|
Plan of Study 2002
Language of instruction: English.
Duration: 2 years (40 Norwegian vekttall= 120 ECTS credits), full time campus study.
Objective
The objective of the MPCT programme is to provide skills for conflict mediation, in primary to post-secondary education programs, in various organisations and media, to name a few.
The Master’s Programme analyses the problem of violence and violence reduction, via a rigorous and scholarly approach to the study of conflict, violence, conflict resolution and peace at different levels of society/human coexistence. Understanding and analysing international and intercultural relations and communication is emphasised in the programme, but so are skills in conflict management and mediation. The programme provides a theoretical base, in conjunction with practical opportunities for specialisation. This is accomplished through:
- Core courses addressing a wide range of topics related to conflict, violence, conflict management and peace.
- Theoretical and methodological specialisation toward different research fields directly or closely related to conflict and peace.
- Theoretically and/or empirically oriented thesis.
Problem-based Learning
The pedagogical approach is problem based, continuously supporting the development of important and relevant topics of interest. The students' academic enterprise should be organised as a recurrent cycle of study, discussion, instruction, research, academic production, and publication. Theoretical work should develop as a response to their engagement and interest in problems facing humanity today. The programme facilitates the development of pertinent and essential questions concerning conflict, violence and peace, and a versatile, problem-solving capacity. All aspects of the students’ academic progress will be subject to standards commensurate with a graduate level of study.
Admission requirements
Students must hold, at minimum, a Bachelor of Arts, Cand.mag. degree or equivalent education of at least three years duration within social sciences, humanities, health sciences, education, or law.
All lectures are given in English. An above average and functioning knowledge of English is essential. To be eligible, students who are not Nordic citizens must fulfil the English Proficiency requirements described at the university web page English Proficiency
Entry into the programme is competitive and based on
- Academical qualifications (educational background)
- Documented professional experience
- Stated purpose.
Applicants must enclose an essay of approximately 2 pages stating previous professional experience within this field and purpose of and interest in taking this Master's degree. Those who know Norwegian may write in Norwegian, others are asked to write in English.
Number of places is restricted and a certain number of student places will be reserved for Non-Nordic applicants.
Course management
A board appointed by the Faculty of Social science manages the programme. An international adviser assists in the guidance of students and co-ordination of the programme.
Examination and grading system
The type of examination is specified in each module.
The programme follows the Norwegian grading system 1.0-4.0, 4.1- fail.
Course programme:
Year 1: MPCT 301, either MPCT 303 or MPCT 304, MPCT 305
Year 2: MPCT 302, MPCT 306 ( Master’s Thesis)
|
Code
|
Course
Name
|
Norwegian
Vekttall
(x3=Credits)
|
Type of exam/
Grading system
|
Semester
|
|
MPCT
301
|
Integrated
peace and conflict studies I (obligatory)
|
7 (21
ECTS)
|
Essay+
oral exam, 1.0-4.0
|
1 and 2
|
|
MPCT
302
|
Integrated
peace and conflict studies II (obligatory) Field work/ data collection
completed by Oct. 1st.
|
3 (9
ECTS)
|
Essay
pass/fail
|
3 (Oct.
1st.)
|
|
MPCT
303
|
Historical,
political, legal and economic approaches to war and peace. (elective)
|
7 (21
ECTS)
|
Essay +
oral exam, 1.0-4.0
|
1
|
|
MPCT
304
|
Psychological,
religious, cultural and educational perspectives on violence, war and peace.
(elective)
|
7 (21
ECTS)
|
Essay , 1.0-4.0
|
1
|
|
MPCT
305
|
Specialisation
with methodology. (obligatory)
|
7 (21 ECTS)
|
Project
proposal pass/fail
|
2
|
|
MPCT
306
|
Master’s
Thesis (50-70 pages)
|
16 (48
ECTS)
|
1.0-4.0 +
Oral
exam
|
3 and 4
|
First year of study
MPCT 301: Integrated peace and conflict studies I (obligatory) 7 vekttall (21 ECTS)
Course leader: Associate professor Vidar Vambheim.
First and second semester (obligatory) 7 vekttall, about 40 hours of lectures and seminars.
Examination: Essay, written within a period of two weeks. Evaluation is based on the Norwegian grading system 1.0-4.0,
4.0- fail.
The Peace studies programme has the dual objective of analysing problems, especially conflict(s), violence and war, and searching for ways to solve or transform conflicts and reduce violence. This objective is articulated through the design of four courses, balancing elements of analytical/ empirical and constructive/ future oriented work (Galtung and Kent 1988):
|
|
FOCUS
ON CONFLICT
|
FOCUS
ON VIOLENCE / PEACE
|
|
PROBLEMS
|
CONFLICT
THEORY
|
THEORY
ABOUT VIOLENCE
|
|
REMEDIES
|
CONFLICT
SOLUTION
|
PEACE
THEORY
|
The problems-oriented courses give a broad intro-duction to, followed by an in-depth analysis of, conflict and violence, their origins, forms, causes, relations between the two and to other phenomena, possible consequences and philosophical perspectives on war and peace, human rights and international law. They also include an introduction to structural and cultural violence, their relation to another, and to direct (intentional) and indirect (unintended) violence.
The remedies-oriented courses focus on constructive measures to avoid or reduce violence (negative peace), to solve or transform conflicts in creative, less- or non-violent ways, and to enhance the capacity to do so (positive peace). These courses also concentrate on strategies, organisations, agencies and means to reduce violence and create more sustainable peace at different levels; from UN/ International law via Governments and NGOs, to individual faculties of conflict mediation and conflict management, including an opportunity to train individual skills.
MPCT 303: Historical, political, legal and economic perspectives on war and peace (elective) 7 vekttall (21 ECTS)
First semester (elective).
Examination: Essay, written within a period of two weeks. Evaluation is based on the Norwegian grading system 1.0-4.0,
4.1- fail.
This course offers four case studies, emanating from various disciplines and historical periods, to introduce the basic theoretical and methodological approaches to the theme of war and peace:
- MPCT303-1: Historical perspectives on war and peace
- MPCT303-2: State building and state dissolution
- MPCT303-3: Peace and the legal system
- MPCT303-4: Economic development, war and peace.
For supplementary information about module MPCT303, click HERE
MPCT 304: Psychological, religious, cultural and educational perspectives on violence, war and peace (elective) 7 vekttall (21 ECTS)
First semester (elective)
Examination: Essay, written within a period of two weeks. Evaluation is based on the Norwegian grading system 1.0-4.0,
4.1- fail.
This course addresses the problems of just and unjust wars, human rights, international law and state sovereignty, the impact and use of religious rituals and symbolic communication on the political and cultural climate, and how rhetoric and education may affect basic orientations to meaning and action.
- MPCT304-1: Cognitive History
- MPCT304-2: Religion and conflict, war and peace
- MPCT304-3: A Cultural Perspective on Violence, War and Peace
- MPCT304-4: Educational perspectives on conflict and peace
- MPCT304-5: Literature in conflict
For supplementary information about module MPCT304, click HERE
MPCT 305: Research specialisation and methodology
Spring (second) semester (obligatory) 7 vekttall (21 ECTS). Approximately 40 hours of lectures and supervision.
Examination: Project proposal for individual Master’s Work/ Thesis. Evaluation: Pass/ Fail.
The project proposal must be approved before June 15th.
The course starts with a obligatory introduction to the theory of science and methodology (10 hours of lectures). Thereafter students choose a research topic and select a supervisor or research group within one of the following fields (topics will be elaborated at the beginning of the 1. semester).
For supplementary information about specialisation modules within the course MPCT305, click on the topic:
The course integrates the research topic with the methods of research relevant for each field/ project. During the course, students will develop an individual project proposal for their master’s thesis, the process of which is supported through a combination of lectures and supervision. The project proposal shall define the empirical basis of the proposed work (literature, fieldwork, data collection) and discuss the theoretical and methodological framework and choices for the thesis.
SEMINAR GROUP
During the first and second semester a seminar group will be convened to facilitate continued discussions of topics from lectures, literature etc.
First and second semester (obligatory), no credits.
120 hours seminar. No examination.
Second year study
Field work/ data collection is to be finished by Oct. 1st.
MPCT 302: Integrated peace and conflict studies II (obligatory) 3 vekttall (9 ECTS-credits)
Module MPCT 302 starting Oct. 1 (obligatory). Individual student work.
Examination: Essay, written within a period of two weeks. Evaluation: Pass/Fail.
Curriculum: MPCT302 is a continuation of MPCT 301, at a more advanced level, specializing in topics relevant to the students’ Master,s thesis, with a strong focus on constructive peace proposals, or means and methods to solve problems.
MPCT 306 Master thesis
The students can choose either to write a theoretically or an empirically based master’s thesis. Students must begin collecting the data material (quantitative and qualitative) during the summer between the second and third semester.
Third and fourth semester (obligatory) 16 vekttall (48 ECTS).
No lectures - supervision up to 40 hours.
Submission of thesis approximately May 15th., and an oral examination approximately June 15th
Evaluation of the thesis by a committee and is based on the Norwegian grading system: 1,0-4,0, where 4,1 is fail.
|
