Aim and Objectives
The aim of the programme is to provide quality graduate level training and research to enable our students analyse conflicts so as to understand the underlying causes and to apply appropriate strategies to manage or resolve them. The specific objectives of the programme are:
- To generate and transfer knowledge in conflict and peace dynamics through research and teaching including professional workshops.
- To deliver high-quality postgraduate programmes at Masters’ level.
- To give students theoretical, methodological and practical grounding in the emerging field of peace and conflict studies.
- To conduct research on the causes if intrastate and international armed conflict; security, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace building with special reference to Africa.
- To engage in practical projects that build local capacities for sustainable development, community engagement, governance and conflict transformation.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING AWARD OF M.Sc DEGREE
In addition to the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, the following regulations shall govern the award of the M.Sc in Peace and Security studies:
- The candidates for admission to the programme shall possess an appropriate Bachelor’s degree of the University of Port Harcourt or any other recognized university. Preference shall be given to candidates doing related jobs in Government Ministries, the Private sector, and Security services.
- The maximum period allowed for the completion of the M.Sc degree by full-time and part-time students shall be 18 and 36 months respectively (or an equivalent period, pro-rata, for a combination of part-time and full-time registration),
- Students may register for a maximum of 45 units, but assessment for the award of the degree is based on the attainment of 43 units.
- A part-time student shall be required to register for a minimum of 15 units in any one year.
- The M.Sc Peace and Security Studies degree shall be classified in line with the existing regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).
Admission Requirements
Candidates for the Master’s Degree in Peace and Security Studies must have one of the following:
a. A good first-degree honours from any discipline with a minimum of second-class lower division with CGPA of 3.00 in a five-point scale.
b. A minimum of third-class honours degree from a recognized university plus Postgraduate Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies at credit level with a CGPA of 3.50
c. Credit in HND with Postgraduate Diploma in Peace and Security Studies from a recognized university with a CGPA of 3.50. and
d. Evidence of NYSC discharge or exemption/exclusion certificate.
Duration of Programme
- The Full-time Master degree in Peace and Security Studies shall run a minimum of four Quarters (12 calendar months).
- The Part-time programme shall run for a minimum of six Quarters and a maximum of eight Quarters.
Requirements for Graduation
To qualify for the award of Master’s Degree in Peace and Security Studies, a candidate must pass a minimum of 37 credit units comprising core, elective and seminars courses and the Thesis.
Domain of the Programme
All Master’s Degree programmes in Peace and Security Studies shall be domicile at Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CPSS), Faculty of Social Sciences University of Port Harcourt.
Mode of Application
Requests for application forms should be made to the Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CPSS), and such requests must be accompanied by the stipulated fee made payable to the Centre for Peace and Security Studies (CPSS), University of Port Harcourt with the candidate’s name, address and course applied for, written at the reverse side.
FIRST MODULE
| S/NO | COURSE CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDIT UNIT |
| 1 | PSS 800.1 | Theoritical Perspectives on Conflict, Peace and Security | 3 |
| 2 | PSS 801.1 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 |
| 3 | SGS 801.1 | ICT and Research Methodology | 2 |
| 8 |
SECOND MODULE
| S/NO | COURSE CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDIT UNIT |
| 1 | PSS 802.1 | Environment and Conflict | 3 |
| 2 | PSS 803.1 | Peace-making and International Peace -keeping | 3 |
| 3 | PSS 804.1 | African Approaches to Conflict Management and Resolution | 3 |
| 4 | PSS 805.1 | Language , Communication and Conflict Management | 3 |
| 12 | |||
THIRD MODULE
| S/NO | COURSE CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDIT UNIT |
| 1 | PSS 806.2 | Critical Security Studies | 3 |
| 2 | PSS 807.2 | International Security Studies | 3 |
| 3 | PSS.808.2 | International Organisations, Conflict and Security Management | 3 |
| 9 |
FOURTH MODULE
| S/NO | COURSE CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDIT UNIT |
| 1 | SGS 809.2 | Management and Enterpreneurship | 3 |
| 2 | PSS 810.2 | M.Sc Dissertation | 6 |
| 6 | |||
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF COURSES
PSS 800.1 Theoretical Perspectives on Conflict, Peace and Security(3 Credit Units)
The course examines key concepts, theoretical perspectives and models of conflict analysis, peace-building and the structure of contemporary international security, including contending theories of international relations and regional security complexes. It also enquires into military and non-military sources of insecurity as related to global regional and national/state levels as well as human security. Other issues discussed are: critical security studies; conflicts commonly occurring in all human relations; progress from submerged moments to rising tensions; and the examination of crises/violence in the post-conflict stage and the analysis of causes at every relevant stage. Analysis is approached through such theoretical perspectives as the conflict dynamics triangle; needs-based conflict origins; and rational, strategic calculation and analysis of social psychological processes. Furthermore, the course deals with concepts such as positive peace, a culture of peace and the major approaches/schools on early warning and prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution and transformation/peacebuilding in their historical revolution. The multi-track approach of peacebuilding, particularly the three level analyses of actors and action pyramids, will also be examined. The UN Agenda for Peace will be presented. Discourse on top-down, bottom-up and integrative approaches will be examined featuring state and non-state actors, the varied strategies they deploy in peace interventions and their efforts to ensure coordination for best results.
PSS 801.1 Advanced Research Methodology(3 Credit Units).
This course is aimed at introducing research methods in peace and conflict studies. Issues to be covered include, conceptual foundations of research; concepts, constructs, hypothesis, theories, variables, etc. The nature of peace and conflict data, community conflict research, the Participatory Rural Appraisal methodology, the historical methodology, and ethics in conflict research will be applied. Others are types of research, data collection methods, sampling and sampling designs; measurement; questionnaire construction; organization of project reports; data analysis, and hypothesis testing. The management of conflict research findings as an instrument of peace building.
SGS 801.1 ICT and Research Methodology (2 Credit Units).
This course should cover essentials of spread sheets, Internet technology, Statistical Packages, Precision and Accuracy of Estimates, Principles of Scientific Research, Concepts of Hypothesis, Formulation and Testing, Organization of Research and Report Writing.
PSS 802.1 Environment and Conflict (3 Credit Units)
Students will understand the origin and nature of conflicts caused by environmental degradation in Africa, particularly in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. It will also examine the impact of war on the environment and global environmental protocols and legislations enacted to protect the environment.
PSS 803.1 Peace-making and International Peacekeeping (3 Credit Units).
This course will expose students to the problems of peace-making and peacekeeping initiatives around the world. This is with a view to identifying Regional and Global efforts at managing conflict within International Law and UN Security Council mandates. Emphasis shall be placed on the roles of the UN, ECOWAS and NGOS in peace-making and peacekeeping, Chapters and levels of UN engagement in International Conflict and topics on the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ civilians in times of conflict.
PSS 804.1 African Approaches to Conflict Management and Resolution (3 Credit Units).
This course is aimed at providing the students with an understanding of issues of conflict and peace in Africa, understanding the principle and process of Alternate Dispute Resolution and Traditional Dispute Resolution mechanisms; the nature of the community and state in Africa and its relationship to peace, African institutions as instruments for peace building, Westernization and challenges to African institutions and culture as bases for conflict, African colonial past and implications for conflict, African approaches to conflict, nonviolence and peace-building. Case studies from Nigeria, West Africa and the rest of Africa will be used.
PSS 805.1 Language, Communication and Conflict Management (3 Credit Units)
This course focuses on the importance of communication to conflict management. It looks at communication theory, and the Media as an instrument of mass communication. It explores attitudes and communication skills in conflict situations. It also covers the meaning of communication; elements of good communication, communication skills and tools; listening techniques, roadblocks to communication and conflict management. It will also involve ethics of reporting conflict, minimizing bias in conflict reporting; use of language in conflict reporting; risks in conflict coverage and reporting; conflict of interest between media proprietors and the ethics in conflict coverage.
PSS 806.2 Critical Security Studies ( 3 Credit Units)
The course introduces students to the subfield of critical security studies (CSS), which means it takes a broadly constructivist and critical perspective to the study of security. Traditionally, International Relations (IR) security studies literature focuses on state security, studying it especially through realist and sometimes (neo) liberal lenses. This course presumes background knowledge of those mainstream security approaches and issues (such as realism and (neo) liberalism, the causes of war, strategy, deterrence, arms control or alliance theory), but it does not deal directly with them. Instead, we ask, what is security? Who or what is being secured and for and by whom? We question whether the state is the appropriate (or only) referent object for security, and particularly draw on analytical models from outside the mainstream. We also ask how to conduct research in critical studies.
PSS 807.2 International Security Studies (3 Credit Units).
This course introduces students to different concepts of security, such as international, global and human security. It helps students to examine and understand the imperical problems in their historical context as well as facilitate an understanding and appreciation of the changes in continuities of security problems from the cold war to the present. It also helps students to develop an indepth understanding of different approaches to security problems, both in their historical context as well as contemporary debate. It exposes students to develop critical understanding of the complex dimensions of security and the nature of various threat to security. The course will also examine the military and non-military approaches to security threats and develop critical facilities to appress their suitability for meeting contempoarary security challenges. Finally, the course also provides students with an intellectual environment for enhancing and testing critical, independent analysis of international and global security.
PSS 808.2 International Organisations, Conflict and Security Management
This course examines the role of key international organisations such as the United Nations, Non-Atlantic Treaty Organisation, European Union and African Union in conflict and security management. The historical background dates back to the First World War through the Second World War, the Cold War and the era of globalisation. The course will pay attention to the flashpoints in international conflicts caused by geopolitical and geostrategic struggles for influence particularly by the United States, Europe, China, Russia and emerging powers.
SGS 809.2 Management and Entrepreneurship (2 Credit Units)
This Course will cover business environment, General Management, Financial Management, Entrepreneurship Development Feasibility Studies, Marketing and Managerial Problem Solving.
PSS 810.2 M.Sc. Dissertation (6 Credit Units).
The M.Sc. Dissertation should be an original work presented in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School. It shall be accepted and deemed necessary to have contributed to knowledge.