Programme Specification

Programme Title Master of Arts in National Security Studies

Programme 2017/8 Specification valid for

Core Programme Information

Programme start date 2017/8 UCAS Code Course Code - full time TMAR1STNSS Course Code - TMAR2STNSS part time Designation Taught Postgraduate

Subject combination rationale in undergraduate joint honours programmes ATAS Registered?

Academic Pathways National Security Studies

Final Award

Award Master of Arts Title National Security Studies

Minimum Credit value 180 ECTS equivalent 90

Special criteria

Nested Award(s)

Main Course Code if nested award

Exit Award(s)

Standard exit award(s) Standard exit awards

Rationale for non- standard or no exit award

Level in the qualification framework

Programme level 7

Attendance

Mode of attendance Full Time

Minimum length of 1 Year Maximum length of 6 Year programme programme

Mode of attendance Part Time

Minimum length of 2 Years Maximum length of 6 Year programme programme

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Programme Specification

Awarding/teaching bodies

Awarding body King's College London Joint awarding body Teaching institution Student is taught wholly at Joint teaching institution reporting institution

Faculty / Department

Lead Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Lead Department War Studies Public Policy Programme Organiser John Gearson Contact details [email protected] Email

Telephone Involvement of other Faculties

QAA Subject Benchmark / Professional, statutory and regulatory body guidelines

Relevant statement(s) or guidelines

QAA, "Subject benchmark statement: Politics and International Relations." (2015): http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-politics-15.pdf ; QAA, "Framework for higher education qualifications" (2014): http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf ; SEEC, "Credit level descriptors for higher education" (2010): http://www.seec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SEEC-descriptors-Dec10.pdf How the programme has been informed by relevant statement(s) and guidelines

As the subject area lacks a specific benchmark statement relating to Masters level, use was made of the QAA subject benchmark statement for BA Honours degrees in the area of Politics and International Relations (2015). Because of its attempt to capture "graduateness" (p. 6) at the end of an undergraduate programme, this benchmark statement is taken here as the point of departure for M-Level work. This QAA subject benchmark statement includes within its ambit key sub-areas relevant to the proposed MA in National Security Studies including L251 (Strategic studies); L252 (War & peace studies); and L231 (Public administration). In line with this statement, the MA in National Security Studies is designed to enable students to: understand the nature and significance of national security policy-making and its role in contemporary governance; develop specialised knowledge of the core policy areas of national security; evaluate different theoretical approaches to understanding these phenomena; and evaluate different interpretations of particular national security policies and practices.

In terms of general education standards, the programme has been informed by the QAA Framework for higher education qualifications (2014), the SEEC credit level descriptors for higher education (2010) and the regulations and policies of Kings College London. In line with both these guidelines and the subject benchmark statement mentioned above, this MA programme is geared towards the achievement of specialised knowledge, informed by a critical engagement with advanced research in particular areas, as well as a broader understanding of the nature and significance of national security policy-making more generally. At M-level, the demands and expectations placed on students are: critical engagement with literature and issues through the study of key texts; an ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship; a systematic understanding of issues at the forefront of the field of study, having an awareness of a comprehensive range of approaches to the field, together with a practical understanding how theories and methods of research are used to create and interpret knowledge; and the demonstration of initiative, originality and independence in identifying, researching and solving of problems at an advanced level, consistent with the Criteria for Degrees of the University of London and the Academic Regulations of Kings College London.

Educational Aims

The educational aims of the MA programme are to:

Programme Specification

• Develop learners' knowledge and understanding of how police services, intelligence agencies, the armed forces, the diplomatic corps, other government departments and the private sector intersect and contribute to national security policy and practice. • Foster a capacity to think critically and independently about national security through critical engagement with advanced research, including different methods and theoretical approaches used to analyse policy and practice in this area • Develop learners' intellectual, research, analytical, practical and transferable skills (such as problem- solving and evaluative skills), by embedding their practice and assessment within an extensive process of learning about national security policy making. • Encourage students to use initiative, and develop originality, creativity and independence in identifying, researching and judging problems at an advanced level. • Create a learning environment in which learners are encouraged to realise their full potential by, for example, fitting individual programmes of study to the curiosity, interests and career goals of individual participants.

The educational aims of the PG Diploma programme are to:

• Enable learners to develop both an analytical and a practical understanding of national security policy- making and critically assess its role in contemporary governance. • Encourage the development of independent thinking on how national security is conceived of and organised in Britain and other countries • Foster critical thinking on the legitimacy of national security policy-making, including the issues of ethics and oversight • Develop learners' knowledge and understanding of how police services, intelligence agencies, the armed forces, the diplomatic corps, other government departments and the private sector intersect and contribute to national security policy and practice. • Develop learners' intellectual, research, analytical, practical and transferable skills (such as problem- solving and evaluative skills), by embedding their practice and assessment within an extensive process of learning about national security policy making. • Create a learning environment in which learners are encouraged to realise their full potential by, for example, fitting individual programmes of study to the curiosity, interests and career goals of individual participants.

The educational aims of the PG Certificate programme are to:

• Enable learners to develop both an analytical and a practical understanding of national security policy- making and critically assess its role in contemporary governance • Foster critical thinking on the legitimacy of national security policy-making, including the issues of ethics and oversight • Develop learners' knowledge and understanding of how police services, intelligence agencies, the armed forces, the diplomatic corps, other government departments and the private sector intersect and contribute to national security policy and practice. • Develop learners' intellectual, research, analytical, practical and transferable skills (such as problem- solving and evaluative skills), by embedding their practice and assessment within an extensive process of learning about national security policy making. • Create a learning environment in which learners are encouraged to realise their full potential by, for example, fitting individual programmes of study to the curiosity, interests and career goals of individual participants.

Educational Objectives

Knowledge and Understanding

• The nature and significance of national security policy-making, and its role in contemporary governance, including different methods and theoretical approaches used to analyse policy and practice in this area. • How national security is conceived of and organised in Britain and other countries. • A practical and systematic understanding of how police services, intelligence agencies, the armed forces, the diplomatic corps, other government departments and the private sector intersect and contribute to national security policy and practice. • Specialised knowledge of the core policy areas of national security, as well as thematic issues of leadership and communications. • A critical understanding of the legitimacy of national security policy-making, including the issues of ethics and oversight The compulsory core module, "National Security Studies," provides a solid foundation in relevant theoretical approaches, concepts, methods and cases, enabling learners to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of national security policy-making and its role in contemporary governance. Students build on this foundation with specialised study in optional modules on specific topics such as: Cyber-security, Terrorism, Counter-terrorism, Strategic Communications, Risk and Uncertainty in Global Politics, Migration, Conflict and Politics, Theories of War, the History of War, Russia in the World, East- Asian Security and Middle East Politics, as well as various modules on intelligence.

The starting point for teaching and learning is lectures and small-group seminars and workshops. A range of techniques are used including whole and small group exercises, student-led and lecturer-led sessions,

Programme Specification

skills-based, discussion-based and knowledge-based classes. This is supplemented by policy briefings, individual lecturer-student interaction, and contact with current and former security practitioners.

Concerning knowledge and understanding, the achievement of No's 2, 3 and 4 above is aided by this contact with practitioners. This takes two forms: (i) Guest lectures: these are facilitated by the fact that the MA programme is run by the Centre for Defence Studies (CDS), which has extensive contacts with security practitioners, some of whom are affiliated to us as "Senior Research Fellows."

(ii) the programme will enrol both standard entry postgraduate students and mid-career security practitioners (the latter on a part-time basis, as part of their professional education). As our pilot MA module in National Security Studies has successfully demonstrated, the unique student-practitioner interaction on this programme (including in small-group discussions) offers not only a rigorous academic grounding in National Security Studies, but also enables the development of a practical understanding of the policy-making process.

Emphasis is also placed on critical reading of primary and secondary sources (such as documents, monographs, scholarly articles, newspapers, textbooks and internet resources) and independent research in the fields of national security, strategy and governance. Assessed essays and shorter assignments such as book reviews; group and individual research projects or briefings; unseen written examinations; dissertation; and oral feedback in seminars.

Intellectual Skills

Development of intellectual skills is embedded in the module and learning activities (outlined above) associated with acquiring knowledge and understanding of national security policy-making and its role in contemporary governance.

The core module provides students with the intellectual, bibliographic, and methodological skills appropriate to advanced learning, discusses the ethical requirements of study and enables the development of critical and creative thinking. The specialised optional modules develop students' capacity to think critically and creatively about the application of theories and methods to the study of specific issue areas, and their ability to assess different interpretations of particular issue areas.

Emphasis is placed on critical reading of primary and secondary sources (such as documents, monographs, scholarly articles, newspapers, textbooks and internet resources) and independent research in the fields of national security, strategy and governance.

In addition to feedback following the assessment of essays, etc, the interactive setting of the seminars, along with individual lecturer-student interaction provides students with constructive feedback and the opportunity to formulate reasoned arguments and solutions to problems. Regular feedback contributes to the achievement of progression and the management of students' individual learning processes. Assessed essays and shorter assignments such as book reviews, group and individual research projects or briefings; unseen written examinations and oral feedback in seminars. The exercise of independent critical judgement and formulation of reasoned argument are assessed notably in the dissertation at MA level only.

Practical Skills

• An ability to gather, organise and evaluate evidence from a variety of sources. • An abilty to organise one's thoughts on complex issues and reach evidence-based conclusions • Identification, formulation and advocacy of solutions to problems. • Communication of complex ideas both in writing and orally • Ability to work in a group

Practical skill development is embedded in the module and learning activities, outlined above.

In addition to assessed written work, whole and small group exercises, student-led sessions, skills-based, discussion-based and knowledge-based classes will enable students to develop their evidence- management skills, and their abilities to organise their thoughts, communicate these ideas to others, and work well in a group

Our programme has particular strengths in respect of No. 3 above, the formulation and advocacy of solutions to problems. At the end of Term 2, the "King's National Security Policy Briefing" will take place, in which students present their policy ideas to an elite panel of UK security practitioners and gain feedback (more details below). Assessed essays and shorter assignments such as book reviews, group and individual research projects or

Programme Specification

briefings; unseen written examinations; dissertation (at MA level only); and oral feedback in seminars

Generic/transferable skills

• Working independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management. • Working in a flexible and adaptable manner to solve problems. • Using information and communication technology (including audio-visual technology) for the retrieval and presentation of information. • Interaction and collaboration with others to achieve common goals. • Effective and fluent communication in speech and writing.

Development of transferable skills is embedded in the module and learning activities, outlined above.

In addition to assessed written work, emphasis is placed here on whole and small group exercises, student- led sessions, skills-based, discussion-based and knowledge-based classes, debates and other activities.

These teaching and learning strategies are designed to enable students to work independently, use their initiative and develop their time management and problem-solving skills. They also foster student capacity in information and communication technology, the development of oral and written communication skills, and the ability to engage with others in deliberation and collaboration.

The "King's National Security Policy Briefing" plays a key role here, enabling students to present their policy ideas to an elite panel of UK security practitioners, gain feedback and summarise their findings in a CV-enhancing, professional briefing note that can be used to showcase their ideas and abilities to potential employers. This briefing draws in some ways on the experience of the King's Policy Idol competition, and a pilot iteration of our briefing in April 2016 received very positive student feedback.

In forming the elite panel, CDS will draw on its close contacts with key figures from the policy-making world, such as Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Foreign and Defence Secretary, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the former UK Ambassador to the United States of America, Sir David Omand (former head of GCHQ, and security and intelligence advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair), and Lord Peter Ricketts, the UK's first National Security Advisor.

The development of transferable skills is also aided by the fact that the programme will enrol both standard entry postgraduate students and mid-career security practitioners. As our pilot MA module successfully demonstrated, this enables the development of unique student-practitioner collaborations, practical skills and professional contacts. Assessed essays and shorter assignments such as book reviews, group and individual research projects or briefings; unseen written examinations; dissertation; and oral feedback in seminars

Programme structure and curriculum

Credits taken in each year of the programme Year Full time Part time Year 1 180 80 Year 2 100 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Pattern of study and Free Choice Options

Compulsory module of 40 credits; Dissertation of 60 credits; 80 credits in 20 or 40 credit optional modules. Part time students normally take 80 credits in year one and100 in year two.

Students may take up to 40 credits from Level 7 modules offered in other departments. We have arrangements with the Russia and India Institutes, Law, Geography, Political Economy, EIS and History (for an indicative list of the modules that are likely to be available, please see this list of the modules available in 2016-17: https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/ws/maallocations/externalmodules.aspx

Module List

Programme Specification

Year Module Code Module title Credit Credit Status Pre- Co- Assessment level value requisite requisite module(s) module(s)

1 7SSWM005 The Entente at 7 40 Optional Coursework War 1914-1918

1 7SSWM012 Propaganda 7 20 Optional Written Examination

1 7SSWM013 War and 7 40 Optional Coursework Insurgency in the Middle East Since Written Examination 1945

1 7SSWM014 The Civil War in 7 40 Optional Coursework the United States: The Operational Written Examination Battlefield

1 7SSWM020 The Science and 7 20 Optional Coursework Security of Nuclear Biological Written Examination Weapons

1 7SSWM021 Current Issues in 7 20 Optional Coursework Science and Security Written Examination

1 7SSWM037 Afghan and South 7 40 Optional Coursework Asian Security Issues

1 7SSWM050 Political 7 20 Optional Written Examination Philosophy and International Law

1 7SSWM053 Homegrown 7 40 Optional Coursework Radicalisation and Counter- Radicalisation in Western Europe and North America

1 7SSWM062 Chemical, 7 40 Optional Coursework Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Terrorism

1 7SSWM063 Migration, Conflict 7 20 Optional Coursework and Policy

1 7SSWM065 Risk and 7 20 Optional Coursework Uncertainty in Global Politics

1 7SSWM066 The War On 7 20 Optional Coursework Terror: Anglo- American Foreign Written Examination and Security Policy Since 9/11

1 7SSWM069 Approaches to 7 20 Optional Coursework Understanding Violence and Atrocity in Civil Wars

1 7SSWM077 Armchair 7 20 Optional Coursework Intelligence: Open Sources and Online Investigation

1 7SSWM082 Political Violence, 7 40 Optional Coursework Counterterrorism and Human Rights

1 7SSWM086 Wars Within Wars: 7 40 Optional Coursework Intelligence Wars, Secret Wars and Dirty Wars

1 7SSWM092 WAR AND THE 7 40 Optional Coursework NON-HUMAN SPHERE

1 7SSWM098 Theories of War 7 20 Optional Coursework

1 7SSWM109 Navies and Sea 7 40 Optional Written Examination Power, 1793- 2000

1 7SSWM110 East Asian 7 40 Optional Coursework Security

1 7SSWM111 Proliferation and 7 40 Optional Coursework International Security Written Examination

Programme Specification

1 7SSWM113 Russia and the 7 40 Optional Coursework World Written Examination

1 7SSWM117 Contemporary 7 40 Optional Coursework Conflicts

1 7SSWM133 Conflict 7 40 Optional Coursework Development and Islam in Russia, Written Examination the Caucasus and Central Asia

1 7SSWM135 Past and Present 7 40 Optional Coursework of British Intelligence

1 7SSWM144 Conflict Simulation 7 40 Optional Coursework

1 7SSWM149 History of Warfare 7 40 Optional Coursework

1 7SSWM150 The Evolution of 7 40 Optional Coursework Insurgency

1 7SSWM163 Ethics in 7 20 Optional Coursework International Relations

1 7SSWM166 Human Rights in a 7 20 Optional Coursework World of States

1 7SSWM171 Comparative Civil 7 40 Optional Coursework Wars Written Examination

1 7SSWM185 Imperialism and 7 40 Optional Coursework War Written Examination

1 7SSWM191 International 7 40 Optional Coursework Politics of the Middle East

1 7SSWM095 National Security 7 40 Compulsory Coursework Studies (40 credits)

1 7SSWM116 Dissertation 7 60 Core Coursework

If Master's programme, are level 6 credits No permitted within the programme?

Programme Specification

Level 6 credit details Maximum credits for condoned fail? 20

Additional credit details No

Substitute module details No

Exceptions to the regulations regarding No credits, progression or award requirements Additional information on programme structure

Assessment Sub-boards and Marking

College's standard Standard PGT undergraduate/postgraduate marking criteria used undergraduate click here to view postgraduate click here to view

Relevant marking criteria if non-standard Assessment Sub-boards exists Yes Assessment Sub- Department of War board Studies MA Assessment Board External Examiners nomination Yes Nominations(s) for Not yet known commenced Board of Examiners

Measures of inclusivity for all students

Inclusivity The College regulations ensure equal access for all students to every education opportunity offered at King's. The programme was designed to follow College regulations and diversity and inclusion guidance in everyday practice to meet the diverse needs of all students, from admission to graduation.

Requests from students with learning disabilities or other conditions are assessed against the King's Inclusion Plan and support provided where necessary. This might include, but isn't limited to, the recording of lectures, class discussions, early access to lecture and seminar materials.

Feedback on the programme and each module will be regularly collected and used to support programme development. Responses to evaluations are provided in various ways, including but not limited to Staff-Student Liason Committees and module-specific responses via EVASYS.

Monitoring of performance by age, gender and ethnic background is part of the regular reporting procedure carried out in programme reviews. The department's Inclusion and Diversity Tutor supports our efforts to analyse our record in these areas in a transparent manner.

Guidelines from the College's Diversity and Inclusion unit will be followed. Students will receive the necessary support to have their needs assessed by the Personalised Examination Provisions Committee and decisions taken by this Committee will be implemented

Collaborative provision, partnerships and placements

Programme involved in No Type of collaborative activity involvement Types of collaborative provision

Programme Specification

Partner institution(s)

INS code INS Name Country

Institution responsible for administration Type of collaborating No collaborating organisation institution Nature of involvement of external body Percentage delivered of external body Mechanisms to ensure monitoring Off-campus study or placement type Nature of study or placement: Compulsory Credit gained from activity Year(s) of off-campus Year(s) of off- study/placement - full- campus time study/placement - part-time Rationale

Professional validation /accreditation

Professional validation body Frequency of Date validation/accreditation validation/accreditation commenced Date of most recent Date of next validation/accreditation validation/accreditation

Additional information

Practitioners pay £1500 to take the compulsory module. To transfer onto the full MA National Security Studies programme, they would pay the balance between this & the standard fee for a taught MA. They would then take the remaining modules required to obtain the MA National Security Studies.

PAF checked for 2019/20: 11 December 2018