Unit information: Conceptual Issues in Security, Conflict, and Human Rights in 2021/22

Unit name	Conceptual Issues in Security, Conflict, and Human Rights
Unit code	POLIM0030
Credit points	15
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Oksanen
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit 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 these themes. Students will engage with normative, empirical and theoretical perspectives and the contemporary research agendas within and between disciplines.

The unit will be delivered in the form of an intensive three day workshop which will include:

Introductory session mapping the broad contours of the topic;

Different disciplinary perspectives presented by lecturers from a range of disciplines across the DTP partners;

Facilitated seminar/workshop sessions to debate particular issues from an interdisciplinary perspective including, where appropriate, presentations from existing PhD researchers;

Concluding session

Intended 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 human rights 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 human rights;
• The ability to plan and design independent research into an issue related to security, conflict, and human rights;
• The ability to write articulately, concisely and persuasively about issues in security, conflict, and human rights.

Teaching Information

The unit will be taught through blended learning methods, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities

Assessment Information

Formative assessment: group presentation

Summative assessment: 100% essay (3,500 words) which will assess all of the learning outcomes

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLIM0030).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.