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 Page 1 of 1 Run Time: 0 h , 41 m, 26 s Rep: /Reports/Administration and Support/Student Support and Administration/OPAMA/OPAMA0003_Programme_Specification .Params: AYR_CODE=2017/8, FAC_CODE=S, DPT_CODE=SSW, CRS_CODE=TMAR1STNSS checked May 18 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: • 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 Page 1 of 1 Run Time: 0 h , 41 m, 26 s Rep: /Reports/Administration and Support/Student Support and Administration/OPAMA/OPAMA0003_Programme_Specification .Params: AYR_CODE=2017/8, FAC_CODE=S, DPT_CODE=SSW, CRS_CODE=TMAR1STNSS checked May 18 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 <ol> • 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