Decisions and guidelines

SAMFAK 2008/141 Doss 3:1:1

The Master's degree in politics and international studies represents up to 120 ECTS credits.

The programme has three specialisations and the student is accepted for one of them.

AIMS OF THE POLITICAL SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION

The aim of the Master's degree is to give the student a systematic understanding of the basic questions of political science in order to be able critically to examine, assess and analyse politics and international relations on a scientific basis. The student acquires knowledge and skills that give the capacity for independent and critical assessment, the ability to solve problems self-reliantly and the ability to monitor the development of knowledge obtained by research in political science. The programme gives the opportunity of more advanced studies in various special areas of the subject such as comparative politics, political theory, public administration and international politics. The essay (Master's Thesis) written for the two-year degree (30 ECTS pts) is of greater theoretical depth and wider scope than the one written for the one-year degree (15 ECTS pts). The Master's Thesis course (30 ECTS) also presupposes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology on the advanced level.

AIMS OF THE EURASIAN STUDIES SPECIALIZATION

This specialisation has a thematic and theoretical design that is consistently multidisciplinary. As a multidisciplinary specialisation the main base is in economics, law, political science, peace and conflict research and history. The aim of the Master's degree is to identify the problems of and explain the ambitions behind the establishment of democracy, market economies and rule-governed states in the Eurasian area. The stress is consistently laid on policy matters in current conditions of social transformation. Social and legal theories are spotlighted from cultural and historical perspectives. The regional focus is on the Balkan states, Russia including the former Soviet Union and North-East Asia, primarily China. The essay (Maters's Thesis) written for the two-year degree (30 ECTS pts) is of greater theoretical depth and wider scope than the one written for the one-year degree (15 ECTS pts). The Master's Thesis course (30 ECTS) also presupposes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology on the advanced level.

AIMS OF THE PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES SPECIALIZATION

The aim of the Master's degree is to give the student a systematic understanding of the basic questions of peace and conflict research in order to be able critically to examine, assess and analyse the origin, development and resolution of armed conflicts on a scientific basis. The student acquires knowledge and skills that give the capacity for independent and critical assessment, the ability to solve problems self-reliantly and the ability to monitor the development of knowledge in the field of peace and conflict research. The essay (Master's Thesis) written for the two-year degree (30 ECTS pts) is of greater theoretical depth and wider scope than the one written for the one-year degree (15 ECTS pts). The Master's Thesis course (30 ECTS) also presupposes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology on the advanced level.

Entry requirements

ADMISSION POLITICAL SCIENCE: Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 ECTS credits and 60 points/90 ECTS credits in political science or corresponding knowledge, as well as documented written independent work (at least 10 000 words) within political science or corresponding. "Corresponding" includes studies in social sciences with extensive and distinct elements of political science. One or more essays can be included in the concept "written independent academic work". The essay-/s should be written in either English, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish or translated to one of these languages.

Proficiency in English equivalent to English B in the Swedish secondary school i.e. a TOEFL test with a score of 213 in the computerised test or an IELTS test with no band lower than 6. For certain single subject courses 120 ECTS credits can be accepted.

ADMISSION EURASIAN STUDIES: Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 ECTS credits and 60 points/90 ECTS points in either Social Sciences or Law. Selection among eligible students will be based on grades received in undergraduate courses taken in Eurasian Studies, or in other disciplines in Social Sciences or Law, as well as documented written independent academic work.

Proficiency in English equivalent to English B in the Swedish secondary school i.e. a TOEFL test with a score of 213 in the computerised test or an IELTS test with no band lower than 6. For certain single subject courses 120 ECTS credits can be accepted.

ADMISSION PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES: Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 ECTS credits and 60 points/90 ECTS points in peace and conflict studies, or alternatively 60 points/90 ECTS points in adjacent relevant subjects and at least 20 points/30 ECTS points in the main subject or corresponding experience, as well as documented written independent academic work.

Proficiency in English equivalent to English B in the Swedish secondary school i.e. a TOEFL test with a score of 213 in the computerised test or an IELTS test with no band lower than 6. For certain single subject courses 120 ECTS credits can be accepted.

Layout of the programme

POLITICAL SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION

The first term gives a common ground in methodological skills and a deeper knowledge in one of the subjects comparative politics, political theory, public administration and international politics.

Students wishing to conclude their studies with a one-year's Master's degree choose a course in the subject of political science in the first half of term two and write an essay during the second half of the term (15 ECTS points).

Students reading for the two-year Master's degree have great freedom during the second and third term to choose from both within and outside the range of courses offered by the department. Students who have not previously done practical work during their training have an opportunity for this in term three. Among our own courses may be mentioned a proficiency course devoted to writing a research summary. The fourth term is devoted entirely to the degree project. Instruction will for the most part be given in English. Some elective courses will be instructed in Swedish.

EURASIAN STUDIES SPECIALIZATION

The first term is devoted to a basic introduction to the subject and a methodology course. The second term is divided into an obligatory continuation of the subject in greater depth and an optional part where the student chooses courses both within and outside the range offered by the department.

Students wishing to conclude their studies with a one-year's Master's degree choose a course in the subject of Eurasian studies in the first half of term two and write an essay during the second half of the term (15 ECTS points).

Students taking the two-year Master's degree may choose freely in the third term between courses both within and outside the department. The fourth term is devoted entirely to the composition of an individual project (30 ECTS points). Instruction will for the most part be given in English.

PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES SPECIALIZATION

The first term gives a common basis in methodological skills and basic knowledge in the area of causes of conflict. The second term gives basic knowledge in the area of conflict resolution, and gives the opportunity of study in greater depth or breadth of an optional part where the student chooses courses both within and outside the range offered by the department.

Students wishing to conclude their studies with a one-year's Master's degree choose a course in the subject of peace and conflict studies in the first half of term two and write an essay during the second half of the term (15 ECTS points).

Students reading for the two-year Master's degree have great freedom during the third term to make their own choice both within and outside the range of courses offered by the department. Among our own courses may be mentioned a course in international negotiation and a proficiency course devoted to writing a research summary. The fourth term is devoted entirely to the degree project. Instruction will be given in English.

Instruction

The education is given on a scientific basis and is anchored in research, with the student being given the equipment to steadily develop her or his methodological skills and a scientific approach. The student is expected to take increasing responsibility for his/her learning as the training progresses, and also gradually to acquire professionally relevant and research-based knowledge and skills. The student is encouraged to create and develop both national and international contacts. The knowledge is imparted and assimilated by instruction, private study, seminar discussions and also individual oral and written work. Throughout the programme considerable weight is systematically placed on both written and oral interpretations and presentations. The progression in the programme is to lead on to a higher degree of intellectual maturity and greater insight into the complexity of the subject. This, together with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills and independently to formulate and solve problems, will be presented in a final degree project. The programme presupposes that the students earlier have taken methodology courses covering basic qualitative and quantitative methods. The Master's Thesis course (30 ECTS) presupposes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology on the advanced level.

Degree

The programme leads to a a two-year Master's degree or one-year Master's degree in one of the main areas of specialisation (political science, Eurasian studies or peace and conflict studies). The two-year Master's degree requires the obtaining of 120 ECTS points with at least 60 ECTS points being in one of the main areas of political science, Eurasian studies or peace and conflict studies including individual work (degree project) representing 30 ECTS points. For the one-year Master's degree 60 ECTS points are required, with at least 30 ECTS being in one of the main areas of political science, Eurasian studies, or peace and conflict studies, including individual work (degree project) representing 15 ECTS points.

Names of degrees with political science as major

The two-year Master's degree is called "Politices Masterexamen" in Swedish and "Degree of Master of Political Science (Two Years)" in English.

The one-year Master's degree is named "Politices magisterexamen" in Swedish and "Degree of Master of Political Science (One Year)" in English.

Names of degrees with Eurasian studies or peace and conflict studies as major

The two-year Master's degree is called "Filosofie Masterexamen" in Swedish and "Degree of Master of Social Science (Two Years)" in English. The one-year Master's degree is named "Filosofie magisterexamen" in Swedish and "Degree of Master of Social Science (One Year)" in English.

Other regulations

Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 ECTS credits and proficiency in Swedish and English according to the general admission requirements for Swedish higher education studies on basic level.

Students who are enrolled on the pol. mag. programme and who have been accepted for the D level read one of the introductory courses at advanced level as the D course. Courses that have previously been read at corresponding D level may after certain assessment be credited within the Master's programme for the student who has been accepted for the programme.