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IR3518: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:01


Course Overview

This course explores salient concepts of security and conflict, focusing on contemporary issues and problems.  It examines traditional, state-centred topics ie. interstate and intrastate war, as well as the ‘new security agenda’  involving issues like terrorism, organized crime, environmental security, health security and population trends.  Students will gain knowledge of international security and its role in contemporary International Relations through  analysis of conceptual factors and case studies.  In addition, students will develop critical thinking skills, communication skills and analytical skills, including being able to formulate lucid, concise and rigorous accounts of international security affairs

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor M. E. Smith

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • Either International Relations (IR) or Politics (PI)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • IR3001 International Security (Studied)
  • IR3016 International Security (Studied)
  • IR3018 International Security (Studied)
  • IR3516 International Security (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

The course looks at the idea of international security from a wide range of perspectives. It considers the debates over the continuing dominance of military and state-based approaches to security, examining the arguments for the widening of the security agenda. In addition to this conceptual approach, the course looks at specific case-studies of security issues in the modern world in order to illustrate the implications of widening the security agenda.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 33 Feedback Weeks 36

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Feedback

Written feedback will be provided for continuous assessment work. This will normally be provided within three weeks of the submission date. Email feedback on class presentations will also be provided where appropriate.

Word Count 3000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateUnderstand the historical evolution of international security as the primary sub-field of International Relations, particularly since the end of the Cold War.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate the main causes of, and potential solutions, to major international security threats, in terms of traditional and new (or human security) challenges.
ReflectionEvaluateAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.

Take Home Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks 19,20 Feedback Weeks 25

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateUnderstand the historical evolution of international security as the primary sub-field of International Relations, particularly since the end of the Cold War.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate the main causes of, and potential solutions, to major international security threats, in terms of traditional and new (or human security) challenges.
ReflectionEvaluateAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.

Tutorial Project

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35 Feedback Weeks 28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback will be provided for continuous assessment work. This will normally be provided within three weeks of the submission date. Email feedback on class presentations will also be provided where appropriate.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateUnderstand the historical evolution of international security as the primary sub-field of International Relations, particularly since the end of the Cold War.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate the main causes of, and potential solutions, to major international security threats, in terms of traditional and new (or human security) challenges.
ReflectionEvaluateAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed element(s) of coursework.

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 50,51,52,53 Feedback Weeks 4

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Take Home Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks 50,51,52,53 Feedback Weeks 4

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ReflectionEvaluateAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse the specific ways governments and international organisation manage, or fail to manage, contemporary international security problems.
ConceptualEvaluateUnderstand the historical evolution of international security as the primary sub-field of International Relations, particularly since the end of the Cold War.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluate the main causes of, and potential solutions, to major international security threats, in terms of traditional and new (or human security) challenges.

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