MA in International Studies

Each student is able to design a programme around his or her own interests. Friends of mine on the course focused on international law, East Asian studies, Middle Eastern studies, and international political economy, to name but a few. I chose to focus on issues relating to good governance within the context of development. When we all met once a week for our core course, 'The International System', our discussions were only enhanced by our differing perspectives on the subject at hand. The excellent teaching staff encouraged lively debates.

Heather Marquette (American), M.A., continued Ph.D.studies

Aim

This programme combines a sound basis of advanced knowledge and understanding in the broader and more disparate field of International Studies. It also gives flexibility to choose optional modules from among those offered in the School and other schools such as Modern Languages and Cultures.

Note: all modules are 15 credits apart from the dissertation, 75 credits

Core Modules

The International System
Research Methods and Dissertation Production
Dissertation (15,000 words)

Optional Modules

Five of the modules from the following options (please note, these modules may not be available every year):

- The East Asian Strategic Quadrangle
- Nationalism, Revolution and Reform in Contemporary China
- Political Economy and Development of Chinese Business
- Region, Nation and Citizen in Southeast Asia
- America and the World:  The Making of US Foreign Policy
- European Institutions and the Policy Process
- European Security
- German Foreign Policy
- The European Union as a Global Actor
- Collective Memory and Identity in Postwar Europe
- International Relations and Security in the Middle East
- Politics, Government and Civil Society in the Middle East
- The Political Economy of the Development in the Middle East
- Islamic Political Economy
- Islamic Law and Financial Transactions
- Islamic Banking and Finance
- Islam and Politics: Issues in Contemporary Muslim Thought
- Issues in the Politics of Military Occupation
- America and the World: The Making of US Foreign Policy
- Human Rights
- Just War in Political Theory and Practice 

Language modules in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish (40 credits) may be taken from those offered by the School of Modern Languages and Culture. In these cases students will select three rather than five modules from those offered from the list above.

Assessment

This MA is assessed by a combination of a dissertation mark (50%); and course work (essays), and some modules have an examination component (50%).  See module outlines for individual assessment information.

Regulations for this Programme

MA International Studies choose from the full list of programmes offered by the School.

Syllabus

• MA Taught Sllabus 2011-12 (last modified: 21 September 2011)