PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION: MSc Conflict Studies
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Awarding Body
LSE
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N/A
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Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body,
e.g. ESRC; BPS etc
Name of final award
Programme Title
Duration of the course
Based in the Department/Institute:
Relevant QAA subject benchmark
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Application Code
First written/last amended
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The programme aims to:
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MSc
Conflict Studies
12 months
Government Department
N/A
L2U2
April 2012
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The proposed new MSc In Conflict Studies aims to give a greater focus and coordination
to the Department of Government’s and the School’s provision in this growing area of
study and practice. Conflict Studies will be one of the themes in the new Department of
Government strategic plan.
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The degree and core teaching will be based in the Government department but will also
be enriched by many optional courses in related departments. At its core this degree will
teach and develop research projects in comparative political science. Graduates will be
well qualified in the latest theoretical developments, critical thinking and research best
practices in Conflict Studies.
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Students will be taught by leading experts in the field. The programme has been designed
to provide students with access to LSE’s expertise in this field through a range of options
that offer in depth coverage of theories of conflict, political violence and civil wars,
including the implications for strategies of statebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and
reconciliation, and conflict resolution.
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Application of the above concepts and theories across a range of global, regional,
national and subnational contexts by means of quantitative and qualitative analysis,
including detailed comparative case-studies.
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The course will build in as a compulsory element some methodological training in
quantative and/or qualitative methods.
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We envisage a student intake that will be a mix of students progressing straight from
undergraduate studies, as well as more mature students who will have already had
practitioner experience in the field of Conflict Studies broadly, whether in governmental
institutions or NGOs. We aim to provide a multi-disciplinary perspective on the study of
conflict which will be an enhanced learning experience for those who wish to develop
careers in the policy world in governments, international organisations, security agencies,
NGOs, as well as providing an excellent foundation for those students who wish to
progress to a PhD programme.
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Create a teaching-research nexus by linking the theoretical knowledge and empirical
analysis with research and policy-based debates in conflict and conflict related issues.
Reach out and engage with practitioners through a programme linked seminar series and
research projects through the Conflict Research Group.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
The Programme aims to achieve the following knowledge-specific outcomes:
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Develop critical and analytical skills
Develop skills and tools to identify and classify problems and develop strategies for their
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solution
Ability to evaluate and engage in key debates on the issues
Develop advanced research skills
Recognise and emphasise policy relevance of acquired theoretical and conceptual
knowledge
Provide advanced basis for further academic and practice-related research and training
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
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Lectures delivered using a range of video and audio tools
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Seminars, focused on enhancing the understanding of topics, the lecture topics including
problem-solving, simulation exercises and role-play
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Enhancing empirical expertise on specific conflicts through student presentations and casestudy based essays
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Offering a range of related extracurricular activities, providing another setting for
reinforcing the understanding and allowing further exploration of key ideas, such as film
evenings and theatre plays
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Organising extracurricular debates/contact with practitioners, either as separate seminars,
or participating in seminars
Assessment strategies:
 A mix of formative and summative essays, student-led presentations and exams
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Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
MSc Conflict Studies
Additional information
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Criteria for admission to the programme
Standard LSE admission requirements
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Indicators of quality
The Conflict Studies stream accounts for about 50% of applications and 40% of registrations on
the current MSc in Comparative Politics. The stream has one of the biggest intakes in the
Department of Government (53 registrations in 2011-12). For 2012-13 the rate of offers is running
at about 60% of applications, which is a strong indication of the quality potential of the
programme.
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Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
Each MSc undergoes a Departmental Teaching Review during its Summer Term meeting. The
Department emails all students registered on its programmes during the Lent Term as a quality
assurance process. The Department arranges focus group feedback on its MSc programmes
over a 4-year cycle.
School level quality assurance processes include:
1. a system of initial programme approval, with input from the providers of resource-based
services (including the Library, IT Services and the Academic Planning and Resources
Committee) and including an external assessor's report, to be conducted by the School's
central academic bodies;
2. a system of initial course approval, with input from the providers of resource-based
services and conducted by the School's central academic bodies;
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3. a system of approval of major modifications to programmes and courses, conducted by
the School's central academic bodies;
4. a system of central review of departmental taught provision every five years or so,
informed by available evidence, including student views, the main purposes being to
promote development, identify and disseminate good practice, and to flag any concerns
over standards to departments, without adjudicating on them;
5. a system of gaining student feedback on their teaching and learning experience in the
School;
6. periodic review by the School's academic bodies of its internal Codes of Practice;
7. due and appropriate consideration of national quality assurance requirements through the
School's committee structure; and
8. departments have the following arrangements in place for assuring their quality and
standards:
8.1. Staff-Student Liaison Committees for all students that meet regularly, with minutes of
meetings produced and circulated to staff and students;
8.2. Departmental Staff meetings that involve all staff, meet at least three times per
academic year, and consider information from any other extant departmental committees.
Minutes should be produced and circulated to staff;
8.3. A Teaching Committee that involves appropriate departmental staff, meets regularly
each academic session and considers all aspects of departmental learning and teaching,
including new programme and course proposals. Minutes should be produced and
circulated to members;
8.4. A system for ensuring the effective participation in the School's annual programme
monitoring exercise;
8.5. A system for considering course and programme results annually, and revising
taught provision as appropriate;
8.6. A system for considering student survey course results annually, and revising taught
provision as appropriate;
8.7. A system for considering external examiners' reports, and acting on them, on an
annual basis, with the School having an associated responsibility (a) to ensure that the
system functions and (b) for any School-wide lessons on both good practice and areas of
concern from the reports collectively.
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