MA Peace and Conflict Studies

Program Overview

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The Peace and Conflict Studies MA program delves into the complexities of contemporary armed conflicts and peacebuilding, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of war and peace dynamics. Through core modules, option modules, and a dissertation, students develop analytical, research, and professional skills essential for careers in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The program emphasizes inter-cultural awareness and sensitivity, preparing graduates for work in complex environments.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Objective:

To understand the nature of contemporary armed conflicts, how peace is forged, and the challenges of post-war peacebuilding.

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Description:

This 1-year full-time or 2-years part-time program delves into the complexities of contemporary armed conflicts and peacebuilding, examining the interplay between domestic and international actors. Students will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by war and explore strategies for achieving lasting peace at local and national levels.

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Key Learning Outcomes:

• Substantive knowledge: Identify and understand the relationship between peace and conflict, including post-war recovery challenges at local, national, and international levels.
• Analytical skills and critical thinking: Critically engage with theories of post-war recovery, including concepts like conflict, peace, peacebuilding, state-building, and humanitarianism, while identifying gaps and areas for improvement in current practices.
• Research skills: Design and conduct advanced research that addresses the challenges of research in conflict-affected environments.
• Communication skills: Effectively communicate analytical and reasoned arguments, demonstrating awareness of multiple narratives and understandings of conflict, engaging with both theoretical and empirical material in verbal and written forms.
• Professional skills: Research and work safely, ethically, and effectively in complex and unpredictable conflict-affected environments.
• Interpersonal skills: Demonstrate cultural awareness, mindfulness, patience, and sensitivity to diverse opinions when working on contentious conflict issues.

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Outline:

The program consists of core modules, option modules, and a dissertation.

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Core Modules:

• The Causes and Conduct of Conflict
• The Politics of Peacebuilding

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Option Modules (choose four):

• Approaches to Political Theory
• Critical Theory
• The Practice of Fieldwork
• Project Placement
• Gender and Migration
• Gendering Politics: An Intersectional Approach
• Governing for the Environment
• Law, Violence and Authoritarianism
• Leading and Managing Change
• Justice, Legitimacy and Democracy
• Conflict and Development
• Ethics and World Politics
• New Security Challenges
• Principles of Policy Advice
• The Politics of Everyday Life
• Themes and Theories in International Relations
• Theories and Policies of Development Governance
• Applying Human Rights
• Challenges to Policy-making in Democratising Countries
• Politics of Migration
• Policy Report (with PCS Placement - Applied Route)
• Global Governance
• Gendering Politics: An Intersectional Approach
• Africa and International Politics
• Critical Theories of International Political Economy
• European Public Policy
• Foundations of Global Development Politics: Rules of the game
• Challenges of Global Development Politics: Games within the rules
• Contemporary Issues in International Political Economy
• Transitional Justice and Human Rights
• The Politics of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Women, Citizenship and Conflict
• Introduction to Qualitative Methods and Data Analysis
• Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis

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Dissertation:

Students can choose between a traditional 12,000-word dissertation or a Policy Report based on primary data collected during a fieldwork placement.

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Additional notes:

• The program offers the option of a fieldwork placement in South Africa or the UK during the autumn term.
• Students can also undertake an independent fieldwork placement in a peace and conflict context during the summer term.
• The program's modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the chosen pathway and modules. They may include essays, group projects, reflective diaries, and a final dissertation.

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Teaching:

The program utilizes a combination of lectures, seminars, and one-to-one supervision. Students will be taught by world-leading academics in small groups, fostering a personalized learning experience.

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Careers:

Graduates have found success in various roles and organizations, including:

• Political risk analyst
• Civil Service Fast Streamer
• Conflict manager
• Community relations specialist
• Public Relations executive
• Government social research officer

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Other:

• The program is ranked among the UK's top ten for research quality and environment.
• Faculty members advise governments and international organizations, contributing to news media and current affairs programs globally.
• The program emphasizes inter-cultural awareness, mindfulness, and sensitivity to diverse opinions, preparing students for work in complex environments.

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Summary:

The Peace and Conflict Studies MA program offers a comprehensive and intensive examination of contemporary war and peace issues. Through rigorous coursework, hands-on fieldwork opportunities, and expert guidance, students gain vital knowledge and skills to contribute to conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts around the world.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

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Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

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Study mode

Full-time (1 year) £10,590 £23,900

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Part-time (2 years)

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£5,295

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£11,950

• Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
• For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
• UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
• International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

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Additional costs

• If you choose to undertake a placement in South Africa you will need to budget around £1,200 to £1,400, over and above MA tuition fees and living expenses.
You'll need to cover the cost of flights, accommodation and sustenance.
• You may incur some additional expenses for books, but these costs are optional as most of the texts you'll need are available in the University library.
If the resources you need aren't available, you can borrow via inter-library loans and order new books to our library for free.