Course Outline
The MA in International Relations is a one-year comprehensive course. It draws on international relations, conflict/peace studies and international history. The course explores issues such as war and peace, the international order, international crises, counterinsurgency, terrorism and foreign policy. It combines an exploration of the contemporary world with a study of the past. This one-year master's course has both taught and research phases.
Programme Requirements
Students take modules to the value of 90 credits comprising taught modules to the value of 45 credits (Part I) and a dissertation to the value of 45 credits (Part II).
Why Choose This Course
This is one of the first MA courses in Ireland to offer you the opportunity to expand your knowledge of international relations. The course has a very successful track record, and has produced many high-calibre graduates who have gone on to enter the worlds of international diplomacy, academia, government and business. It offers a unique combination of contemporary and historical approaches to analysing international relations.
Comment
Course Practicalities
You will be expected to attend 144 lecture/seminar hours in UCC.
The taught half of the course is centred on continuous assessment such as long and short essays, the compilation of portfolios, policy papers, in-class exercises, analysis of international texts, class participation, and oral presentations. There is one formal written examination.
The 50% weighting for the thesis reflects the importance of independent research.
Who teaches on the programme
Dr Mike Cosgrave: military history, leadership in history and international organisations.
Dr David FitzGerald: specialist in American military and foreign policy, especially counterinsurgency warfare and 'small wars'.
Dr Detmar Klein: nineteenth- and twentieth-century French and German history.
Dr Mervyn O'Driscoll: nuclear history, foreign policy, European integration and IR theory.
Professor Geoffrey Roberts: specialist in international history, Soviet and Russian foreign policy and IR theory.
Professor David Ryan: specialist in contemporary history, American history and US foreign policy.