PECOS4000 – Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
Course description
Course content
This course provides an introduction to central theories and issues associated with conflict, war and peace within a range of academic disciplines. Moreover, the course provides an introduction to the relationship between conflict, war and peace and certain phenomena such as a country’s system of government and nationalism. Both the theoretical premises and the mechanisms that link the explanatory factors to decisions on war and peace will be discussed.
Learning outcome
This course has four main objectives. Firstly, it will familiarise you with central issues and theories associated with conflict, war and peace. Secondly, it will develop your ability to see how different theories and explanatory factors at different levels can be combined in an analysis of conflict and peace. Thirdly, it will develop your ability to formulate researchable issues within your own academic discipline in an independent manner and to address these issues in a scientifically tenable manner. Finally, the course will develop your skills in commenting other students’ written work in a constructive manner.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
It is not possible to sit for this exam as a private candidate. Only students with admission to classes in this course may sit for this exam.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Bachelor/cand.mag degree in Arts or Social Science
Overlapping courses
5 credits overlap with PECOS4010 – Conflict and state building
Teaching
The course will comprise a lecture series of 14 lectures and a one-day workshop on academic writing. The purpose of the workshop is to develop your ability to formulate a researchable issue and to address this issue in a scientifically tenable manner. In addition to this, the workshop will give you training in commenting other students’ written work in a constructive manner. More information on the workshop will be given at the beginning of the semester.
This course will be taught at The University of Oslo, Blindern campus. Other location in Oslo may be used. Fronter will normally be used.
The course is part of the regular course provision at The Faculty of Social Science. Teaching is mainly held during daytime. Detailed course-information is found on the Webpage for the current semester.
Examination
The exam will consist of a written, invigilated exam of 5 hours’ duration and a term paper assignment. The grade for the invigilated exam will count for 40% of the total grade. The grade for the term paper assignment will count for 60% of the total course grade.
In order to receive a pass grade for your term paper assignment, the term paper must be 15-20 pages long (including footnotes/endnotes) and address an issue that is relevant to peace and conflict. It does not have to reflect the course readings and curriculum, but all chosen topics must be approved by the course instructor. The term paper must conform to normal academic standards.
In order to pass the course, you have to have a pass grade both for the written exam and the term paper. You will receive one overall grade for the course.
The Faculty of Social Science is responsible for the exam(s), and exam(s) are/is normally held at The University of Oslo, Blindern campus. Other locations in Oslo may be used.
Detailed exam-information is found on the Webpage for the current semester.
Any take home exam or essay etc. handed in at the University of Oslo may be checked for plagiarism by use of the Ephorus text recognition software.
Language of examination
English
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Examination results are available in StudentWeb within three weeks after the examination-date, if no other information is given on the Webpage for the current semester.
Explanations and appeals
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Application-forms for special examination arrangements on school-exams may be sent to The Faculty of Social Science. Application-forms for special examination arrangements on other exams may be sent to the institute who organise the course
Evaluation
This course is evaluated half way through every semester and every four year the course undergoes a thorough evaluation.
An external auditor regularly evaluates the academic quality of the course and he/she makes a written report every year.
Other
PECOS4000 is obligatory for students enrolled on the Master’s Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies. It is possible to take PECOS4000 as a 10-credit course for ERASMUS students and visiting students (PECOS4000B). The examination form for this 10-credit version of PECOS4000 is an invigilated exam lasting 5 hours. Only a limited number of places for non-programme students is available. See here for more information.