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XX50202: Conceptual issues in security, conflict, justice and human rights

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences (units for MRes programmes)
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Aims: The unit introduces students to conceptual and theoretical issues in the study of security, conflict, and human rights. It examines different disciplinary and theoretical approaches to the three themes. Students will engage with normative, empirical and theoretical perspectives and the contemporary research agendas within and between disciplines.

Learning Outcomes: The learning objectives and outcomes include:
* The ability to understand and analyse critically a range of issues in contemporary security and conflict contexts at multiple levels, from the inter-personal to inter-state;
* The ability to understand and critically analyse security, conflict and justice from multiple disciplinary and conceptual perspectives
* Wide knowledge and understanding of the 'state of the art' on these issues in different disciplines;
* The ability to engage in constructive, critical discussion about theoretical and disciplinary perspectives on critical issues in security, conflict and justice;
* The ability to plan and design independent research into an issue related to security, conflict, and human rights; and,
* The ability to write articulately, concisely and persuasively about issues in security, conflict, and human rights.

Skills: Critical thinking
Proactive 'reading' of the written and visual texts
Relating academic learning to everyday life
Managing time effectively to optimise knowledge and understanding of a syllabus
Writing clearly and concisely and presenting an argument logically and succinctly
Peer group presentation

Content: The unit will be taught in five intensive days split into three thematic session as follows:
* Session 1 (1 day): Introduction to the pathway; Violence
* Session 2 (2 days): Ethnicity; Gender
* Session 3 (2 days): Human rights; Governance and sovereignty
Each session will take place on a different DTC campus; it is expected that these will rotate between campuses from year to year. Each day will include:
* Introductory session mapping the broad contours of the topic;
* Different disciplinary perspectives presented through lecturers from a range of disciplines across the DTC partners;
* Facilitated seminar/workshop to debate particular issues from an interdisciplinary perspective including, where appropriate, presentations from existing PhD researchers; and,
* Concluding session
All students will be expected to attend at the relevant campus; virtual learning is not commensurate with the small group expected for this unit. Lecturers will be encouraged to attend in person but, where necessary, may deliver their presentations virtually.

Programme availability:

XX50202 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.