Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SSIM900: Contemporary Debates in Security, Conflict and Justice

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The unit introduces students to conceptual and theoretical issues in the study of security, conflict, and justice. 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.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Understand and analyse critically a range of issues in contemporary security and conflict contexts at multiple levels, from the inter-personal to inter-state 2. Understand and critically analyse justice from multiple disciplinary and conceptual perspectives 3. Wide knowledge and understanding of the state of the art on these issues in different disciplines;
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Plan and design independent research into an issue related to security, conflict, and justice; and, 5. Engage in constructive, critical discussion about theoretical and disciplinary perspectives on critical issues in security, conflict and justice;
Personal and Key Skills	6. Write articulately, concisely and persuasively about issues in security, conflict, and justice. 7. Design, plan and deliver a group presentation

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The unit will be taught in three intensive days split into thematic sessions. Below is an indicative list but may be subject to change:
Session 1 (1 day): Introduction to the pathway; Violence
Session 2 (2 days): Ethnicity; Gender
Session 3 (2 days): Human rights; Governance and sovereignty
A typical workshop day will include:
• Introductory session mapping the broad contours of the topic;
• Different disciplinary perspectives presented through lecturers from a range of disciplines across the DTC partners;
• Facilitated seminar/workshop to debate particular issues from an interdisciplinary perspective including, where appropriate, presentations from existing PhD researchers; and,
• Concluding session
All students will be expected to attend in person; virtual learning is not commensurate with the small group expected for this unit. Lecturers will be encouraged to attend in person but, where necessary, may deliver their presentations virtually.

Learning and Teaching

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
30	120	0

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

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	30	3 x 1 day, 10 hour sessions
Guided Independent Study	55	reading and preparation for seminars
Guided Independent Study	65	researching and preparing assignments

Online Resources

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