Module Name

Module Contents

CP

Module 1:
Fundamentals of International Studies / Peace and Conflict Research

• Paradigms and concepts of political science
• Empirical and theoretical fundamentals of peace and conflict research
• Either Theories of International Relations; Theories of International Political Economy; Development Theory; Democratic Theory or Theory of the State
• Methods of empirical political science

Students must attend the lecture “Theoretical Paradigms of Political Science” and produce proof of active participation in two seminars as well as sit a written, course-related end-of-module examination.

14

Module 2:
World Order and Civilisation

Stakeholders:

• World order / international political systems / international regimes
• State and globalisation / foreign policy under globalisation / global governance
• Non-state stakeholders

Policy areas:

• Security / arms control
• Global economy (with international environmental policy)
• Human rights / women’s rights
• North-South relations
• Democratisation / civilisation / civil society

Students must produce proof of active participation in three seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

14

Module 3:
Conflicts, Wars and Peace Processes

Empirical focus

• Conflicts and wars of the present day (including humanitarian intervention)
• Peace processes / peaceful conflict control in the past and present: lessons learned and open questions

Theoretical focus

• Causes and consequences of war
• Causes of peace and peace strategies
• Conflict transformation

Students must produce proof of active participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Module 4:
Research Practice

Students deepen their empirical knowledge in the field of International Studies / Peace and Conflict Research and learn to apply methods of empirical social research by way of example and independently and to make various decisions in developing their own research design.

Students must produce proof of participation in a seminar with 4 semester hours per week lasting one semester or a seminar with 2 semester hours per week lasting two semesters and complete a written course-related end-of-module examination in the form of an empirical research paper.

14

Module 5:
Internship

Students gain an insight into the organisation and processes of the institution providing the internship and work actively within it. The internship should be undertaken in an area of peace and conflict research and of international studies in the broadest sense, e.g. at a public institution, association, non-governmental organisation, private sector company, etc.

The obligation to find a suitable internship lies with the student. The internship can be undertaken during the semester vacation or parallel to the degree programme, full-time or part-time, at one time or divided into a number of stages. Students must prepare a report on their internship, which is approved by a university lecturer via the Examination Office or the Examination Secretariat. It should report on the contents of the internship and reflect on the relationship between university education and the requirements of professional practice.

Duration: At least 2 months

11

Module 6:
Theory and Political Philosophy of Global Socialisation

• Notion of and debates surrounding the “World Society”
• Normative principles of world order
• Democracy and transnational socialisation
• Universalism and particularism

Students must produce proof of active participation in two seminars and sit a course-related end-of-module examination.

11

Compulsory Elective Module 7: Students choose one of four sub-areas

Module 7a:
Globalisation and Development

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• Globalisation concepts
• Causes of globalisation
• Effects of globalisation on states and statehood

Contents:

• Global economic policy
• Development and development processes
• Regime change, transformation and democratisation

Students must produce proof of active participation in three seminars and sit a written, course-related end-of-module examination.

14

Module 7b:
Globalisation and Law

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• Conceptual principles of globalisation debates
• Theory and practice of international jurisdiction 
• Effects of globalisation on the development and impact of inter- or transnational law

Contents:

• International law and legal order
• Transnational law
• Juridification of international relations
• International organisations

Students must produce proof of active participation in three seminars and sit a written, course-related end-of-module examination.

14

Module 7c:
Natural Science and Technical Dimensions of Peace and Conflict Research

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• Natural science and technical influences on international conflict constellations
• Civil-military ambivalences of modern technologies
• Perspectives of the sustainable design of technology and science

Contents:

• Technology-induced conflicts: handling of nuclear research and technology and of biotechnological research
• Conceptual seminars: theoretical concepts for the sustainable design of technology and science
• Theory of science and technology: recognising and evaluating the relevance of technological decisions

The seminars to be attended are offered at TU Darmstadt.

Students must produce proof of active participation in three seminars and sit a written, course-related end-of-module examination.

14

Module 7d:
Technology and International Development

Students acquire knowledge related to:

• International development cooperation with a focus on the use of technologies in developing countries
• Sustainable development

Contents:

• Development cooperation: economic, political and social dimensions of international cooperation and problem areas in developing countries
• Instruments and methods of development cooperation: strategy development, project planning, monitoring and evaluation

The seminars to be attended are offered at TU Darmstadt.

Students must produce proof of active participation in three seminars and sit a written, course-related end-of-module examination.

14

Module 8:
Final Module

Students should demonstrate their ability to develop, commensurately present and argumentatively answer a comprehensive scientific question in the form of a master’s dissertation as well as their ability to present and discuss their own research results in an oral debate.

Contents:

• Composition of a master’s dissertation on a topic of one’s own choice
• Discussion of and reflection on one’s own research project

Students must produce proof of active participation in a colloquium, compose a master’s dissertation on a topic of their own choice and take an oral examination in the form of a presentation on the dissertation and an oral discussion or an examination on topics from the master’s programme.