UCD School of Politics and International Relations Graduate Studies Handbook Disclaimer: The information contained in this handbook is, to the best of our knowledge, true and accurate at the time of publication, and is solely for informational purposes. University College Dublin accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising as a result of use or reliance on this information. August 2011 1
WELCOME TO SPIRE...3 SCHOOL AND PROGRAMME CONTACTS...4 MA POLITICS... 5 MSC POLITICS... 7 MA DEVELOPMENT STUDIES... 9 MSC DEVELOPMENT STUDIES... 11 MA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS... 13 MSC INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS... 15 MA NATIONALISM AND ETHNIC CONFLICT... 17 MSC NATIONALISM AND ETHNIC CONFLICT... 19 MECONSC EUROPEAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND LAW... 21 MSC HUMAN RIGHTS... 23 GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS... 25 GRAD DIPLOMA IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES... 27 REGISTRATION... 29 ORIENTATION... 29 ASSESSMENT... 30 GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT PROJECTS... 30 SPECIAL NOTES ON ESSAYS... 31 SPECIAL NOTES ON THESES... 31 GRADING SCHEME... 32 KEY DATES (ACADEMIC YEAR 2011/2012)... 33 APPENDIX 1 SAMPLE DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP FORM... 34 2
Welcome to SPIRe Welcome to the UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe), the oldest and the largest school of politics in the Republic of Ireland. As you probably know by now, our graduate programmes covers traditional areas of political science such as comparative politics, international relations and political theory, as well as specialized and/or multidisciplinary subjects such as European public affairs, human rights, international development, and nationalism and ethnic conflict. Regardless of which programme you have chosen, my colleagues and I have worked hard to ensure that your time in SPIRe is both intellectually challenging and professionally valuable. This handbook is designed to answer your basic questions about the school s and university s requirements and procedures for graduate study. For more information about the school and its staff, I recommend that you start by browsing the SPIRe website http://www.ucd.ie/spire/. In addition, the following websites offer more information about college and university-level regulations and services for graduate students: http://www.ucd.ie/humansciences/graduateschool/. If you have questions that neither this handbook nor the school website can answer, please do not hesitate to ask for help (see Contacts below). Professor Daniel Thomas Chair, Graduate Studies Committee UCD School of Politics and International Relations 3
School and Programme Contacts If you have a general question about registration, scheduling, assessment, theses, etc and you cannot find the answer in this Handbook, please contact the school s postgraduate administrator: Ms. Katarzyna Glosnicka katarzyna.glosnicka@ucd.ie Tel: 01 716 8182 Fax: 01 716 1171 If you have a specific question regarding your degree programme s requirements, etc. and you cannot find the answer in this Handbook, please contact the director of your programme: MA/MSc Politics: Dr Niamh Hardiman- Semester I/Prof David Farrell Semester II MA/MSc International Relations: Prof David Farrell Semester I/Prof Diana Panke Semester II MA/MSc and Grad Dip in Development Studies: Dr Andy Storey MA/MSc Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict: Prof John Coakley MSc Human Rights: Prof Daniel Thomas MEconSc European Public Affairs and Law: Dr Derek Hutcheson Graduate Diploma in Politics and International Relations: Dr Basak Kus If you would like to discuss the possibility of applying for admission to SPIRe s PhD programme, please contact the school s PhD coordinator, Prof. Ben Tonra. 4
MA Politics Duration: one year full time, two years part time The School of Politics and International Relations offers an MA in Political Science, which focuses on the two traditional pillars of the discipline: political theory and comparative politics, but which also builds in our other areas of strength such as European and Irish politics. Comparative politics looks at the European nation-states in a comparative perspective. It analyses regime types, political stability, change and crisis, electoral and party systems. Comparative politics also includes a focus on Irish politics, which has deep roots at UCD, extending back to the nineteenth century, and has been headed in the past by distinguished specialists in the area such as John Whyte and Tom Garvin. Political theory the reflection on the nature and morality of politics is almost as old as politics itself. As part of a human being s appreciation of their condition, it has always been understood as valuable in its own right. More recently, changes in contemporary societies have made such thinking indispensable to participating in the life of one s own state and a increasingly global world. Political theory combines a rigorous approach to analysing problems with an imaginative search for solutions. Thus government, media and other groups with immediate practical concerns increasingly look to theory to find new ways forward in situations of conflict, inequality and global change. SPIRe has a tradition of strength in political theory, addressing issues such as democracy, justice, human rights, citizenship, multiculturalism and immigration, security and terror, freedom and inequality, which call for reflection on the moral implications of politics and knowledge of the history of political thought. Structure The MA in Politics is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules and a 5- credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25-credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 5
Core and Option for MA Politics (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL 41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL 40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL 40780 Human & Economic Development POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis PHIL 40350 Law, Liberty & The State PHIL40840 Autonomy as a Philosophical Problem POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public Opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions EQUL 40050 Political Theory of Equality PHIL40420 The Good Society PHIL40190 Paradigms in Cultural Criticism (10 ) 6
MSc Politics Duration: one year full time, two years part time The School of Politics and International Relations offers an MSc in Political Science, which focuses on the two traditional pillars of the discipline: political theory and comparative politics (for more information, please see below). The MSc programme is research-oriented. Thus, in addition to the training in the subject-core of the discipline, students in also complete two core modules in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Comparative politics looks at the European nation-states in a comparative perspective. It analyses regime types, political stability, change and crisis, electoral and party systems. Comparative politics also includes a focus on Irish politics, which has deep roots at UCD, extending back to the nineteenth century, and has been headed in the past by distinguished specialists in the area such as John Whyte and Tom Garvin. Political theory the reflection on the nature and morality of politics is almost as old as politics itself. As part of a human being s appreciation of their condition, it has always been understood as valuable in its own right. More recently, changes in contemporary societies have made such thinking indispensable to participating in the life of one s own state and a increasingly global world. Political theory combines a rigorous approach to analysing problems with an imaginative search for solutions. Thus government, media and other groups with immediate practical concerns increasingly look to theory to find new ways forward in situations of conflict, inequality and global change. SPIRe has a tradition of strength in political theory, addressing issues such as democracy, justice, human rights, citizenship, multiculturalism and immigration, security and terror, freedom and inequality, which call for reflection on the moral implications of politics and knowledge of the history of political thought. Structure The MSc in Politics is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take one 10-credit core module, one 10-credits option module, two 5-credits core modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and one 10-credit core module, two 5-credits core modules and one 10-credit option module in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25 credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 7
Core and Option for MSc Politics (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL41400 Qualitative Methods (5) POL41410 Introduction to Research Design (5) POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL 40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL 40780 Human & Economic Development POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis PHIL 40350 Law, Liberty & The State PHIL40840 Autonomy as a Philosophical Problem POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL41370 Descriptive Statistics (5) POL41380 Inferential statistics (5) POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public Opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions EQUL 40050 Political Theory of Equality PHIL40420 The Good Society PHIL40190 Paradigms in Cultural Criticism (10 ) 8
MA Development Studies Duration: one year full time, two years part time The programme is designed to provide participants with an interdisciplinary understanding of the process of development and with a range of skills to enable them to work effectively in this field. The programme is also designed to develop participants existing skills by critically evaluating these from the perspective of a number of disciplines. The aim of development is broadly understood as being about the improvement of quality of life in a world characterised by unprecedented opulence but also by widespread deprivation, destitution and poverty. Development, however, is about more than higher incomes it is a multidimensional process of change in social structures, posing challenges in such areas as the reduction of inequality and inclusion, the expansion of the range of economic and social choices, the progressive realisation of human rights and of progress towards a more sustainable world. The academic subject of Development Studies focuses on processes of social, political and economic change taking place primarily although not exclusively in developing countries. Teaching and research on development is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, bringing together academic expertise in politics, economics, agriculture, political economy and other areas, while also drawing on the broader strengths of the School of Politics and International Relations. Structure The MA in Development Studies is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25-credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 9
Core and Option for MA in Development Studies (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40100 Politics of Development POL40780 Human & Economic Development POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public Opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions 10
MSc Development Studies Duration: one year full time, two years part time The aim of development is broadly understood as being about the improvement of quality of life in a world characterised by unprecedented opulence but also by widespread deprivation, destitution and poverty. Development, however, is about more than higher incomes it is a multidimensional process of change in social structures, posing challenges in such areas as the reduction of inequality and inclusion, the expansion of the range of economic and social choices, the progressive realisation of human rights and of progress towards a more sustainable world. The academic subject of Development Studies focuses on processes of social, political and economic change taking place primarily although not exclusively in developing countries. Teaching and research on development is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, bringing together academic expertise in politics, economics, agriculture, political economy and other areas, while also drawing on the broader strengths of the School of Politics and International Relations. The programme is designed to provide participants with an interdisciplinary understanding of the process of development and with a range of skills to enable them to continue on to further study (including at PhD level) in development, in particular through the acquisition of substantive skills in research design and methodology. The programme is also designed to develop participants existing skills by critically evaluating these from the perspective of a number of disciplines. Structure The MSc in Development Studies is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take two 10-credit core modules, two 5-credits core modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and two 10-credit option modules and two 5-credits core modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25 credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. A Graduate Diploma in Development Studies is also available: see the description later in this Handbook. 11
Core and Option for MSc in Development Studies (credits in parentheses) Core Option Semester 1 Semester 2 POL40100 Politics of Development POL41370 Descriptive Statistics (5) POL40780 Human & Economic Development POL41380 Inferential statistics (5) POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL41400 Qualitative Methods (5) POL41410 Introduction to Research Design (5) POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL40020 Food Security POL40070: Development Management POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions 12
MA International Relations Duration: one year full time, two years part time As an academic discipline, international relations deals with the causes and consequences of international phenomena such as war, trade, regional integration, migration and terrorism. While rooted in political science, teaching and research on international relations at SPIRe brings together different methodologies and theoretical perspectives. Particular strengths in the School include international political economy, international security, cultural and social-psychological approaches to international politics, regional integration, international institutions, development and human rights. Geographical expertise centres on Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East. Students in the MA programme participate in the two-course core subject modules in international relations. Core subject modules are Theories of International Relations (first semester) and International Relations II (second semester). Participants in the subject-oriented MA programme can choose four electives from the wide range of courses offered in the School. Over the summer, students complete a thesis of approximately 10,000 words. Students are assigned an academic supervisor to help them choose their topic and guide their research. Structure The MA in International Relations is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25-credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 13
Core and Option for MA International Relations (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL40780 Human & Economic Development GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL41030 Theory of Human Rights POL40370 International Relations II POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions 14
MSc International Relations Duration: one year full time, two years part time As an academic discipline, international relations deals with the causes and consequences of international phenomena such as war, trade, regional integration, migration and terrorism. While rooted in political science, teaching and research on international relations at SPIRe brings together different methodologies and theoretical perspectives. Particular strengths in the School include international political economy, international security, cultural and social-psychological approaches to international politics, regional integration, international institutions, development and human rights. Geographical expertise centres on Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East. Students in the MSc programme participate in the two-course core subject modules in international relations. Core subject modules are Theories of International Relations (first semester) and International Relations II (second semester). Participants in the research-oriented MSc programme also complete four 5 credits core modules in research methods and can freely choose the two remaining modules from a wide range of options. In the four research design core modules, MSc students will learn how to address political and social problems using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The courses that can be chosen as electives include all courses offered at the School of Politics and International Relations. Structure The MSc in International Relations is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take one 10-credit core module, one 10-credits option module, two 5-credits core modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and one 10-credit core module, two 5-credits core modules and one 10-credit option module in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25 credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 15
Core and Option for MSc International Relations (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL41400 Qualitative Methods (5) POL41410 Introduction to Research Design (5) POL40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL40780 Human & Economic Development GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL41030 Theory of Human Rights POL40370 International Relations II POL41370 Descriptive Statistics (5) POL41380 Inferential statistics (5) POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions 16
MA Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Duration: one year full time, two years part time This programme uses comparative political science models and methods to analyse patterns of conflict and settlement, with a focus on internal violent conflicts, past and present. Internal conflicts are among the most important factors destabilising entire regions and affecting wider international relations. Equally international and global developments from global economic trends, to climate change, to the rise and fall of empires and states affect the likelihood of internal conflict. One key set of topics is concerned with different models of conflict and settlement, from consociationalism to federalism to partition and the role of international interventions. Another looks at the ways in which oppositional categories and groups in conflict are formed. While internal conflicts are often fought in the name of nationalism and conflicting groups see themselves as ethnic descent groups, the very character of nationalism and ethnicity are complex. This course allows analysis of the different ways that religion, ethnicity and inequality combine to generate violence. Examples range widely, and change from year to year: some of the core texts are concerned with countries from Estonia to India, from Transylvania to Cyprus and from Northern Ireland to the Basque Country. The wide range of expertise in SPIRe feeds into the programme, with its specialist resources in the study of theories of ethnicity, identity, conflict; comparative ethnic conflict; Northern Ireland, Western Europe and relevant cognate specialism in civic republicanism, justice and human rights, international security, European politics, and development studies. The programme is designed to provide participants with a rigorous understanding of the character, causes and consequences of processes of conflict and settlement and with a range of skills to enable them to continue on to work in this field, for example in international and national NGOs. Funded doctoral and postdoctoral research on conflict in the Global Irish Institute and the Institute for British Irish Studies creates a lively intellectual environment. Students are often offered special topics courses related to research projects and specialist workshops and conferences. Structure The MA in Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10- credit modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25-credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 17
Core and Option for MA Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40390 Northern Ireland POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL 40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL40780 Human & Economic Development POL40410 Special Topics NECC POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis AMST40130 Public Diplomacy PHIL40350 Law, Liberty & The State POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40370 International Relations II POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world POL41340 Special Topics NECC II GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions AMST40140 Imaging Conflict PHIL40190 Paradigms in Cultural Critics PHIL40420 The Good Society SOC40430 Sociology of Migration 18
MSc Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Duration: one year full time, two years part time This programme uses comparative political science models and methods to analyse patterns of conflict and settlement, with a focus on internal violent conflicts, past and present. Internal conflicts are among the most important factors destabilising entire regions, and affecting wider international relations. Equally of course international and global developments from global economic trends, to climate change, to the rise and fall of empires and states affect the likelihood of internal conflict. One key set of topics is concerned with different models of conflict and settlement, from consociationalism to federalism to partition and the role of international interventions. Another looks at the ways in which oppositional categories and groups in conflict are formed. While internal conflicts are often fought in the name of nationalism and conflicting groups see themselves as ethnic descent groups, the very character of nationalism and ethnicity are complex. This course allows analysis of the different ways that religion, ethnicity and inequality combine to generate violence. Examples range widely, and change from year to year: some of the core texts are concerned with countries from Estonia to India, from Transylvania to Cyprus and from Northern Ireland to the Basque Country. The wide range of expertise in SPIRe feeds into the programme, with its specialist resources in the study of theories of ethnicity, identity, conflict; comparative ethnic conflict; Northern Ireland, Western Europe and relevant cognate specialisms in civic republicanism, justice and human rights, international security, European politics, and development studies. The programme is designed to provide participants with a rigorous understanding of the character, causes and consequences of processes of conflict and settlement and with a range of skills to enable them to continue on to further study (including at PhD level), in particular through the acquisition of substantive skills in research design and methodology. Funded doctoral and post-doctoral research on conflict in the Global Irish Institute and the Institute for British Irish Studies creates a lively intellectual environment. Students are often offered special topics courses related to research projects and specialist workshops and conferences. Structure The MSc in Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take one 10-credit core module, one 10-credits option module, two 5-credits core modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and one 10-credit core module, two 5-credits core modules and one 10-credit option module in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25 credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 19
Core and Option for MSc Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40390 Northern Ireland POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL41400 Qualitative Methods (5) POL41410 Introduction to Research Design (5) POL40050: Theories of International Relations POL 40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL 40780 Human & Economic Development POL40410 Special Topics NECC GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL41030 Theory of Human Rights AMST40130 Public Diplomacy PHIL40350 Law, Liberty & The State POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL41370 Descriptive Statistics (5) POL41380 Inferential statistics (5) POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40370 International Relations II POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world POL41340 Special Topics NECC II GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions AMST40140 Imaging Conflict PHIL40190 Paradigms in Cultural Critics PHIL40420 The Good Society SOC40430 Sociology of Migration 20
MEconSc European Public Affairs and Law Duration: one year full time (part time option not available) The post-lisbon Treaty broadening and deepening of the European Union s policy responsibilities, as well as the inclusion of new member states in recent years, have made the EU an increasingly diverse and complex system of regional governance. These developments have created exciting new opportunities for professionals who are capable of working in a cross-national context, who understand the new political, legal, economic and social structures in Europe, and who can engage in innovative processes of policy-making. Drawing on UCD s expertise in these areas, the MEconSc in European Public Affairs and Law is ideal for those seeking to launch or advance a career in national administrations relating to the EU, in the various EU institutions themselves, or elsewhere in the private, public and voluntary spheres. It also provides a strong foundation for further academic research. The MEconSc in European Public Affairs and Law is designed to equip graduates with strong expertise in contemporary European affairs, based on a genuinely inter-disciplinary approach to the study of Europe and the European Union. Close co-operation between the UCD School of Politics and International Relations and the UCD School of Law integrates core modules in the internal and external affairs of the European Union, whilst a complementary core module in European economics and a range of elective options ensure that students will graduate having a facility to engage in debates drawing on multiple perspectives. Students must also submit a thesis in the area of European politics, international relations or public affairs. Students have an opportunity to engage first-hand with EU policy-makers through a core study trip to Brussels in March, and to attend various seminars organised by the UCD School of Politics and International Relations and the UCD Dublin European Institute. Structure The MEconSc in European Public Affairs and Law is a 90-credit programme. Students take 30 credits of coursework three taught modules - per semester. In total, they derive 20 credits from Politics, 20 credits from Law, 10 credits from Economics, and 10 credits from an elective module in these disciplines or Business. To complete the degree students must also take a 5-credit Dissertation Design module, complete a thesis (20 credits), and attend the study trip in Brussels (5 credits). 21
Core and Option for MEconSc & Law (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU POL40590 The Economics of Europe POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) LAW40940 EU External Relations Law POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy LAW40330 Social Law of the EU LAW40120 European Environmental Law LAW40150 International Competition Law LAW40250 Regulatory Governance LAW40330 Social Law of the EU POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40580 European Public Opinion and Political Behaviour GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe SBUS 40070 Work and Employment in the Global Economy 1-week intensive seminar timing TBA 22
MSc Human Rights Duration: one year full time, two years part time In this programme, students learn about one of the most profound and consequential developments in the contemporary world the idea that all people are entitled to certain rights and freedoms simply by virtue of their humanity. This idea, now enshrined in international law and enforced by a plethora of supranational courts and non-governmental organizations, has transformed relations between governments and their citizens in many parts of the world. Even where people s dignity and security are routinely violated and their voices repressed, the idea of human rights remains a powerful catalyst for change. The programme s core modules enable students to approach human rights from multiple disciplinary perspectives, drawing on staff expertise within the School of Politics and International Relations, the School of Law, and other units at UCD. From a philosophical perspective, they evaluate the meaning of the claim that people have rights, various arguments about the sources of rights, debates over the indivisibility vs. hierarchy of rights, and the tension between individual and group rights, among other topics. From a legal perspective, they examine how the idea of human rights has been embodied in treaties, constitutions, and legislation at the national, regional, and global levels, and the legal mechanisms that exist to enforce this law. And from a political science perspective, they explore theories and evidence regarding why and when governments commit to protect human rights, as well as theories and evidence regarding why and when they fulfil or violate these commitments. In addition, students are able to select optional modules related to social contract theory, citizenship, social and international justice, development, international relations, comparative politics and ethno-national conflict. The School has strong connections with governmental and non-governmental organizations in the human rights field in Ireland, across Europe, and further abroad. The MSc in Human Rights thus prepares students for careers with national governments, NGOs and international organisations, as well as journalism and other fields. For those interested in a research or university teaching career, the programme also offers a firm basis for advanced research on human rights as part of a PhD programme. Structure The MSc in Human Rights is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules and a 5-credit Dissertation Design module in the first semester, and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25-credits. Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 23
Core and Option for MSc Human Rights (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option LAW 40780 Law of the ECHR POL41030 Theory of Human Rights POL 41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL 40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL 40780 Human & Economic Development GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis PHIL 40350 Law, Liberty & The State EQUL40240 international Human Rights Law POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public Opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41240 Regions in a Multi-Polar World GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions EQUL 40050 Political Theory of Equality PHIL40420 The Good Society 24
Graduate Diploma in Politics and International Relations Duration: one year full time, two years part time The graduate diploma is an entry degree programme, in which students with professional backgrounds or students with not closely related prior degrees can enter the programme. They can choose modules from the broad list of SPIRe courses. Depending on their performance, aspirations and selection of modules, students can transfer from the graduate diploma into the MA in the subject area in which they specialised. Structure The Graduate Diploma in Politics and International Relations is a 60-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules in the first semester and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Part time students take a total of 60-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 25
for Graduate Diploma in Politics and International Relations (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Option POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL 40100 Politics of Development POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL 40780 Human & Economic Development POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL41420 Dissertation Design (5) POL41400 Qualitative Methods (5) POL41410 Introduction to Research Design (5) POL40020 Food Security POL40070 Development Management POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL41370 Descriptive Statistics (5) POL41380 Inferential statistics (5) 26
Grad Diploma in Development Studies Duration: one year full time, two years part time The aim of development is broadly understood as being about the improvement of quality of life in a world characterised by unprecedented opulence but also by widespread deprivation, destitution and poverty. Development, however, is about more than higher incomes it is a multidimensional process of change in social structures, posing challenges in such areas as the reduction of inequality and inclusion, the expansion of the range of economic and social choices, the progressive realisation of human rights and of progress towards a more sustainable world. The academic subject of Development Studies focuses on processes of social, political and economic change taking place primarily although not exclusively in developing countries. Teaching and research on development is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, bringing together academic expertise in politics, economics, agriculture, political economy and other areas, while also drawing on the broader strengths of the School of Politics and International Relations. The Graduate Diploma in Development Studies is designed to provide participants with an interdisciplinary understanding of the process of development and with a range of skills to enable them to work effectively in this field. Unlike the MSc (Development Studies), this programme does not require the completion of a minor thesis. Structure The Graduate Diploma in Development Studies is a 60-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules in the first semester and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. A list of core and optional modules is presented below. Part time students take a total of 60-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. Please contact your course coordinator about your part-time module choices. 27
Core and Option for Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (credits in parentheses) Semester 1 Semester 2 Core Option POL40100 Politics of Development POL40780 Human & Economic Development POL40050 Theories of International Relations POL40320 Africa in Crisis? POL40390 Northern Ireland POL40540 Comparative European Politics POL40360 International Security POL40440 Irish Political Development POL41030 Theory of Human Rights GEOG40470 International Economic Crisis POL40020 Food Security POL40070: Development Management POL40580 European Public opinion and Political Behaviour POL40820 Governing the Global Economy (10 credits) POL41020 Politics of Human Rights POL40130 Development and Global Justice POL40160 Comparative Public Policy POL40260 Comparative Ethnic Conflict POL40370 International Relations II POL40550 Debates on Citizenship POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy POL41240 Regions in a multi-polar world GEOG40430 US Foreign Policy GEOG40450 Political Geography of Europe GEOG40460 Mega Regions 28
Registration Before you begin the academic year at UCD, you will need to fully register with the University (http://www.ucd.ie/students/registration.html). Registration allows you to obtain your student card and gain access to the wide range of facilities available to our students. Registration is carried out online and involves the following 3 stages: Programme registration: Confirmation of your personal details Module registration Payment of fees Online Registration will be accessed through your UCD Connect account. UCD Connect provides access to a wide range of University services and information. Accessed via the Internet, UCD Connect is available on and off campus. To access Connect, go to www.ucd.ie, and log in using the panel in the centre of the page. Your username will be your UCD Student Number (on your welcome letter). Your password in the first instance is your date of birth in the format ddmmyy, unless you are a continuing student and have already reset your password. Click on the My Records tab and then the link to the Student Information System (SIS), click Enter Registration Process. This system will guide you through the remaining steps of the process. If you have any queries concerning the registration process, please contact the student desk (studentdesk@ucd.ie and Tel: +353 1 716 1555 at Student Desk Tierney Building University College Dublin; Belfield; Dublin 4. http://www.ucd.ie/registry/adminservices/studentdesk/index.html. Orientation At the beginning of the term, the School will hold an orientation meeting for each programme to welcome new students (details will be announced in due course). Staff associated with each programme will speak to new students and provide essential information including details of modules, timetables etc. In addition to these meetings, the University holds orientation meetings and information sessions for all new graduate students. See http://www.ucd.ie/incomingstudents/orientation.html for further details. 29
Assessment The methods of assessment vary from module to module, but usually contain a combination of written assignments, presentations, and final exam. Details can be found in the course outlines or from the module coordinator. Exams take place at the end of each semester, and are scheduled by the UCD Assessment and Logistics Unit (timetables are published on http://www.ucd.ie/registry/assessment/). Guidelines for the Preparation of Assessment Projects Students writing essays and projects are required to familiarise themselves with standard academic practice in the preparation and presentation of their work. Please take careful note of the following points: All the sources on which you draw must be duly acknowledged in the text or in footnotes, and the full source cited in the bibliography. Direct quotes must be contained in quotation marks and duly referenced. If you paraphrase someone else s argument, you must indicate the source you have used, including page references. For guidance on how to reference correctly, please see the School s pamphlet Guidelines for Essay Writing. The bibliography should cite all the works you have consulted, and none that you have not personally used. All work you present as your own must be the result of your own efforts only. It is not permissible to submit an essay or project reproducing wholly or in part the essay or project of another student. Nor may any student pass on their own writings for such a use by others. Please note that all students, when submitting an assessment project for examination purposes, will be required to sign a formal declaration that the work they are submitting is their own unaided and original work. Students must note that failure to take account of these guidelines in their writing constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as: The copying of another person s writings or works or ideas in any thesis, essay, project, laboratory report or other exercise which forms part of the requirements for an academic course, where such copying is either unauthorised by the copyright owner or unacknowledged in the thesis, essay, project, laboratory report or other exercise, or both. Failure to cite sources properly, and recourse to copying sections of text without proper referencing, counts as plagiarism just as much as use of another person s essay or project work. This is a serious breach of academic standards. Furthermore, the College regards plagiarism as cheating, and as such, a wholly unacceptable breach of discipline, as indicated in Section 6 of the Student Code for University College Dublin, which is given in full in the Student Information Handbook. Plagiarism will be penalised heavily and may result in no marks at all being given for a project or essay, exclusion form your examination, or exclusion from your course. Please note also that the School retains the right to refer suspected cases of plagiarism to the University s Disciplinary Committee. IF IN DOUBT ABOUT ANY OF THESE GUIDELINES, YOU MUST CONSULT THE LECTURER FOR YOUR COURSE IN PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE THE DATE OF SUBMISSION. 30
Special Notes on Essays All students will be required to submit assessed written work in the course of the semesters. The modalities for the submission process vary between courses. If a hard copy has to be submitted (instead or in addition to an electronic copy via blackboard or email to the lecturer), a signed Declaration of Authorship form must be attached to the essay (and handed in to the location specified by the lecturer). All written work must be submitted on or before the due dates. Submission deadlines can be found on the course outlines distributed in the first session of each module (in case you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the lecturer). Students will lose one point of a grade per working day late or part thereof (taking B+, B and B- to be points of a grade), and receive an NG for essays over 1 week late. (N.: This is a harsher penalty than the one applying to undergraduates.) The onus is on you to ensure that you receive a receipt for all work submitted and you should retain this receipt as proof of submission should it be needed at a later date. In case you get ill, you need to send a medical certificate to the SPIRe admin office (G310). Without medical certificates it is not possible to get extenuating circumstance (if you have questions, please contact the lecturer). In accordance with the University s procedures for anonymous marking, please do not put your name on the work submitted. Please do ensure, however, that your student number, the module number and title for which work is being submitted, the lecturer to whom it is being submitted, all appear on any piece of work you submit. Special Notes on Theses All MA and MSc students are required to complete a thesis of approximately 10,000-12,000 words. Three soft-bound copies of the theses have to be submitted to the SPIRe admin office (G310) and one electronic copy has to be submitted via blackboard. A signed "Declaration of Authorship" should accompany all submitted theses. Precise guidelines for the presentation of the dissertation will follow. Late submissions will be subject to a marks penalty and may risk total exclusion from the examination process. No grade higher than B- can be given to late submissions, and a grade of NG is a possibility. Extensions may only be granted in exceptional circumstances by the Graduate Studies Committee, based on the advice of the Supervisor and supported by clear evidence of extenuating circumstances. The maximum grade that can be awarded for a late submission is B-. Extensions may only be granted in exceptional circumstances by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, based on the advice of the Supervisor and supported by clear evidence of extenuating circumstances. Please make yourself familiar with the UCD Policy of Extenuating Circumstances at: http://www.ucd.ie/registry/academicsecretariat/pol.htm The thesis is a core feature of the degree programme. As a result, no student can be awarded a degree without achieving a passing grade in the dissertation. In the event that a student submits a thesis that fails to reach a passing standard, s/he will be invited to resubmit. The student is responsible for any consequent examination and continuation fees. You have to submit a brief research outline (about one page setting out the topic you want to address in your thesis) to be emailed to the director of your programme by 4pm on 20 January 2012. Please note that you need to stick to the topic indicated in the research outline for your actual MA dissertation (if you have any questions, please contact the respective programme coordinator). The date for thesis submission for the 2011/12 academic year is 17 August 2012, at 4PM. 31
Grading Scheme Grades are given on a latter scale ranging from A to G. Grades A to D are further subdivided into A+, A, and A-, B+, B, and so on. Grade range A B C D D - A deep and systematic engagement with the assessment task, with consistently impressive demonstration of a comprehensive mastery of the subject matter, reflecting; a deep and broad knowledge and critical insight as well as extensive reading; a critical and comprehensive appreciation of the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework an exceptional ability to organise, analyse and present arguments fluently and lucidly with a high level of critical analysis, amply supported by evidence, citation or quotation; a highly-developed capacity for original, creative and logical thinking. A substantial engagement with the assessment task, demonstrating a thorough familiarity with the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework well-developed capacity to analyse issues, organise material, present arguments clearly and cogently well supported by evidence, citation or quotation; some original insights and capacity for creative and logical thinking. An intellectually competent and factually sound answer with, marked by, evidence of a reasonable familiarity with the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework good developed arguments, but more statements of ideas arguments or statements adequately but not well supported by evidence, citation or quotation some critical awareness and analytical qualities some evidence of capacity for original and logical thinking An acceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task showing some familiarity with the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework mostly statements of ideas, with limited development of argument limited use of evidence, citation or quotation limited critical awareness displayed limited evidence of capacity for original and logical thinking The minimum acceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task with the minimum acceptable appreciation of the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework ideas largely expressed as statements, with little or no developed or structured argument 32
E F G minimum acceptable use of evidence, citation or quotation little or no analysis or critical awareness displayed or is only partially successful little or no demonstrated capacity for original and logical thinking A factually sound answer with a partially successful, but not entirely acceptable, attempt to integrate factual knowledge into a broader literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework develop arguments support ideas or arguments with evidence, citation or quotation An unacceptable level of intellectual engagement with the assessment task, with no appreciation of the relevant literature or theoretical, technical or professional framework no developed or structured argument no use of evidence, citation or quotation no analysis or critical awareness displayed or is only partially successful no demonstrated capacity for original and logical thinking No intellectual engagement with the assessment task Key Dates (academic year 2011/2012) Semester 1 Teaching Term Monday, 12 Sep Friday, 2 Dec. 1 12 Weeks Revision Saturday, 3 Dec Friday, 09 Dec 1 Week Exams Saturday, 10 Dec Wednesday, 21 Dec. Christmas Break (final dates to be confirmed) Semester 2 Teaching Term Monday, 16 Jan Friday, 2 Mar 7 Weeks Thesis Proposal Submission Friday, 20 January Fieldwork / Study Period Monday, 5 March Sunday, 18 Mar 2 2 Weeks Teaching Term Monday, 19 March Friday, 20 Apr 3 5 Weeks Revision Monday, 22 April Sunday, 29 April 1 Week Exams Monday, 30 April - Saturday, 12 May 4 Thesis Submission Friday 17 August 2012 1 October Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 October 2011 2 St Patrick s Day: Saturday, 17 March 2012 3 Good Friday, 6 April 2012; Easter Sunday, 8 April 2012; Easter Monday, 9 April 2012 4 May Bank Holiday: Monday, 2 May 2012 33
Appendix 1 Sample Declaration of Authorship Form 34