International Relations

Module overview:

This module introduces you to International Relations (IR) as a discipline, exploring global political action beyond the nation-state. You will examine key actors including states, international institutions like the UN, and non-state actors such as NGOs and corporations. You will engage with major IR theories and core concepts, gaining insight into the challenges shaping 21st-century global politics. While the module is not focused solely on human rights, it encourages you to consider their relevance within international political frameworks and theoretical debates.

Teaching and learning  

You'll learn through a weekly lecture and seminar. Lectures will cover key theories of international relations, the role of global institutions, and contemporary geopolitical issues, while seminars will consist of group discussions, case study analyses, and student presentations on current international events. There will be an additional 30 minutes of asynchronous digital support per week. This will consist of pre-recorded lectures, supplementary readings, and online discussion forums to facilitate deeper engagement with the material. 

Assessment:

This module will be assessed using a individual presentation worth 30% and a Briefing Paper worth 70%. 

Module overview:

This module explores how states and organisations instigate crises and respond to them. It begins by challenging you to question what constitutes a crisis at both domestic and international levels. This foundational approach empowers you to critically examine the complex intersectional antecedents of issues such as poverty, war, and disease, as well as the roles played by states, global institutions, and media in shaping and perpetuating these crises.

In this module, you will engage in a critical analysis of the successes and failures of state, legal, and organisational actions during and after complex emergencies and global challenges. Through a series of case studies, you will explore various examples, including peacekeeping missions in Sub-Saharan Africa, environmental summits addressing climate change, the implications of vaccine rollouts during the Covid-19 pandemic, state responses to revolutions and uprisings, and the ongoing attacks in the Gaza Strip. The module is designed with a flexible structure that aligns with staff expertise and emphasises workshop-style teaching and student-led activities, allowing you to actively participate in your learning process.

Teaching and learning:

You'll learn through a weekly lecture and seminar. Lectures will cover key themes and concepts related to the instigation and responses to crises, including the definitions of crises, theoretical frameworks for understanding crisis dynamics, and case studies of significant global events. Seminars will consist of in-depth discussions, group activities, and critical analysis of the case studies presented in lectures, allowing you to engage with the material and apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations. There will be an additional 30 minutes of asynchronous digital support per week. This will consist of supplementary online resources, including recorded lectures, discussion forums, and curated readings that will enhance your understanding of the topics covered in class and provide an opportunity for further exploration and reflection.

Assessment:

You will be assessed using the following two assessments: A group presentation of a crisis memo, worth 30%. You will be required to complete a group presentation in which you prepare and present a crisis memo formulated in the 24-hour lead-up to an international crisis or emergency. There will also be a reflective journal worth 70%. You will be required to complete a reflective journal based on an in-class crisis situation room exercise, where you will manage a crisis scenario.

Module overview:

On this module you will critique the theoretical underpinnings of international relations that you have acquired in other modules to their relevance and applicability in the daily work of practitioners within the complex environment of international affairs. By the end of the module, you will recognise the challenges faced by practitioners of international relations across various sectors of society, including government departments, the diplomatic service, security forces, civil society, the business world, and both traditional and new media. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on understanding how the application of theories and concepts can enhance practitioners' performance. You will have the opportunity to practice multiple real-world roles of international professionals, whether in desk or field jobs, while honing a wide range of essential skills relevant to the field of international relations.

Teaching and learning:

You'll learn through a weekly lecture and seminar. Lectures will cover key themes related to the instigation and management of crises, including definitions of crises, theoretical frameworks for understanding crisis dynamics, and case studies of significant global events. Seminars will consist of in-depth discussions, group activities, and critical analyses of the case studies presented in the lectures, allowing you to actively engage with the material and apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations.

There will be an additional 30 minutes of asynchronous digital support per week. This will consist of supplementary online resources, including recorded lectures, discussion forums, and curated readings, which will enhance your understanding of the topics covered in class and provide opportunities for further exploration and reflection.

Assessment:

This module will be assessed using a policy paper worth 60%, where you will research and produce a policy paper targeted at a non-academic audience, applying academic knowledge to real-world policymaking, and a simulation reflective journal worth 40%, requiring you to critically assess your experience in a simulation exercise, where you engage in real-world international relations scenarios.

Module overview:

This module introduces you to a range of theories and methods that underpin social research. The module is delivered within a broader social justice framework that emphasises equity, inclusivity, and ethical inquiry. It challenges traditional power dynamics in research and encourages you to critically examine biases, representation, and the impact of research on marginalized communities. The module introduces how research can both reinforce and challenge social inequalities, exploring epistemologies and approaches to researching for social justice (including decolonizing methodologies; community-based research; participatory research; trauma-informed approaches), as well as providing an understanding of core principles of social research. 

Teaching and learning:

You'll learn through weekly lectures and workshops. Workshops will utilise a variety of teaching approaches i.e. taught sessions blended with a range of interactive activities (e.g. group work, problem solving using case studies, interactive quizzes, and debating key issues) and your understanding will be regularly evaluated through these methods. 

Assessment:

This module will be assessed using a case study analysis worth 50%, where you will be provided with three research problem vignettes and will be required to explain why a particular approach is most appropriate, drawing on theory and research, and a research proposal worth 50%, where you will produce a research proposal for an empirical study of your choice (relevant to researching for social justice). 

Module overview:

You will come to this module having gained a grounding in the design of research through the Researching for Social Justice module. In this module, you will be supported to produce your own original and substantial empirical research project on a specialist field related to your Masters programme (in Criminology, International Relations or Human Rights).  As a student-led module (with the support of a supervisor), you will learn key skills in designing, carrying out and reflecting on a research project and presenting it appropriately. You will also develop skills in developing a non-technical briefing for policy and/or practice, based on your research findings.

Teaching and learning:

You'll learn through independent learning with support from an allocated supervisor which will involve one-to-one supervision meetings. These meetings will help develop a number of skills such as time and project management, communication skills (both verbal and in writing) and the development of critical thinking and scholarly enquiry. Broader support is provided by three webinars provided by the module convenor which relate to key milestones: ‘Getting started’, ‘Making your ethics application’ and ‘Writing up’. Additional resources will be provided via Moodle.

Assessment:

This module will be assessed using a research report worth 70%, you will identify your own research problem and design, carry out and write-up the project in a substantive piece of written work (the use of visual aids will be encouraged) and a non-technical briefing worth 30% where you will identify an appropriate audience (relevant to their discipline and topic) and produce a brief non-technical summary of your research findings and identify the key recommendations that emerge from your findings for policy and/practice.