Global Affairs

Course detail Description

Our course is designed to enable you to develop an advanced understanding of the politics, society, economy and history of non-western countries, regions and rising powers, including via comparative analysis. The course allows you to build regional specialisation, alongside a consideration of cross-cutting and transnational issues in global affairs. With a firm focus on regions beyond Western Europe and North America, this course offers a truly global perspective on the changing world.

Teaching

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the programme. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

A typical 20 credit module involves 20 hours of lectures and/or seminars, plus 180 hours of self- study to prepare for classes and assignments. The dissertation module involves 20 hours of research methods teaching (lectures/seminars), five hours of dissertation supervision and approximately 560 hours of self-guided learning while researching and writing the dissertation. The capstone project will involve 30 hours of lectures/ tutorials, 18 hours of project work, and 352 hours of self-guided learning.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

Assessment methods will depend on the modules selected. The primary method of assessment for this course is:

• Most 20-credit modules are assessed through a combination of essays (2,000-4,000 words), other written and oral exercises such as policy papers, multi-media presentation and writing/ data based exercises. Some may involve exams.
• The dissertation module will be assessed on the basis of the dissertation (12,000 words) and a research methods assignment (2,000 words).
• The capstone project will be assessed on the basis of a group research report (c 4,000 words per person), individual policy paper (6,000 words) and an individual action appeal (selection of written and oral formats).

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Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules, and students on this course take modules totalling 180 credits.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for update.

You are required to take the following modules:

• Introduction to Global Affairs (20 credits)
• Global Affairs Dissertation (60 credits)

or

• Global Affairs Capstone Project (40 credits) plus 4x5 credit online modules offered by the International School for Government – these may typically include Approaches to Policy-making, Effective Communications for Policymakers, Learning what Works (Evaluation), and Robust Decision-Making under Deep Uncertainty (total: capstone project plus four online modules = 60 credits)

• 40 credits from a range of regional introductory modules that may typically include the following:
• Contemporary Brazil (20 credits)
• Contemporary India: State, Society & Economy since 1947 (20 credits)
• China & the Age of Globalisation (20 credits)
• Russia & the EU (20 credits)
• African Issues in Global Affairs (20 credits)
• The Politics of the Contemporary Middle East (20 credits)

In addition, students take 60 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:

• Indian Foreign & Security Policy (20 credits)
• India’s Political Economy (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics in India and Pakistan (20 credits)
• China & Global Governance (20 credits)
• Economic Policies & Development in Contemporary China (20 credits)
• Politics of Energy Security in Eurasia (20 credits)
• Power & Social Conflict in Russia (20 credits)
• Development, Democracy & Human Rights in Brazil (20 credits)
• Globalisation, Development & the Americas (20 credits)
• Political Ecology, Environment & Brazil (20 credits)
• Divided Cities, Contested States: Urban Violence & Transformation in the Middle East (20 credits)
• A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (20 credits)
• Culture & Society in the Middle East & North Africa (20 credits)
• The State & Development in Africa & Asia (20 credits)
• Emerging Powers in Global Leadership (20 credits)
• Global Health & Environment (20 credits)
• Many other modules offered by the African Leadership Centre, Brazil, China, India, Middle East, Russia Institutes and the School of Global Affairs
• Language modules offered by the Modern Language Centre (which may include Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian). Language modules can also be taken for additional credit (20 credits)