international administration and global governance

GÖTEBORG UNIVERSITY Faculty Board of Social Sciences PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

Programme description for the

Master programme in

International Administration and

Global Governance

120 higher education credits

Second cycle

Confirmed by the Faculty Board of Social Sciences

2010-08-23, 2010-12-20

GÖTEBORG UNIVERSITY Faculty of Social Sciences Programme description

for Master Programme in International Administration

and Global Governance Advanced Level

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1. Confirmation The syllabus of the programme description for the programme in International Administration and Global Governance, 120 higher education credits, was approved by the Faculty Board of Social Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 2010-08-23 and 2010-12-20. It is valid from the fall of 2011. 2. Objectives The overall aim of the programme is to provide advanced knowledge and analytical skills relevant to International Administration and Global Governance, an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand contemporary and historical developments in international issues and policies, and the complex interrelations among domestic and international governmental, inter-governmental and nongovernmental actors. The programme will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for both professional careers in and post-graduate research related to international administration and global governance. International administration encompasses the activities of both international organizations but also local or national organizations that seek to influence or collaborate with international organizations. Research shows that work in international administration and international organizations differs substantially from national administration and domestic organizations, and requires skills and knowledge not provided by existing educational programmes. The programme explores the architecture of the international system and equips students with the analytical skills to assess the international but also local level implications of international policy, as well as to formulate strategies to operate effectively in the international arena. Special emphasis is also placed on independent work methods, critical assessment and the ability to solve problems. After completing the programme, students will:

• Have knowledge and insights regarding international administration and global

governance, and have proficiency in both substantive issues of international relevance as well as administrative aspects of global governance;

• Have specialized knowledge of specific issues in the field of international administration and global governance, including the most recent research on those issues;

• Have advanced knowledge of methodological approaches relevant to the field of international administration and global governance;

• Have the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, assess and understand complex phenomena, matters of inquiry, and situations even when complete information is lacking;




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• Have the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate research questions, to plan and apply appropriate research methods to complete advanced assignments in a specified timeframe and be able to assess one’s own work;

• Have the ability to communicate research findings and the empirical basis and theoretical premises that support those findings both orally and in writing to national and international audiences;

• Have the necessary skills to contribute independently to research and development or in some other professional capacity in the field of international administration and global governance;

• Have the ability to make judgements regarding scientific, societal and ethical aspects of the field as well as being aware of the ethical aspects relevant to research and development in international administration and global governance

• Have insight into the limitations and potential contributions of science, as well as society’s responsibility for its use; and

• Be able to identify one’s own need for additional knowledge and take responsibility for one’s own continued professional development.

3. Programme structure International Administration and Global Governance is a two year degree programme consisting of core courses, a course in research methodology and policy analysis, electives that allow students to pursue a functional or regional specialization, an internship and masters thesis. Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4

Module 1

15 hp

Theoretical and historical

perspectives on global governance

( 15 hec core course)

Semi-elective

course 15 hec

(in-depth course)

Internship/Elective course 15 hec

Module 2

15 hp

International administration and

policy ( 15 hec core

course)

Internship/Elective

course 15hec

Research methods

15 hec

Master thesis

30 hec

4. Contents The programme is inter- and multidisciplinary and addresses a broad range of topics within the field of International Administration and Global Governance. Disciplines that make up the programme are: Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Global Studies, and Development Studies and International Development Cooperation.




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Courses: Module 1: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives on Global Governance, 15 higher education credits, compulsory core course. The course lays the theoretical foundation for a broad interdisciplinary and problem-oriented approach to international organizations and global governance. The course explores and analyzes historical developments and contemporary currents in international issues such as international trade, international aid and development, security, and a relative newcomer to the international arena, international environmental protection. In addition, the course will identify and critically analyze the principal institutions, organizations and regimes that make up the international system. Module 2, International Administration and Policy, 15 higher education credits, compulsory core course. The course analyzes in depth the organizational structure and behaviour of international organizations, as well as strategies for effecting change in the international arena. It seeks to yield practical knowledge of and the skills necessary both to analyze and contribute to the work of international organizations. Case-based learning complements academic literature in order to explore selected and illustrative experiences of international organizations seeking to bring about change in accordance with their own objectives. The course will analyze central aspects of international organizations such as decision making in the presence of economic and political constraints, the instruments available for influencing global regimes, their relationship to national law and national economic systems, their relationship to local practice and public opinion, questions of representation and accountability, and how international organizations shape the international arena and affect national and local contexts in the long and short term. Module 3, Semi-elective course, 15 higher education credits. This is the in-depth course on the programme. Students can choose from among a list of approved courses within the programme’s constituent disciplines: Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Global Studies, and Development Studies and International Development Cooperation. Module 4, Internship or Elective, 15 higher education credits. Internship: Students will do an internship in an organization (public, private or non-profit) active in the field of international administration relevant. Students are responsible for identifying, contacting and making arrangements with the organizations. Internship placements require final approval by the course coordinator in order to qualify for higher education credits. Students who elect not to do an internship can fill the requirement with an elective course.




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Elective: Students may select from a list of courses deemed relevant to the field of international administration and global governance. Exceptions will be decide on a case by case basis. Module 5, Internship or Elective course, 15 higher education credits. See information under Module 4. Module 6, Methodology Course, 15 higher education credits. This course concentrates on epistemology, research design, research ethics, and an overview of research methods. Particular emphasis is given to various quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches that are needed for working and conducting research in the field of International Administration and Global Governance. Module 7, Master Thesis, 30 higher education credits. Students will write a Master thesis with theoretical and empirical relevance to and that contributes new knowledge to the field of International Administration and Global Governance. The student will independently formulate an original and well delineated research question, identify, survey and synthesize knowledge pertinent to the research question, choose suitable analytical methods, select or collect appropriate data, analyse the material and to draw well-founded conclusions. The course also expects students to assess the validity of their own conclusions, communicate the results to different audiences, and complete the work within the specified timeframe. The thesis writing will be supervised individually. Students will also be required to defend the thesis in a final examination seminar, as well as act as an opponent on another student’s thesis. 5. Prerequisites The requirement for admission to the programme is a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 60 higher education credits in a social science discipline. Priority will be given to applicants with 60 higher education credits in one of the following disciplines: Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Global Studies, and Development Studies and International Development Cooperation. Students with an additional 15 higher education credits in a second of these disciplines will be given precedence.

In addition, admission requires fluency in English. This requirement is filled if the language of an applicant’s undergraduate studies was English, or through English B level or English proficiency equivalent to current IELTS- or TOEFL-test, see www.studera.nu. 6. Degree After the completed programme of 120 higher education credits, the student will obtain a Two-year Master of science in International Administration and Global Governance.




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7. Additional information • A minimum of 15 higher education credits in core courses at advanced level will give

admission to in-depth courses (unless otherwise is specified in the separate syllabus description). Completed in-depth courses give admission to the methodology course, and the Master thesis course.

• Students will be required to pay their own travel expenses in relation to the internship. • The internship may involve location outside Göteborg. • Student evaluations of each module as well as of the programme in general will be

performed regularly and taken into account in the evaluation and development of the Master programme.

international administration and global governance

Education