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MA Violence, Terrorism and Security

Academic Year 2020/21

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

MA Violence, Terrorism and Security

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Master of Arts

Programme Code

POL-MA-TV

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

101288

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Health Check Required

No

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

180

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 7

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

N/A

Accreditations (PSRB)

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

No

Programme Specific Regulations

This programme follows the University's Regulations.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

To develop students’ enthusiasm for the subject, increase their intellectual curiosity and enhance their awareness of the cultural importance of an understanding of Violence, Terrorism and Security.

To provide dynamic and critical study in Violence, Terrorism and International Security. Its aim is to help students develop a critical and analytical approach to problems in history and the contemporary world of these three areas.

To allow students to challenge accepted wisdom and opens up the debate about the role of violence in relation to political power in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

To allow students to gain knowledge and understanding of violence, terrorism and security in sufficient depth and breadth to avoid superficiality or narrowness

To develop students understanding of various approaches to the core concepts underlying this programme.

To help students to develop a critical and analytical approach to problems in history and the contemporary world of violence, terrorism and security and from this a range of questioning and evaluative skills which can be transferred to other contexts.

To develop in students a range of practical transferable skills of value sought after by graduate employers.

To prepare students for further study of violence, terrorism and security or related disciplines and for employment in a range of professional contexts, for example teaching, nongovernmental organisations or the media

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Students will be able to retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire cognitive skills on all their taught modules through engagement in seminar debate and discussion.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

plan and execute a piece of independent research;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their cognitive skills will also be enhanced through independent study and the design and implementation of an independent research project

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

appreciate, and display an understanding of, comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research design.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their cognitive skills will also be enhanced through independent study and the design and implementation of an independent research project

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

critically assess the work of others.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their independent study (e.g. writing a dissertation) will require working to deadlines, effective written communication, locating, sifting and prioritizing information, and time management.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

find, digest and sort information

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their independent study (e.g. writing a dissertation) will require working to deadlines, effective written communication, locating, sifting and prioritizing information, and time management.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

work independently;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their independent study (e.g. writing a dissertation) will require working to deadlines, effective written communication, locating, sifting and prioritizing information, and time management.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

participate constructively in groups;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Their experience in applying qualitative and quantitative approaches to real world political puzzles will be of invaluable use for them – either in further research or in their careers – when they conduct research into any social phenomenon.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

manage their time effectively and work to deadlines;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The taught seminars will give them experience working in groups and debating and discussing ideas with their peers

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Students will be able to structure and communicate their ideas effectively both in oral and written form;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire transferable skills in all areas of their postgraduate experience.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Demonstrate an appropriate familiarity with a the range of practical sources, and an ability to evaluate the theoretical and methodological approaches to violence, terrorism and security

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will achieve knowledge and understanding through seminar participation; independent study; group work; class debate and discussion; oral and written communication;

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Demonstrate an awareness of approaches to violence, terrorism and security in more than one geographical area, and a conceptual grasp of current research and advances of scholarship in the field

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will achieve knowledge and understanding through seminar participation; independent study; group work; class debate and discussion; oral and written communication;

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Demonstrate an appropriate awareness of theoretical debates, and an appreciation of analytical frameworks, research techniques, and historical evolution of the area

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will achieve knowledge and understanding through seminar participation; independent study; group work; class debate and discussion; oral and written communication;

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Demonstrate detailed comprehensive and systematic knowledge and understanding of a number of issues and approaches of relevance to violence, terrorism and security

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will achieve knowledge and understanding through seminar participation; independent study; group work; class debate and discussion; oral and written communication;

Methods of Assessment

A variety of assessments including Coursework

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Students will be able to reason critically; apply theoretical concepts; identify and solve problems; analyse and interpret data; identify appropriate research techniques relative to overall research design; and demonstrate and exercise independence of thought

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students will acquire subject-specific skills (e.g. critical reasoning, identifying and solving problems) through participation in group seminars where they will engage in debate, discussion and listening, and their assessments

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

Students will be able to reason critically; apply theoretical concepts; identify and solve problems; analyse and interpret data; identify appropriate research techniques relative to overall research design; and demonstrate and exercise independence of thought

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The modules will tap their ability to engage with key debates in the philosophy of social science, their ability to elaborate and critique a variety of social science research designs, their ability to communicate effectively the merits and demerits of qualitative and quantitative research and also to demonstrate an application of their knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research to real world political issues and problems

Methods of Assessment

Coursework

MODULE INFORMATION

Programme Requirements

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

Dissertation

PAI9099

7

60

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Global Terrorism

PAI7007

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

The Politics and Political Economy of Energy and Low Carbon Energy Transitions

PAI7036

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Gender and Politics

PAI7032

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond

ANT7023

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

80%

20%

0%

International Political Economy

PAI7030

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Conflict Mediation and Transformation

CSJ7008

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Conflict Intervention

PAI7027

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

From Cold War to Cold Peace: The Transformation of the International Order, 1979-1999

PAI7058

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Violence, Terrorism and Security

PAI7028

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Contemporary Security

PAI7051

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

APPROACHES TO RESEARCH DESIGN

HAP7001

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Comparative Human Rights

LAW7816

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Counter-terrorism and Human Rights

LAW7815

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Research Approaches and Methods: Conflict Transformation & Social Justice, Int Relations, VTS

CSJ7010

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Philosophy of Conflict and War

PHL7038

7

20

YES

12 weeks

N

YES

100%

0%

0%

Notes

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the structure of this programme of study has altered for academic year 2020-21 and your module choice may run in a different sequence. You should refer to the programme handbook / your School for specific module details or any queries.

Students must take 180 credits - 6 MODULES (THREE in Semester 1 and THREE in Semester 2) PLUS the MA Dissertation (60 credits).
Students are required to take FIVE CORE modules (THREE in semester 1 , ONE in semester 2 and the MA Dissertation (summer).
Students are required to take TWO OPTIONAL semester 2 modules.

Only students commencing studies in January 2021 are required to take CSJ7010 in place of HAP7001.

“Students will be notified each academic year of the optional modules being offered in the following academic year. Students are advised that not all optional modules will necessarily be offered in each academic year. Also, the delivery of a module may be subject to a minimum number of enrolments as well as unforeseen circumstances (e.g. illness of a member of staff). The range and content of optional modules will change over time as degree programmes develop and students’ choice of optional modules may also be limited due to timetabling constraints.“