Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL1028: Introduction to Strategic Studies

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • What is strategy?
  • Strategic Dimensions – Land warfare’;
  • Strategic Dimensions – Naval warfare;
  • Strategic Dimensions – Air warfare;
  • Strategic Dimensions – Space warfare;
  • Strategic Dimensions – Cyber warfare;
  • Strategic Practice – Classical warfare;
  • Strategic Practice – Early modern warfare;
  • Strategic Practice – Napoleonic warfare;
  • Strategic Practice – Total War;
  • Strategic Practice – The Cold War;
  • Strategy towards the 21st century.

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
26.5123.50

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activity16.511 x 1.5 hr lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity1010 x 1 hr tutorials
Guided independent study40Tutorial preparation
Guided independent study83.5Assessment preparation and completion

Online Resources

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

Combating Terrorism Centre (Westpoint): http://ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/

UK Defence Academy: http://www.da.mod.uk/podcasts

‘MERLIN’ US National Defence University: http://merln.ndu.edu/

US Army War College: http://www.carlisle.army.mil/

International Studies Association web resources: http://www.isanet.org/links/

US Naval Postgraduate School: http://www.nps.edu/

US Homeland Security: http://www.inhomelandsecurity.com/

UK Resilience (Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat):

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ukresilience.aspx

Center for Strategic and International Studies: http://csis.org/

Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies: http://www.rusi.org

Chatham House (Royal Institute for International Affairs): http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk

International Institute for Strategic Studies: http://www.iiss.org

Brookings Institute: http://www.brookings.edu/

Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies: http://www.ciss.ca/

Centre for Defence Information: http://www.cdi.org/

CIA Factbook: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/

International Crisis Group: http://www.icg.org/home/index.cfm

Rand Corporation: http://www.rand.org/

Other Learning Resources

Other materials and resources will be identified by the module convener in lectures and via ELE and by tutors in tutorials.