| Unit name | International Security |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLIM3012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Herring |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The concept of security is used very frequently in relation to international issues. It is important to be able to understand and evaluative different perspectives on international security in general and as it relates to specific issues. The implications of the positions taken in policy and society are profound. Threats can be overestimated and underestimated, and the measures taken to respond to them can be effective, ineffective, counter-productive or have unintended negative consequences. It is also important to understand how issues are put onto the security agenda or taken off it, and to understand the implications of framing something as a matter of security, as opposed to normal politics.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
For MSc International Relations students this unit complements the two other core units: Theories of International Relations and International Political Economy. For MSc International Security students this unit complements the two other core units Theoretical Approaches to Security and Security Governance. If you are an MSc Gender and International Relations student you take Feminisms and International Relations plus Theories of International Relations and choose between this unit and International Political Economy as your third core unit. If you are an LLM International Law and International Relations student you take Theories of International Relations as your core unit and choose between this unit and International Political Economy as your second core unit.
An overview of content:
This unit introduces you to the subject of international security, including theoretical, normative and policy issues. It covers traditional and non-traditional approaches. The unit begins by surveying different approaches to the study of security. We then examine the following: decolonizing security studies; gender and security; the climate crisis and security; climate communication and security; the relationships between development, neoliberalism and security; nuclear weapons; the arms trade; and terrorism. The final week focuses on the essay. Throughout you will be encouraged to explore different perspectives to help you develop your own understanding of these issues and decide which, if any, you find most persuasive.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
In taking this unit, you will become familiar with contemporary approaches to and issues in international security; develop your ability to think independently about texts on international security; and develop your own views on international security issues and the ways they are studied.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
Students will learn primarily via a seminar/question focused/discussion-based method, usually including a mix of activities in pairs/small groups/larger groups and based around questions designed in relation to the Essential Readings for weekly topics. This method of teaching is specifically designed to allow development of a more critical/reflective/engaged mode of learning that is in line with a contemporary emphasis on (the benefits of) critical thinking in the literature on/study international security (as is also explicitly covered and engaged with early on in the unit).
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
1,000 word essay plan (0%)
The essay questions are designed to allow for the assessment of intended learning outcomes listed above.
Students will choose to answer one question from a list of ten questions on topics related to the unit. The list of questions to choose from will be released at the start of week 5, following standard internal and external essay question scrutiny processes. Students are given guidance on essay writing in general and as it relates to the unit in tandem with the release of the essay questions. The essay plan will be due by the start of the week 6 following the reading week. Students will receive qualitive written feedback but no mark or pass/fail. The purpose of the essay plan is to give students the opportunity to obtain feedback on their initial approach to answering the essay question in the summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
3,000 word essay (100%) [ILO 1-3]
Students will be provided with further guidance on essay writing in general and as it relates to the unit, with specific reference to themes emerging across the essay plans that were submitted and assessed. The essay will normally be based on the formative essay plan. That said, students will not be held to what they put on the plan: they can change it as much as they like as their reading and thinking evolve. Although not usually advisable, they can even switch to another essay question, without having to ask for permission and without submitting another essay plan. Indeed, students are only allowed to submit one essay plan. Any and all elements of essay plan can be incorporated into the summative essay.
Written feedback and a mark are provided.
When assessment does not go to plan:
The student will normally complete the reassessment in the same format as outlined above. Students are expected to select a different essay question from the original list.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLIM3012).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
