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| Curriculum
Curriculum
N.B. The OSCE Academy's MA program curriculum and schedule are subject to change at any time and are offered below only as a general overview of courses that will be offered in 2011-2012.
The academic year of the Master of Arts in Politics and Security Programme (Central Asia) 2011-2012 program is divided into four semesters. In Semester I, students are admitted to the program and work on developing their MA thesis proposals. Courses are offered in Semesters II and III. Semester IV is devoted to the completion of writing MA theses and internships.
The following schedule represents the planned dates for the four semesters (see Academic Calendar above):
Semester I 4 April to 28 August, 2011 Semester II 29 August to 25 December, 2011 Semester III 9 January to 30 April, 2012 Semester IV 3 May to 30 September, 2012
Two types of courses are offered for students during Semesters II and III: full-term courses and short-term modules. Full-term courses run throughout Semesters II and III. They are designed to broaden theoretical knowledge of students and strengthen their analytical and research skills.
Modules (modular courses) are one or two-week short-term courses, intensively scheduled and taught by experts in a certain field. Modules deliver a practice-oriented approach and allow students to practice their knowledge using real-life examples under the topics assigned for each class.
Semester I
Students are officially enrolled to the program and work on developing their MA thesis proposals. Students submit their draft MA thesis ideas/proposals at the beginning of Semester II. This is a non-credit assignment.
Semester II
FULL-TERM COURSES Seven required full-term courses, 25 credits: 1. Research Methods (ENG) / 4 credits 2. Aspects and Issues in International Relations (ENG) / 4 credits 3. Political Theory (ENG) / 4 credits 4. European Politics (ENG) / 4 credits 5. Contemporary Issues in Central Asian Politics and Security (ENG) / 3 credits 6. Political Institutions and Processes (ENG) / 4 credits 7. Academic Writing and Honesty (ENG) 2 credits
MODULES Three compulsory modular courses, 12 credits: 1. Human Rights and International Law (ENG) / 3 credits 2. Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts (ENG) / 7 credits 3. Political Islam. Part I (ENG) / 2 credits
Credits to be earned in Semester II: Min: 37 credits
Semester III
FULL-TERM COURSES One required full-term course: 1. Mathematical Modeling of Political Processes (ENG) / 2 credits
Five elective full-term courses (students must choose minimum three), 12 credits (out of 20 credits offered): 1. Comparative Politics: Topics in Democratization Studies (ENG) / 4 credits 2. Cases in International Relations (ENG) / 4 credits 3. International Development (ENG) / 4 credits 4. Political Economy (ENG) / 4 credits 5. Foreign Policy Analysis (ENG) / 4 credits
MODULES Nine compulsory modular courses, 23 credits: 1. OSCE (ENG) / 3 credits 2. Elections and Electoral Systems (ENG) / 3 credits 3. Migration/Human Trafficking (ENG) / 1,5 credits 4. Energy Politics (ENG) / 2 credits 5. Nation, State and Nationalism (ENG) / 1,5 credits 6. Peace & Security Challenges in Central Asia (ENG) / 3 credits 7. Non-Proliferation (ENG) / 2 credits 8. Sustainable Development (ENG) / 3 credits 9. Central Asia & China (ENG) / 3 credits 10. Political Islam. Part II (ENG) / 1 credit
Credits to be earned in Semester III: Min: 37 credits
Semester IV
Semester IV lasts from May through September (five months). During the fourth semester, students will take the Final Examination, present their MA thesis proposals at the final Colloquium, fulfill their internships, conduct research, and write their MA theses.
Total credits to be earned in Semester IV: 37 credits
Colloquium
The colloquium gives students a chance to present their MA thesis proposals to a committee of faculty members and external academics and researchers. It is a pass/fail exam with a chance to repeat it later. Colloquium takes place in several sessions and the final Colloquium usually takes place in early May.
MA Thesis
The MA thesis demonstrates a student's ability to conduct original research and report the results formally. The process of researching and writing MA thesis improves a student's research, analytical, and writing skills. The thesis is expected to be 35-60 pages in length. It must reflect one's independent work, deep understanding of the subject investigated, appropriate research methods used, and be written in a clear and precise manner with logical internal presentation. The Academic Regulations provide further information on writing and other requirements and thesis supervisors.
Internship
All enrolled students must conduct an internship in Semester IV of the academic program. The internship is an important practical educational experience and a prerequisite for successful future professional activities. During the internship, students become acquainted with practical activities in relevant fields and consider them in the light of the theoretical knowledge obtained during the academic program. Please consult the Internship Regulations of the MA program for detailed information.
Final Examination
Final Examination takes place at the end of the academic year and is held in two parts: a written exam and an oral exam. In the written exam, students are offered several topics previously covered during the academic program, out of which students choose two to write essays.
For the oral exam, students identify three topics from three different full-term courses that were discussed within the academic program. The oral exam is conducted by a small committee of examiners.
The Final Exam is graded and takes place at the OSCE Academy. There is no possibility of an electronic or online exam. The minimum passing grade for the Final Exam is C (see Grading below).
Minimum Credits to Be Earned: 111 credits
Course Descriptions
N.B. Course descriptions are subject to change at any time and are offered below only as a general guide to courses that may be offered in the MA program in 2011-2012.
FULL-TERM COURSES
Research Methods (ENG) Semester II, 4 credits Social research is a way of finding answers to questions about the world around us. It involves a variety of methods and techniques to produce knowledge. This course is a general introduction to research methods and will cover three broad topics: the structure of social research, data collection, and data analysis. In this course, students will develop the skills needed to understand methods and techniques used in social science; formulate research questions and design appropriate research; collect data using a variety of methods; develop ability to interpret research findings; and coherently describe conclusions in written and oral forms.
Aspects and Issues in International Relations (ENG) Semester II, 4 credits The purpose of this course is to provide a survey of the major approaches and theories in the study of International Relations, including key actors and major contemporary issues and developments. The course is concerned with major themes and approaches. While its uses some major case studies, its primary focus is on analytical tools rather than asking how individual countries or actors behave. At the completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate an awareness of the key features of the International System; discuss the key theoretical approaches to the study of International Relations; explain the critical role of the state in International Relations, and debate the meaning of sovereignty and the significance of self determination; analyze the impact of international institutions and non-state actors on the international system; and demonstrate an understanding of emerging issues in International Relations and the significance of developments in the international system since the end of the Cold War.
Political Theory (ENG) Semester II, 4 credits Western political theory is two and a half millennia of attempts to explain political behaviour from moral and general philosophical points of view. Practical politics and philosophical reflection together always raise questions about the ultimate reasons for anyone to get involved in political interaction, accept or decline moral constraints, fulfill a promise or renege on it. Political theory starts with such ultimate questions and attempts to explain or justify the place of individuals vis-à-vis society and political order. Thus political theory combines normative and positive reasoning, aiming at the problem of what I "ought" to do but also increasing our knowledge of what I am likely to do. This course is designed with two goals in mind: it is an introduction to some classical and modern theories and it is a forum for discussion of several key issues in political theory. Four broad topics are included: social contract and the relevant normative and positive theories; freedom and relations between the individual and society; attempts to define an ideal polity with an emphasis on democracy; and specific current issues that represent an intersection between public policy and political theory.
European Politics (ENG) Semester II, 4 credits This course is designed to provide students with a sound knowledge about the variety of the basic contemporary constitutional orders in selected (European) democracies (principally France, Germany and Great Britain), their development and their practical every-day functioning. The more general question whether democracy beyond the national level is conceivable will simultaneously serve as the main, overarching theme of the course. Each session of the course will be concluded by openly discussing the 'European dimension', i.e. the lessons which can be learned and the questions which follow (from a particular aspect of democratic rule and democratisation at the national level) for the present, ongoing process of constitutionalisation and democratisation at the European level. In this course, students will furthermore acquire a substantial knowledge not only of national constitutional orders and political systems, but also reflect extensively upon the implications, problems and questions resulting from these for the political system of the EU and for the process of constitution-making at the European level. Thus the course will provide students with a complete and up-to-date knowledge of present debates on constitution-making and democratisation in Europe.
Contemporary Issues in Central Asian Politics and Security (ENG) Semester II, 3 credits This is an introductory course on Central Asian Politics offering a helicopter overview of main ideas, concepts, problems, and practical issues arising in regional politics. The course begins with the definition of ‘Central Asia' and what this notion includes. Central Asia is analyzed from inside through relations between states and non-state actors, and from outside through politics of foreign states towards Central Asia. Certain issues such as regional security, border management, economic development, co-operation between CA states and their foreign policy are examined in detail. This course includes several round tables with the participation of Central Asian politicians.
Political Islam (ENG) Semester II, 3 credits This course traces the emergence of political Islamic thought and groups from the 19th century to present day. Among the guiding questions of the course are: Under what specific social, cultural, and political developments has "Political Islam" emerged? What kind of transitions have most parts of the Islamic World experienced in the 20th century? Does "Islam" provide a specific revolutionary momentum? To what extent does "Political Islam" reflect normative Islamic teachings? Are there tendencies toward an Islamic "enlightenment"? Students are encouraged to consult (beyond the assigned reading) one of the various introductions to Islamic history (for instance works by John Esposito, Albert Hourani, or Marshall Hodgson) to get familiar with some of the basic concepts, personalities, and events.
Mathematical Modeling of Political Processes (ENG) Semester III, 2 credits This short course will introduce students to using mathematical methods for modeling and analyzing political situations. Thus the course is divided in two parts: In the first, the concept of hypothesis testing is reviewed and its application demonstrated on a series of exercises constituting mini-research by students. As a prerequisite successful completion of the main Methodology course is assumed. The second part deals with basic concepts of game theory. Successful completion will lead to ability to work with the following concepts: strategy, equilibrium, multiple equilibria, and elementary games: prisoner's dilemma, coordination, Battle of the Sexes, and a general outline of the principal-agent problem. As we will study the insights gained thanks to formalization, particular attention will paid to the limitations of mathematical and formal methods. Examples of pseudo-scientific modeling will be examined to highlight these limitations. The instruments studied in this course will be used in the following elective courses: Foreign Policy Analysis and Political Economy.
Academic Writing and Honesty (ENG) Semester II, 2 credits This course offers students to learn about the requirements of Academic Writing, discuss model texts, and produce essays for several genres. Students will learn how to approach a writing task and take into consideration the expectations of readership in the Academic Writing context; develop your writing process through generating ideas, outlining, drafting, peer-editing, revising, and editing your essays; become familiar with and practice the genres mentioned above; learn how to use and document sources in your papers; become aware of style and register appropriate for Academic Writing; and become familiar with such linguistic aspects of writing as collocations, linking devices, English capitalization and punctuation.
Political Institutions and Processes (ENG) Semester II, 4 credits The course covers theories of political institutions, comparing and contrasting them with application to specific examples relevant for Central Asia. The overall purpose of this course is to introduce students to the latest theoretical advances in the study of institutions. Particular attention is paid to explanation of the functioning of institutions involved in creation and implementation of foreign policy, international development and to international organizations proper.
Central Asia & China (ENG) Semester III, 3 credits This course explores relations between Central Asian states and China from historical, political, economic, cultural, and religious perspectives. The course includes a historical and philosophical analysis of China's external relations to the Central Asian region, analysis of these relations after the collapse of the Soviet Union, contemporary developments in CA-Chinese relations, border relations, questions of ethnic and national identities, economic co-operation, security, and the SCO.
International Development (ENG) Semester III, 4 credits This is a general introductory course to the field of international development. Students will be acquainted with some of the major development theories, ideas and practices. The major focus of the course will be on the analysis of the development theories. The discussion of these theories will allow students learn about how development has been shaped and practiced in the last 60 years. We will also discuss key players in development and find out how the international aid system works. Where relevant, we will touch upon development issues in practice, such as culture and development, gender and development, sustainable development etc. While the focus of the course is to provide an international perspective and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with development issues outside of the region, we will frequently put the context into Central Asia.
Comparative Politics: Topics in Democratization Studies (ENG) Semester III, 4 credits This course is designed to provide students with an introductory overview of some major issues in several recent debates in Comparative Politics that revolved around regime change and democratization. Starting with the "transitology" debate of the 1990s, we will move on to discuss concepts of democratic consolidation, or "consolidology," and the most recent debate on neither completely democratic, nor fully authoritarian types of political rule in the context of regime hybridity. The course aims to develop and train academic skills such as the preparation and presentation of research papers and look into the design of research projects and defend arguments developed individually.
Cases in International Relations (ENG) Semester III, 4 credits By presenting a number of cases in international relations the course gives students a good grounding in them as well as the wider arena of international politics. The cases are meant not only to be studied by themselves but also to illustrate the dynamics of international relations and allow students to apply the knowledge gained in other subjects. The cases selected are mostly from Eurasia, and it is this region where most of our attention will be devoted. Although mostly dealing with contemporary issues and events, frequent reference will be made to history. Our focus will be interdisciplinary, drawing from geopolitics, economics, history, linguistics, religion, strategic studies, and allied disciplines.
Political Economy (ENG) Semester III, 4 credits The course discusses four areas of contemporary political economy and global (international) political economy: development, trade, energy and global monetary regimes. In the context of this discussion we introduce a number of theoretical tools that help us model economic policies and their effects. Students who have taken economics may find them familiar, but previous exposure to economics is not required for successful completion of this course. The course is divided into two parts: Development and Underdevelopment and Trade, Energy, and Money. The general strategy is to combine history and theory, facts and explanations. Particular attention is paid to the multiplicity of explanatory factors used in political economy. There are a few themes from economics that will reappear throughout the course: market failures and regulatory failures, the principal-agent relations, the natural monopoly and its regulation, issues of coordination, reputation, and trust. These will be presented in a non-technical, self-contained way so that even those without any economics background whatsoever will be able to understand. The course is focused on finding explanations for various politico-economic phenomena. Why do certain economies develop and others stagnate? Why do global monetary regimes change? Why is the politics of gas pipelines so different from the politics of oil pricing? Why did OPEC delay its show of power until 1973? Why did the dollar not become a top currency until after the WWII? Such are the questions we are going to discuss.
Foreign Policy Analysis (ENG) Semester III, 4 credits Foreign Policy Analysis introduces the students to the process of formation of foreign policy. The course discusses concepts and models of decision making (principal-agent relations, bureaucratic politics, limited rationality, interest group politics, and domestic sources of foreign policy). These models are tested through in-depth analysis of decision making during crises.
MODULES
International Law and Human Rights (ENG) Semester II, 3 credits The course objective is to acquaint students with the principles, concepts, and methods of international public law with a focus on human rights law in the second half of the course. Students will learn more about international legal systems, law-making processes, law enforcement, main intergovernmental organizations, and settlement of disputes between states and non-state actors. The second part of the course will focus on human rights, introducing main ideas about human rights and how they were implemented in legal instruments. Human rights law will be explored through various concepts such as the death penalty, development, detention, fair trial, education, international crimes, racism, and religion.
Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts (ENG) Semester II, 7 credits The course considers such notions as peace, conflict, conflict transformation, and concepts of reconciliation and theories of violence. The importance of understanding these concepts cannot be underestimated today given the numerous conflict regions in the world. It has long been accepted that prevention is better than cure and that preventing conflict is more cost-effective than responding to a situation after the event. This is true in terms of the cost in human lives as well as in terms of the rebuilding of devastated countries, regions, and economies when conflict ends. Root causes are often complex and vary from conflict to conflict, but may include discrimination, denial of rights, and poverty. The consequences of conflicts emphasize the necessity of teaching new generations of specialists how conflict prevention strategies work, and how to diagnose and make prognoses of conflicts. This module aims not only to explain the main concepts and theories of conflict prevention and transformation, but also to present to students how it works in real life through the analysis of case studies and practice.
OSCE (ENG) Semester III, 3 credits The course presents the OSCE in depth. This is a very intensive modular course taught by professionals working for the OSCE, who share their valuable experience in the organization. The analysis of OSCE activities includes surveys of its history, a description of the OSCE structure and its major activities as well as considerations of the role and place of the OSCE today. The OSCE module is concluded by workshops conducted by representatives of OSCE field offices in Central Asia.
Elections and Electoral Systems (ENG) Semester III, 3 credits The course aims to familiarize students with the international standards and commitments for free and fair elections and different election systems. Students will learn about the concept of election assistance programs and principles of election observation. The course examines elections and election systems in Central Asia, identifying key problems of elections in every Central Asian state based on case studies of past elections in these countries. Moreover, students will get acquainted with election systems in Western Europe, the US, Russia, and other states.
Energy Politics (ENG) Semester III, 2 credits The aim of the course is to give an overview of energy issues in Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region and to introduce to students the main concepts and theories in the study of energy politics. Students will learn political issues related to both the petroleum sector and renewable energy and discuss essay and thesis topics related to energy politics.
Nation, State and Nationalism (ENG) Semester III, 1,5 credits This course offers an introduction to central concepts and theories in the study of nationalism and ethnicity. It includes discussion of the development of various kinds of nations, nation-states, and nationalisms from pre-modern Europe to the present with a special emphasis on the Soviet and the post-Soviet space, and nationalism and the international system (state sovereignty, secession, national self-determination).
Peace & Security Challenges in Central Asia (ENG, RUS) Semester III, 3 credits The course considers the present state of international relations and the role of international security policy institutions in modern politics. The issues of security policy in Central Asian states and other CIS countries, and the relations of Central Asian states with Western countries in the security policy sphere as well as their approach towards international peace efforts are discussed. The course offers a deeper analysis of military and political aspects of national security and civil-military co-operation in the modern world. Starting with the consideration of democratic/parliamentary oversight of the security sector, the module continues with discussions of the importance of the integration of armed forces with civil society as a significant expression of democracy. Concepts of arms control, non-proliferation, regional military security, and the international military presence in the region are examined.
Migration and Human Trafficking (ENG) Semester III, 1, 5 credits |
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1 A, Botanichesky pereulok, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic |
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