MSc International Politics

This programme is designed to provide students with advanced and engaging instruction in International Politics. It aims to introduce students to the crucial issues facing our world today, from terrorism to globalization, and from humanitarian intervention to new social movements. In particular, it provokes students to question the division between the 'domestic' and 'international', and between theory and practice in the study of international politics. This small but dynamic and diverse programme enables students to take a range of courses, including those offered by the School of Law and the Centre for Development Studies, while also drawing on the Department's established expertise in democratisation, international political theory, international political economy, and West European (including the European Union), Asian and US politics. Throughout the programme the emphasis is on small group teaching and close contact between students and staff. It culminates in a high quality piece of research in the form of an MSc dissertation, which could form the basis for a PhD thesis.

Programme structure

Students take 3 core courses and select 3 optional courses. MSc candidates also write a dissertation.

Semester 1 (October-December)

2 compulsory courses

• Challenges in International Politics
• Qualitative Research Methods or Social Science Statistics

1 choice from the following courses 

• Critical Perspectives on Human Rights
• Foreign Policy of the United States
• Freedom of Expression
• Institutions and Policies of the European Union
• Political Institutions, Crisis and Communication
• Political Legitimacy: Contemporary Perspectives
• The Politics of Gender and Development

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OPTIONS

• International Trade

LAW OPTIONS

• Freedom, Security and Justice in the European Union
• United Nations Law

Semester 2 (January-March)

1 compulsory course 

• International Theory

2 choices from the following courses 

• Aid and Development
• Comparative European Politics
• Contemporary Chinese Politics
• EU in International Politics and Development
• Globalization and European Integration
• Human Rights and Global Politics
• International Co-operation
• International Security and Global Politics
• Internet and Civil Society
• Media and Democracy
• Political Economy of Greater China

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES (CEES) OPTION

• Globalisation and the New Security Agenda in Central and Eastern Europe

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OPTIONS

• Development Policy
• Globalization, Trade and Development
• Policies of Sustainability and Development
• The IMF, World Bank and Economic Growth

HISTORY OPTION

• The American Way of War

LAW OPTIONS

• Globalisation, Constitutionalism and Human Rights

SOCIOLOGY OPTIONS

• Gender and Society
• Racism and Modernity
• Religion in Society

Note: The list of courses is indicative only. Some courses might not be available every year.

Summer

Examinations. A 12,000-15,000 word dissertation due on 1st September (MSc only).

Assessment

Take home exams, essays and oral presentations for mandatory and core courses; dissertation.

Duration

MSc: 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. Diploma: 9 months full-time.

Entry Requirements

Normally a good Honours degree (2.1) or the equivalent from a recognised institution. Overseas candidates will also be expected to demonstrate proficiency through the achievement of at least 6.5 or better in a British Council IELTS test.

Contacts

Email enquiries on the academic content of the course only should be addressed to Dr Cian O’Driscoll, Programme Convener.

If you have any questions about studying in the Department and life in Glasgow you can email James Bisland, one of our MSc graduates and current PhD student.

Enquiries about admissions should be addressed to: pgadmissions@gla.ac.uk