International Relations

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The politics of contemporary peace operations and humanitarian intervention are complex and challenging. Peacekeeping plays a key role in the prevention of war, in bringing and end to conflict and in the post-conflict reconstruction process. This Masters degree explores International Peacekeeping in the broader context of International Relations.

You can expect to gain an understanding of the wide-ranging nature of security studies, an appreciation of the historical importance of security issues, and an insight into future problems and debates that will affect the stability of the 21st-century world order.

You will develop an understanding of the core concepts that inform the study and practice of security, including:

* The changing meaning of security and what issues are considered to be security issues
* The different concepts that inform the study and practice of security, such as explanations of war, deterrence, balance of power theories, alliance formation and management, and collective security
* The concepts that inform the use and control of military force, such as arms races and arms control, coercion, military intervention, and peacekeeping
* Classical strategic thought
* The range of the security issues of the post-Cold War and post-9/11 periods, including terrorism and local and global insurgency and the challenges these pose
* The programme has at its core international peacekeeping, which aims to help you develop an advanced knowledge of the politics of contemporary peace operations and humanitarian intervention.

One of the real strengths of our masters programmes is the wide range of available modules, giving students the ability to tailor their course of study to their own academic interests.

Who is the programme for?

This programme will appeal to a wide range of students who have an interest in security issues and practices, including civilian and military officials (most probably junior or mid-level officials), who want to deepen their understanding and upgrade their qualifications. It will also be of interest to students who seek to develop a deeper understanding of these very important aspects of international relations and of the world we live in.

This pathway is designed for flexibility, allowing you to choose over half of the MA content from a wide range of optional modules. This degree comprises the following modules:

Compulsory:

* 20 credits - Civil War, Conflict Management And Peacekeeping
* 20 credits - Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and International Order
* 60 credits - Dissertation MA students to submit a 13,500 word dissertation (not applicable to Diploma Students)

You'll take at least 40 credits from the optional modules A list. These are modules that we believe best fit this degree. We recommend that you also take some or all of your remaining credits from this list.

Optional Modules A (at least 40 credits from the following)

* 40 credits - Contemporary Debates in International Relations
* 40 credits - Diplomatic History of the 20th Century
* 20 credits - Ethical Dimensions of Terrorism, Political Violence and War
* 40 credits - Security Studies
* 20 credits - Terrorism and Political Violence
* 20 credits - Terrorism and Contemporary Conflict
* 20 credits - Theory and Ethics of Terrorism and Political Violence

We also offer you the opportunity to choose from our much longer list of Optional Modules B.

Optional Modules B (up to 40 credits from the following)

* 20 credits - Advanced Political Analysis
* 40 credits - Asia Pacific Security
* 20 credits - The Caucasus: History, Culture and Contemporary Politics
* 20 credits - Central Asia: Islam, Nationalism and Globalisation
* 40 credits - Contemporary Debates in International Relations Theory
* 20 credits - Contemporary Issues in Global Ethics
* 20 credits - Development and Emerging Inequalities in Europe
* 20 credits - Diplomacy and Statecraft
* 40 credits - European Security
* 20 credits - Foreign Policy Analysis
* 20 credits - Gender and Global Governance
* 20 credits - German Foreign Policy since the end of the Cold War
* 20 credits - Global Climate Change
* 20 credits - Global Environmental Governance
* 20 credits - Global Ethics: Theories and Approaches
* 20 credits - History and Politics of South Africa (CWAS)
* 40 credits - International Political Economy
* 20 credits - The Politics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
* 20 credits - Readings in Russian and East European Studies
* 20 credits - Researching Russia and Eastern Europe
* 20 credits - Rising Powers and Global Order
* 20 credits - Russian and Ukrainian Politics and International Relations
* 20 credits - Sex, Death, Gender and (in) Security
* 20 credits - Social Theory and Critique: Contested Knowledge
* 20 credits - Social Theory: From Marxism to Post Marxism
* 40 credits - Strategic Studies
* 40 credits - US and Foreign Defence Policy

For the MA programme you require a good Honours degree or its equivalent. For those whose first language is not English, a TOEFL or IELTS Certificate is required. Entry at Graduate Diploma level is possible for those with a reasonable first degree. Graduate Diploma students can upgrade to the MA on satisfactory examination performance. International students: Academic requirementsWe accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.English language requirementsYou can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways: * by holding an English language qualification to the right level * by taking and successfully completing one of our English courses for international students English Language Requirements CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A)

Scholarships may be available. International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

For further information contact the School directly or visit studenthelp.bham.ac.uk