Humanitarianism and Conflict Response

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This is a new, multidisciplinary MA which will build upon and bring together existing expertise across the Faculties of Humanities and Medical & Human Sciences. The interplay between existing units from history, politics, development studies, the arts, and medicine around a core of three new courses will uniquely position Manchester as the leading global centre for humanitarian aid and conflict response.

The course focuses on response to crises originating from both conflict-zones and natural disasters. Bringing together the study of medicine and humanities provides a holistic approach, which mirrors the reality of aid operations and informs the reflexive processes of both analytical and applied disciplines. Students will be able to draw synergies from an exceptionally wide breadth of disciplinary traditions and research expertise.

Course aims 1. Provide critical insights into competing perspectives on how Humanitarianism and Conflict Responses can be understood, analysed and explained - from both an historiographic and contemporary viewpoint.

2. Develop analytical skills in critically evaluating the idea of humanitarianism and the ways that responses to conflict are organised, justified and implemented. This includes competency in developing a reasoned argument, critically considering data sources and defending different approaches.

3. Develop skills in gathering, organising and using evidence and information from a wide variety of sources. This will be complemented by guidance on how best to manage workloads and obtain research materials.

4. Enable students to apply research skills to a relevant research area.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAMME

Students should be able to show a critical understanding of :

1. Key issues and debates in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response, familiarity with different theoretical approaches, practical problems and an appreciation of the diversity of policies at international and national levels.

2. Both the range of social science topics associated with Humanitarianism and Conflict Response and the normative and historiographic assumptions which underpin these issues.

3. The analytical and policy literature concerning the related issues of the causes of conflict, reconstruction, ethics and international governance structures and institutions, the role and perspectives of the state, multilateral and bilateral agencies, international and domestic NGOs and other civil institutions.

4. A detailed and extensive understanding of a specific conceptual and/or policy-related area of Humanitarianism and Conflict Response, of the implications and limitations of research findings on this subject; and of how to produce an original piece of academic research, all through their dissertation.

Special features The newly created Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute brings together medical practitioners and academics from the humanities and social sciences. It is inspired by the need to conduct rigorous, in-depth research and analysis on the impact and outcomes of contemporary and historical crises in a way which does not limit cross-disciplinary engagement. Led by the ex-president of Médecins Sans Frontières, Rony Brauman, it aims to combine the research and teaching of academics working in a considerable variety of disciplines, to offer an exceptionally diverse learning environment.

The Institute has close links with other, similarly, multi-disciplinary centres of learning across the university - most notably, the Institute for Development Policy and Management, the Centre for the Cultural History of War, the Brooks World Poverty Institute, the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine and the Manchester Medical School's Medical Education Research Group.

Specifically, the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute's Masters programme will, uniquely, blend courses on the history and politics of humanitarian and state intervention into conflict and disaster affected countries with the latest research from clinicians working in the field of Global Health. As such, students - from both a medical and non-medical background - will be encouraged to think critically about the motives, logistical difficulties and outcomes of organising such interventions.

Course content for year 1 CORE COURSES

All students do four core courses:

* SAHC60090 Dissertation 60cr
* SAHC60031 Humanitarianism and Conflict Response: Inquiries 15cr
* SAHC60032 Responding to Illegal Economies and Political Violence 15cr
* SAHC60042 Humanitarianism Responses to Crises: Case Studies 15cr
* HIST60082 History of Humanitarian Aid: Population and Displacement 30cr

OPTIONAL COURSES IN SEMESTER 1

All students choose 1 from :

* MEDN60991 Fundamentals of Epidemiology (Distance Learning) 15cr
* MEDN62211 Emergency Humanitarian Assistance 15cr

All students choose 1 from:

* IDPM60451 Conflict Analysis 15cr
* IDPM60411 Perspectives on Development 15cr

All students choose 1 from:

* POLI70421 Global Governance 15cr
* POLI60221 The Ethics of Killing 15cr
* For 2010 entry, the following choices are likely to apply:
* TO BE CONFIRMED (War and Critical Thought POLI60041
* TO BE CONFIRMED (Gender, Violence & Militarism POLI70811

DISSERTATION (60 credits)

Academic entry qualification overview: An Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent.English language: Students whose first language is not English are required to hold IELTS 7.0 or 600 TOEFL paper based or 250 computer based. 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. 60 (Grade C)