Learning outcomes:
Students
- know the central terms, theories, and methodologies, as well as the relevant literature of peace and security research;
- are able to critically reflect on the development of research traditions and topics in the field of peace and security research as well as the use of various research approaches;
- know the central methods and methodologies of empirical social research and can understand and assess the relevant specialist literature;
- are able to develop their own scholarly hypotheses and relevant research designs;
- are able to independently test the knowledge they have obtained within research orientated groups from other disciplines.
Contents:
The module provides a systematic overview of the definitions and the theoretical and methodological principles of peace and security research. Students work with the key terms, theories, and research methods and test the development and implementation of complex research questions as part of research design. The lecture, basics of peace and security research deals with central terms and categories of international peace and security research, theories of peace and international relationships as well as core models and practices of international security policy. The lecture, methods of empirical social research focuses on the epistemological and theoretical foundations of empirical social research and introduces the potential and scope of various quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis. The research seminar focuses on the fundamental questions of the planning and implementation of research work using selected thematic examples. Students develop research questions and designs and test selected methods in practical courses and working groups.
Course types/didactic concept:
- Basics and Methods of Peace and Security Research lecture (2 credit hours per week)
- Methods and Methodologies of Empirical Social Research: lecture (2 credit hours per week)
Language of instruction:
German or English; the language of instruction will be announced at the start of the course registration period.
Prerequisites for participation:
Formal prerequisites: Introductory knowledge of empirical social research; where not already existing, this knowledge may be obtained through additional attendance of the introduction to empirical social research lecture in the Bachelor of Arts program.
Recommended prerequisites: None.
Upon application, the lecture methods and methodologies of empirical social research can be replaced by an in-depth methodological seminar from other degree programs on presentation of evidence sufficient knowledge of methods.
Usability:
MA in Peace and Security Studies
Type, prerequisite and language of examination:
Requirements for successful completion:
Module examination is comprised of two component examinations.
Form, duration, and scope of examination:
- Generally, assessment for the basics of peace and security research is through a written examination (duration: 90 minutes) or a term paper.
- Assessment for the research seminar is generally through a term paper or multiple essays through the semester.
- The specific type of examination will be announced at the start of the course registration period.
Examination registration prerequisites: Admission to the module examination requires successful completion of coursework. The type and amount of coursework to be completed will be announced at the start of the course registration period.
Examination language: German or English.
ECTS credits: 12 ECTS credits
Module frequency: annually: lectures in winter semester; research seminars in summer semester
Duration/recommended semester: lecture: first semester; research seminar: second semester
Workload:
on-campus: total 4 credit hours per week, divided
into: Basics and Methods of Peace and Security
Research lecture (2 credit hours per week)
Methods and Methodologies of Empirical Social Research:
lecture (2 credit hours per week)
