Programme syllabus Master's program in Politics and War

Program Structure
The Master's Program in Politics and War (120 credits) is an international master's program. Students may choose to write a master's thesis and complete the program after one year and will then be awarded a one-year master's degree. Students are offered two tracks, I: Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security (main field of study) and II: War Studies (main field of study).

The general aim of the program is that the students acquire the knowledge and skills within the main field of study in order to be able to – on a scientific basis – critically scrutinize, evaluate and analyse political or military phenomena. The student acquires knowledge and skills that enable him/her to independent and critical judgment, to independently solve problems, and to follow the development at the research front in the fields of political science with a focus on crisis management and security or war studies.

Students will be given the opportunity to continuously develop their knowledge of research methodology and apply a scientific, research-based approach. Students are expected to take an increasing amount of responsibility for their own learning as the course progresses, gradually accumulating professional and research-based knowledge and skills.

Students are encouraged to create and develop both a national and international contacts. The master's program affords students the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and skills training through internships and work placement. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed systematically on written and oral presentations. Academic progression on the program should lead to a higher degree of intellectual maturity and deeper insight into the complexity of the subject. These attributes are evident and demonstrated in a final thesis, along with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills and independently formulate and solve problem statements. Successful applicants admitted to the program are assumed to have previously acquired a grounding in qualitative and quantitative methodology. Knowledge of second cycle advanced methodology is necessary for the essay-writing requirements of the program.

The program addresses central issues and perspectives in relation to security, defense and societal protection. This includes study of the conditions and factors that may impact the prevention and management of crises, conflicts and war and the ability to establish security. Important ethical issues will naturally arise during analysis and evaluation of these factors and will be addressed on several of the courses. A wide range of theoretical perspectives will be applied, including that of gender (for example, by studying UN resolution 1325) in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the phenomena.

Teaching is conducted in close cooperation with stakeholders and community involvement. It takes place at the Swedish Defence University (SEDU), a unique meeting point for scholars and students, military and civilian professionals, who have an interest in crisis management and security issues. The Defence College has a well-established tradition of institutional cooperation with other actors in the sector, not least with two central authorities, the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. This encourages students on the program to consider and speculate on how knowledge may be applied in practice and enhances the potential for internship opportunities and suitable work placements.

Contents
Track I: POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH A FOCUS ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY
The first semester provides students with an advanced grounding both in political science theory with a focus on crisis and security, as well as in research methodology. The second semester consists of a number of advanced, elective courses. Students may opt to write a one-year master's thesis during the final part of the second semester. Students opting for this will, after being approved on all courses, have the option to be awarded a one-year Master's degree. The third semester is devoted entirely to the degree project. Throughout the fourth term, students have considerable freedom to choose from and outside those courses offered by the SEDU, including an internship. The language of instruction is English.

Track II: WAR STUDIES
The first semester provides students with an advanced grounding in both war studies theory and research methodology. The second semester consists of a number of advanced, elective courses. Students may opt to write a one-year master's thesis during the final part of the second semester. Students opting for this will, after being approved on all courses, have the option to be awarded a one-year Master's degree. The third semester is devoted entirely to the degree project. The language of instruction is English. In the fourth semester, students have considerable freedom to choose from and outside those courses offered by SEDU, including an internship.

Both compulsory and elective courses within programs are offered once a year. The range of elective courses may vary from year to year and may also be limited on the basis of the students' priorities. Students' choices will provide the basis for selection criteria and, in the event that courses are oversubscribed, lots will be drawn for the places. A number of elective courses may require special entry requirements. All courses - compulsory as well as elective - are second cycle courses.

The range of elective courses is established one semester in advance, after which the students are informed of the selection and the date of the selection process. The process can be described in the following way: 1. The student chooses a course. The selection is ranked in options 1-6. 2. Selection is carried out manually, according to the principle of highest number of university credits within the program, and number of higher education credits with the grade VG (denoting "merit") within the program. At equal tariffs, lots will be drawn.

Compulsory courses
TRACK I: POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH A FOUCS ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY
Politics, Security and Crisis (15 credits)

Method (15 credits)

Master's Thesis (30 credits)

TRACK II: WAR STUDIES
Use of Force (15 credits)

Method (15 credits)

Master's Thesis (30 credits)

Elective courses
Semester 2

Examples of elective courses (availability may vary):

Creating and Organising Military Force (7.5 credits)

War, Critical Studies and Gender (7.5 credits)

Political Communication and the Media in Crisis and War (7.5 credits)

European Security and Crisis Management (7.5 credits)

Ethics in Politics and War (7.5 credits)

Field Study Methodology (7.5 credits)

Special Forces Units in Theory and Practice (7.5 credits)

One-year Master's Thesis (15 credits)

Semester 4

Examples of elective courses (availability may vary):

Internship/placement (30 credits)

War, Critical Studies and Gender (7.5 credits)

Politics, Public Affairs and Media in Crises and War (7.5 credits)

European Security and Crisis Management (7.5 credits)

Ethics in Politics and War (7.5 credits)

Field Study Methodology (7.5 credits)

Scope
In order to be awarded a Master's degree, students must have satisfied course requirements for progression equivalent to 120 credits. At least 60 of these must be achieved in the main field Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security or War Studies and including an independent research project comprising an additional 30 credits. This requirement is met on completion of the compulsory courses within each specialisation.

There is an opportunity for students to take an intermediate exit point for a one-year Master´s degree (60 credits) in accordance with the SEDU degree ordinance.

Master's degree learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding

To be awarded a Master’s degree, the student shall:

• knowledge and understanding within the mail field of study – either Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security, or War Studies - including both an overview of the field and specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach
To be awarded a Master’s degree, the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Independent degree project - Master's thesis
The programme requires students to complete an independent degree project, (Master’s Thesis) in either Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security or War Studies. The degree project may comprise fewer than 30 credits, although no fewer than 15 credits, if the student has previously completed an independent degree project comprising 15 credits, on second cycle level, in the main field of study or equivalent from another educational programme overseas.

Track I: Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security
Academic qualifications required: a Bachelor's degree corresponding to 180 credits, of which 90 credits must be in Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security or equivalent. A documented, independent degree project or equivalent (for applicants with foreign academic qualifications), assessed in writing, should constitute part of the main field of study.

In addition, a level of proficiency in the English language, corresponding to English B or equivalent (for example, IELTS level 6.5 and above) is required. Students applying with a Swedish Bachelor's degree meet this requirement. Certain elective courses may have additional entry requirements in order to ensure students can properly benefit from the course.

Selection: Selection is based on a balanced assessment of the quality and relevance of previous university studies. Particular importance is attributed to the quality of the final independent degree project or equivalent (for applicants with overseas qualifications). As a basis for the assessment of written independent work, one or more independently authored degree project or equivalent is required in Swedish, English, Danish or Norwegian or translated into one of these languages.

Track II: War Studies
Academic qualifications required: the Officers’ Programme degree or a Bachelor's degree corresponding to 180 credits, of which 90 credits must be in War Studies or related/relevant. A documented, independent degree project or equivalent (for applicants with foreign academic qualifications).

In addition, a level of proficiency in the English language, corresponding to English B (students with a Swedish Bachelor's degree meet this requirement) is required.

Certain elective courses may have additional entry requirements in order to ensure students can properly benefit from the course.

Selection: Selection is based on a balanced assessment of the quality and relevance of previous university studies. Particular importance is attributed to the quality of the final independent degree project or equivalent (for applicants with overseas qualifications). As a basis for the assessment of written independent work, one or more independently authored degree project or equivalent is required in Swedish, English, Danish or Norwegian or translated into one of these languages.

The program leads to a Master's degree (1 year 60 credits or 2 years 120 credits) in either Political Science: security studies or War Studies. In order for students to be awarded a Master's degree, 120 credits must be gained, of which at least 60 credits should be in Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security or War Studies, including an independent degree project (Master’s thesis) comprising 30 credits. The student has the opportunity to opt for completing a one-year Master’s thesis and be awarded a one-year Master’s degree (60 credits) in line with SEDU’s degree ordinance. In order to be awarded a Master's degree, students must have acquired 60 credits; at least 30 credits must be in Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security or War Studies, including an independent degree project (thesis) of 15 credits are required. The Master's Degree titles awarded are as follows: - Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in Political Science: Security Studies - Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in War Studies.

Interim regulations
In the event that this program is no longer available or the content of the program has changed significantly, the student is entitled to be examined on courses within program once per semester over a period of six semesters. During this period the restrictions specified in the syllabi apply.

Miscellaneous
Eligibility for courses for students admitted to the program: In order for the student to be admitted to some courses during the latter part of the program, certain qualifications are required in addition to being admitted to the program. Students must have a certain number of approved higher education credits from certain specified courses during the previous part of the program. Exact provisions can be found in the respective syllabus.

Students are covered by the university's comprehensive Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), gender equality and equal opportunities policies. There is a council for gender equality and equal opportunities as well as a HSE committee that monitors compliance with regulations and that these policies continue to be developed systematically and that managers receive regular training. The university conducts continuous efforts to implement gender mainstreaming and managed by a special coordinator. On each course, teachers aim to include course literature authors of both genders, and to consider gender perspectives in their educational approach.

The university strives continuously towards internationalization of the educational program. Efforts in this regard include expanding its Erasmus network and ensuring that much of the course literature is in English. In addition students are offered the opportunity to study overseas during the latter part of the program.
Student interests and participation are overseen by student representatives on subject and program councils. Students also conduct course evaluations.