Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies MLitt

All students must take the following compulsory module:

• Core in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies: focuses on major themes in the study of international security and applies them to the study of the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Students pick three optional modules. Unless students pursue a language track (below), they are expected to take at least one of their optional modules in the Middle East subject area, and one optional module in the Caucasus or Central Asia subject areas.

• The Arab-Israeli Conflict, Past and Present
• Central Asia in Global Politics
• Conflict and Peace in Post-Communist Eurasia
• Conflict in the Middle East
• Conflicts, Security and Democracy in the Greater Caucasus
• Global and Transnational Islam
• International Relations of the Modern Middle East
• International Society and Central Asia
• Iran and the World since 1921
• Politics and State Formation in the Middle East
• Social Movements and Ideologies in the Middle East
• Social Movements, Revolutions and Authoritarianism in North Africa

Those doing a language track will, in place of one of the above modules, take language modules chosen from Russian, Arabic or Persian.

Optional modules are subject to change each year, and some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).

Dissertation

The final element of the MLitt is a 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation should focus on an area of Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian security studies in which you are interested. Each student is supported by a relevant supervisor from the School who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by the end of August.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.