Postgraduate Module Descriptor


POLM060: Global Security

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

This module will be delivered through 11 weekly two hour seminar classes. Discussion from readings will provide you with an overview of the key issues and debates relevant to each theoretical approach/topic and seek to provide direction for further independent research.  Students take the most active part in the discussions, whilst the lecturer’s role is to frame the debate and to sum up its key elements at the end of the seminar.

Each week we will discuss one theoretical approach to security and one security issue - for example, in week 2 we will examine the various components of the neorealist-neoliberal institutionalist debate (theoretical approach) and the Ukraine crisis (issue). In other words, we use pertinent cases to illustrate the kind of insights that each theory can bring, and conversely.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
222780

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities2211 x 2 hour Seminars - these will primarily consist of guided discussions where topics can be explored further through debate.
Guided Independent Study278Private study - reading and preparing for seminars (around 4-6 hours per week); researching and writing assessments and assignments (researching, planning and writing the essay and the op-ed); preparing the examination.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

University of Exeter Electronic Learning Environment (ELE): http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Other Learning Resources

Links will be provided on ELE to a variety of relevant policy documents, reports and websites.