Capstone in Global Security Studies

Module title	Capstone in Global Security Studies
Module code	POLM023
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	30
Module staff	Professor Doug Stokes (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		2	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

This skill-based capstone course brings together the knowledge and skills acquired during your study to give you a unique perspective on how the fields of politics, security, and defence intersect to provide you with the skills to identify, analyse and solve the major challenges in contemporary global security studies. This module focuses on the consolidation of the knowledge you have gained and how we can utilise this and apply our skills in ‘real world’ contexts.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This capstone course is designed to foster your growth and development by bringing together the key concepts, skills, and insights you have acquired throughout your academic journey. The primary aims and intentions of this exercise include:

Integration: The capstone course encourages you to synthesize and apply your knowledge from various courses and disciplines, showcasing your ability to think holistically and critically.

Mastery: By working on comprehensive projects, you demonstrate your proficiency in your chosen field, solidifying your understanding of the subject matter and illustrating their competence.

Problem-solving: You are challenged to address complex, real-world issues, showcasing your capacity to analyze, troubleshoot, and devise innovative solutions.

Communication: Effective oral and written communication is paramount in any professional setting. A capstone course places emphasis on your ability to articulate their ideas, findings, and recommendations clearly and persuasively.

Collaboration: Teamwork is often an essential component of a capstone course. You learn to collaborate effectively, drawing on the diverse strengths and perspectives of your peers to achieve a common goal.

Professional development: The capstone course prepares you for your future careers by equipping you with the practical skills and experience that employers value, such as project management, research, and critical thinking.

Portfolio building: The completed capstone project serves as a tangible representation of your academic accomplishments, providing a valuable addition to your portfolio for potential employers or graduate programs.

In essence, a capstone course aims to facilitate your transition from your academic pursuits to your professional careers by challenging you to integrate, apply, and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a meaningful and practical context.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Analyze and integrate knowledge and skills from various disciplines to address complex, real-world problems relevant to their chosen field of study.
2. Design and execute a comprehensive project that showcases critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities, demonstrating mastery of their subject area.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Evaluate and appraise the capstone project's outcomes in the context of their chosen field, identifying areas of growth and improvement for future endeavors.
4. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to present project findings, analyses, and recommendations to diverse audiences within the discipline.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Collaborate efficiently with peers to develop and execute projects, utilizing the diverse strengths and perspectives of team members to achieve a common goal, while fostering teamwork and interpersonal skills.
6. Employ essential professional skills such as project management, research, and critical thinking to successfully complete the capstone project, preparing for future careers and demonstrating adaptability in a professional context.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Introductory seminars in term two, providing an overview of the purpose, objectives, and expectations of the capstone course including refining project ideas and defining scope.
Guidance and feedback sessions in term three with experts, providing real-world perspectives on the capstone projects.
Showcase sessions to peers and invited guests.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
18	282	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	18	Term two: 2-hour introductory seminars; 4 hours of further seminars to provide skills training and project guidance. Term three: 12 hours of seminars
Guided Independent Study	72	Reading and seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study	50	Reflective activities
Guided Independent Study	100	Policy Brief preparation and writing
Guided Independent Study	60	Group presentation preparation and writing

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Written policy brief	500 words	1-6	Group and module director interaction. Oral.

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Group presentation	30	(20 minutes per student in a group (e.g. 3 students, 60 minutes)	1-6	Written
Substantive policy brief	70	4,000 words	1-6	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Group presentation (20 minutes per student)	Individual recorded presentation, 20 minutes	1-6	August/September reassessment period
Substantive policy brief (4,000 words)	Substantive policy brief (4,000 words)	1-6	August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES –

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment. You be given the chance to re-submit a written policy brief / give an individual presentation, as detailed in the table above.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to redo the assessment(s) as defined above. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Mintzberg, H. (1994). The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning. New York: Free Press.

Focus: The evolution of strategic planning, its pitfalls, and the role of strategic thinking.

Tetlock, P. E., & Gardner, D. (2015). Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction. New York: Crown.

Focus: Techniques and methods for improving forecasting abilities and decision-making in various fields.

Heuer, R. J. (1999). Psychology of Intelligence Analysis. Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency.

Focus: Methods for overcoming cognitive biases and enhancing analytical skills in intelligence and strategic work.

Gray, C. S. (2018). Theory of Strategy. New York: Oxford University Press.

Focus: The foundations of strategic thinking and how to apply them in military, business, and government contexts.

Rumelt, R. P. (2011). Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters. New York: Crown Business.

Focus: The elements of effective strategies and common mistakes in strategic planning across different domains.

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Focus: Understanding the workings of human decision-making and methods for improving judgment in complex situations.

Sun Tzu. (2005). The Art of War (S. Griffith, Trans.). London: Penguin Classics.

Focus: Timeless principles of strategy and tactics applicable in military, business, and political contexts.

Slaughter, A. M. (2004). A New World Order. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Focus: Identifying and understanding emerging global trends and their implications for strategy and policy.

Shell, G. R. (2006). Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People. New York: Penguin Books.

Focus: Developing negotiation skills and techniques to achieve desired outcomes in various strategic settings.

Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Focus: Understanding the impact of technological advancements on strategy and decision-making in business, government, military, and intelligence.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) (https://www.accord.org.za/)
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (https://www.belfercenter.org/)
Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) (https://www.cebri.org/en)
Brookings Institution (https://www.brookings.edu/)
Cairo Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping in Africa (CCCPA) (https://www.cairopeacekeeping.org/)
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (https://www.csis.org/)
Centre for Policy Research (CPR) (https://www.cprindia.org/)
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) (https://www.cfr.org/)
GlobalSecurity.org (https://www.globalsecurity.org/)
Good Judgment Project (https://www.gjopen.com/)
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) (https://idsa.in/)
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) (http://issi.org.pk/)
International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (https://www.iiss.org/)
McKinsey & Company Insights (https://www.mckinsey.com/insights)
Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) (https://www.rsis.edu.sg/)
Observer Research Foundation (ORF) (https://www.orfonline.org/)
RAND Corporation (https://www.rand.org/)
South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) (https://saiia.org.za/)
Stratfor (https://worldview.stratfor.com/)
United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) (https://www.cepal.org/en)

Key words search

Global security, strategic studies, intelligence, forecasting.

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/03/2023
Last revision date	15/06/2023