Title
Global Political Studies, One-year master’s programme
Swedish title
Global Political Studies, One-year master’s programme
Programme establishment date
2008-11-06
Syllabus approval date
2010-04-08
Syllabus valid from
2010-09-01
Decision-making body
Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society
Entry requirements
1. Academic degree at bachelor level in human rights, international relations, peace and conflict studies or related field. Examples of relevant related fields include political science, anthropology, sociology, law, philosophy, history, European studies, gender studies, and IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations).
2.The equivalent of English course B in Swedish secondary school.
Level
Advanced level
Organisation
The one-year master programme in Global Political Studies offers specializations into three different major fields of study: human rights, international relations, and peace and conflict studies. The programme includes four modules, which cover joint orientation studies in global politics, theme studies in smaller groups, and in-depth studies in the student’s major field of study, including own research in the form of a thesis. Teaching consists of lectures, seminars, and individual supervision.
The students will organize and lead discussion meetings. All course modules include written assignments, in the form of papers or reports – to be completed individually or in groups – and oral assignments in the form of presentations and discussion sessions. Teaching and exercises into research methodology are integrated in all modules. There is a joint seminar on method and academic writing,which runs throughout the programme.
The first semester starts with the course Global Political Studies (15 credits). This course includes lectures that give an overview over the field global political studies, and seminars on method. In addition, the students will work in smaller seminar groups, completing examination assignments as the course progresses. The course concludes with a joint seminar, where students from different seminar groups present assignments. The next course is theme studies, which is an elective module (15 credits). A few courses will be offered among which the students make their choice. The courses on offer at each occasion are described separately. They will normally be related to ongoing research projects at the department. Examples of possible theme studies are Gender and Conflict, Global and Human Security, Sovereignty and Cosmopolitanism, and Diaspora. In the theme groups, students with different major fields of study, will work together. Examination of the theme study module is in the form of oral presentation assignments and a written report. There will be taught seminars as well as discussion meetings organized and led by the students themselves.The second semester starts with Individual specialization in the major field of study (15 credits).Ahead of this course, the students will have selected her or his major field of study and the research subject for their thesis work. The individual specialization will be shaped, in collaboration with a tutor,to fit the student’s needs in light of these choices, with the objective of making her or him well prepared for the thesis. Normally the student will conduct a research survey. In addition to individual studies, the students will organize and lead discussion meetings. There will also be taught seminars on method.The programme concludes with Thesis in the major field of study (15 credits), which is an individual research assignment. In addition to individual studies, writing, and supervision, there will be group seminars on method. In addition to submitting the thesis, the student will perform oral presentations of her or his research work as well as act as commentator on the research work of another student.
Contents
Semester 1, autumn 2010
GP601E, 15 credits (COMPULSORY)
No main field
GP610E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
No main field
GP611E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
No main field
GP612E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
No main field
Semester 2, spring 2011
IR630E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
Main field: International Relations
FK630E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
Main field: Peace and Conflict Studies
MR630E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
Main field: Human Rights
MR631E, 15 credits (COMPULSORY)
Main field: Human Rights
FK631E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
Main field: Peace and Conflict Studies
IR631E, 15 credits (ELECTIVE)
Main field: International Relations
Learning outcomes
Objectives
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the programme the student must
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in global political studies, which includes a broad command of the field in general and deeper knowledge within that part of the field which is the student’s major field of study,
- demonstrate insight into current research and development work within global political studies, with deeper insight into that part of the field which is the student’s major field of study, and
- demonstrate methodological knowledge in global political studies, with deeper insight into that part of the field which is the student’s major field of study.
As specification of the deeper knowledge and understanding within the student’s major field of study, on completion of the programme
- a student whose major field of study is peace and conflict studies must demonstrate deeper knowledge in and understanding of conflict analysis, conflict resolution, and conflict prevention, as well as the historical and cultural context of organized violence.
- a student whose major field of study is international relations must demonstrate deeper knowledge in and understanding of key trends and developments within international relations, such as different forms of security, institutions and governance on global and regional levels, as well as key research debates within the field and of the ways in which these can be developed in relation to social progress, both nationally and internationally.
- a student whose major field of study is human rights must demonstrate deeper knowledge in and understanding of the structure of human rights theories and their motives, the political dimensions of the development and use of the human rights perspective, and international legal norms, including interpretation principles within international law and legal principles regarding human rights.
Skills and abilities
On completion of the programme the student must
- demonstrate an ability to integrate knowledge and to analyze, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;
- demonstrate an ability to independently identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits;
- demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing; and
- demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work in other advanced contexts.
Judgement and approach
On completion of the programme the student must
- demonstrate an ability to make assessments in global political studies in general and particularly within their major field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;
- demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people’s responsibility for how it is used; and
- demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.
Degree
Master's degree (60 credits)
Master (60 Credits) (Magisterexamen) in either Human Rights, International Relations, or Peace and Conflict Studies.
Additional information
Language of instruction: English
The department of Global Political Studies is a multi-disciplinary education and research environment in the Faculty of Culture and Society. Politics is interpreted broadly, to include formal politics and political organisation as well as politics understood as social and cultural processes and a form for human interaction. The global aspect of politics concerns issues and processes with a global reach, but also the relation between the global and the local, for example how the significance of local issues is affected by global processes.
The one-year master programme in Global Political Studies will make the student equipped to work with issues like international aid, development, conflict prevention, foreign policy, and human rights implementation on an international and national level. Potential employers are international agencies, non-governmental organizations, local and national administration agencies, and the diplomatic service. The programme also prepares the students for further studies on master and doctoral level.