologically programmed part of human nature? Is organized violence an intrinsic part of any human society? Is it a function of how societies are organized, and of their acquired values and ideals? This course draws on literature from all of these disciplines and examines examples drawn from all of human history, to reach conclusions about humanity and war from which all other attempts to contain this disease must start. The Practice of Strategy in History This module has as initial assumption that strategy is a very pragmatic undertaking. It will show what which features of strategy endure through the ages and which do not. The course has as its focus real practice by real people, and its consequences. It examines through a series of case studies both the positive and the negative evidence of how strategy is done in the real world. Strategic Theory What does "strategy" mean? How has the understanding of the term evolved, and how has it come to mean a comprehensive way to pursue political ends, including the threat or actual use of force? Did "strategies" exist before the Byzantines first defined the term, and was there strategic thinking in the Occident before a key Byzantine text attributed to Leo VI (the Wise) was translated into Western vernaculars? Are there key, recurrent concepts in strategic thinking that have endured despite all the technological, social, economic and political innovations that have occurred since the late Middle Ages? Homing in on the work of key thinkers such as Christine de Pizan, Machiavelli, Clausewitz, Jomini, Liddell Hart, Mao Tse Tung, Bernard Brodie and Colin Gray, this module elucidates the great debates about strategy, its political aims and its military means. This module thus complements "Modern Strategy" above in taking a more theoretical and ideational approach to the subject matter of strategic studies. Terrorism in a Globalizing World This module aims to convey a sense of how terrorism relates to world politics, the individual, and everything in between. It proceeds by examining competing definitions of terrorism and the theoretical and practical implications; past, present and future trends in the history of terrorism; terrorists' motivation and the incentives to choose terrorism as a behavior; terrorist methods; counter-terrorism options; regional patterns; and historical case studies. Themes and Issues in Military History and Strategic Studies Since Antiquity, the methodology of Western authors has been based on the assumption that without the knowledge of the history of wars, no theory of strategy has any credibility. Even more recently, when some writers have neglected this tradition and theorized about strategy on the basis of economic and mathematical

8 formulae, most scholars of strategic studies still regard history as the database for strategic analysis. This is the methodological basis also of this course, which blends military history and strategic studies. Key debates and subjects in both areas are treated in their historical, but also analytical context, including issues of definition, the Classical Heritage, the quest for eternal principles, evolving factors such as the financing of wars, the role of technology in war and in the evolution of strategy, and the impact of religious quarrels and other ideological conflicts, the naval/maritime and the air and nuclear dimensions, insurgencies and counterinsurgency, and other topical issues as they arise. Advanced Research Methods in Politics and International Relations* R This module builds on the preceding one and allows more detailed exploration of certain methods. These include methods such as statistical analysis, within-case and comparative analysis, critical discourse analysis, and content analysis. Introduction to Research Methods in Politics and International Relations* This module introduces the basics of social science research methodology, as relevant to Politics and International Relations. It has three components, looking at principles of research design, qualitative research methods, and quantitative research methods. Philosophical Issues in the Social Sciences* This module addresses the fundamental ontological, epistemological, and ethical issues raised by research in social science. It covers such issues as the nature of truth, the relationship between natural science and social science, the Kuhnian and post-kuhnian interpretations of science, 'value-freedom', relativism, ideal and nonideal theory, and expertise and junk science. *Research Training Modules Course Disclaimer: Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change.