Module manager: Dr Louise Pears
Email: L.K.Pears@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
PIED2558 Security Studies
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides an introduction to key global security challenges and the debates on security in international relations. It examines the concept, role and making of security in the contemporary international system. It outlines the main theoretical approaches and conceptualizations used in security studies and analyses a selection of important global secuity challenges.
The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to key global security challenges and debates on security in international relations. The first objective is to outline what we mean by security and to discuss the limitations of its different conceptions. The second objective is to analyse the different theoretical schools that examine security, starting with realism and then move onto the newer theoretical approaches such as the Copenhagen school. The third objective is to examine contemporary security threats, what they mean for the analysis of international politics and how theoretical models can be applied to understand these issues.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
On completion of this module, students should be able to
1. Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate the principal debates about conceptualising security.
2. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of competing approaches to security.
3. Assess the utility of theory in understanding security.
4. Analyze current and potential responses to current security threats.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Retrieve, organise, and produce complex summaries of information and/or data relating to broad issues and theories relating to global security challenges
6. Assemble complex arguments and assessments of security to empirical case studies, and be able to evaluate and criticise the arguments of others.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | . | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 03/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team