Security Studies (MA)

Master’s Degree Programme – Security Studies

No.

COURSE

Sem.

Number of Classes

ECTS

Exam [1]

Total

Weekly [2]

1.

Contemporary Theories of State and Security

I

90

3+3+0

9

W+O

2.

Global Order and Regional Security

I

75

3+2+0

9

W+O

3.

Research Methods

I

75

3+2+0

9

W+O

4.

Student Research Paper

I

60

0+0+4

3

W

5.

Elective Course 1

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

6.

Elective Course 2

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

7.

Elective Course 3

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

8.

Elective Course 4

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

9.

Work Placement

II

3

10.

Master’s dissertation

II

7

W+O

TOTAL:

600

21+15+4

60


  • [1] W – Written, O – Oral

  • [2] Lectures + Exercises + Student Research Paper


ELECTIVE GROUP 1:    STRATEGIC SECURITY

No.

COURSE

Sem.

Number of Classes

ECTS

Exam

Total

Weekly

1.

Geopolitics of the Balkans

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

2.

Global Security Threats

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

3.

High Technology Crime and Cybersecurity

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

4.

Strategic Security Challenges

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O


ELECTIVE GROUP 2:   NATIONAL SECURITY

No.

COURSE

Sem.

Number of Classes

ECTS

Exam

Total

Weekly

1.

National Security Management

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

2.

National Security Threats

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

3.

National Infrastructure Security

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

4.

National Soverignty and Transnational Institutions

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O


ELECTIVE GROUP 3:   CORPORATE SECURITY

No.

COURSE

Sem.

Number of Classes

ECTS

Exam

Total

Weekly

1.

Corporate Security System

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

2.

Protection of Corporations against Illegal Activities

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

3.

Corporate Risk Management

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

4.

Human Resources and Corporate Security

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O


ELECTIVE GROUP 4:   ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

No.

COURSE

Sem.

Number of Classes

ECTS

Exam

Total

Weekly

1.

Environmental Security System

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

2.

Environmental Risks and Threats

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

3.

Crisis Management in Natural and Industrial Disasters

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O

4.

Climate Change and Environmental Security

II

75

3+2+0

5

W+O


Course Catalogue

FIRST YEAR (Semesters 1 and 2)

Contemporary Theories of State and Security

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental theoretical knowledge in the field of political sociology, i.e. its relevant subfields: theory of state and theory of security, devoting special attention to those theories focusing on the state security. Through the study of the history and development of different state forms, of political forms of state organisation from the Middle Ages to the modern times, of theories of state, as well as of some theoretical approaches to security, students will be able to enhance their knowledge of the trends and consequences of social movements and organisation, and their impact on security and state in future.

Global Order and Regional Security

This course aims to present students with different aspects of global transition typical of modern times: transition of the economic power from the West to the East, the rise of regional powers which are increasingly challenging the American hegemony, the challenges posed to the Euro-Atlantic security structure by the Asian mechanisms of regional security cooperation, etc. Grounded in a number of theoretical approaches and concepts, this course questions the existing power relations in the world and opens up a discussion whether the future world order will be based on the already established regional domination by great and regional powers, or on the cooperation, i.e. competitiveness of regions closely connected in terms of politics, economy and security.

Research Methods

The goal of this course is to provide students with the tools essential for designing an original research project. Within this course, students will be presented with a comprehensive list of methods used in social science, including general theoretical methods, methods typical of social sciences, to the methods of experiential research that can be applied in the field of security. Along with their theoretical foundation, students will be in a position to apply these methods in practice so as to be able to understand their very essence and apply them independently in future.

Student Research Paper

The goal of producing this research paper is to apply fundamental theoretical and methodological, academic and professional knowledge and methods in the process of resolving particular problems within the selected field. This paper should prepare students for their final dissertation.


FIRST YEAR (Semester 2)
ELECTIVE GROUP 1
– STRATEGIC SECURITY –

Geopolitics of the Balkans

The goal of this course is to present students with the geopolitical situation in the Balkans as the region where the interests of great power converge. By analysing the politics of conflicting interests of great powers and by examining the root causes of the conflicts and divisions in the region of the Balkan states, students will be introduced to key geopolitical issues and problems among the Balkan states, as well as to the actions taken by great powers to resolve them.

Global Security Threats

This course enables students to develop and enhance their knowledge of global security threats and their different manifestations in modern times. By understanding fundamental global security concepts and by realizing individual global security threats, students will be able to study, fully understand and explain global security threats through multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. They will also be able to search for and find open research data bases that will help them study contemporary global security threats (armed conflicts, terrorism, etc.), to use them effectively and analyse the given data.

High Technology Crime and Cybersecurity

This course aims to introduce students to fundamental academic and theoretical knowledge of the information technologies and critical information infrastructure, and on high-tech crime and its implications for the national, regional and global security system.

Strategic Security Challenges

Upon completing this course, students should be able to understand strategic security challenges on global, regional and national level – their characteristics and forms of manifestation. Students will be able to analyse critically different approaches to strategic security challenges and to distinguish between external and internal ones, to identify and classify them, and comprehend their interrelatedness and, consequently, predict possible consequences.


FIRST YEAR (Semester 2)
ELECTIVE GROUP 2
– NATIONAL SECURITY –

National Security Management

This course is designed to enable students to implement management approach to studying security phenomena by explaining key concepts and how to implement the acquired knowledge in the field of national security, human security and management. By implementing the management approach to national security, students will be able to critically analyse contemporary security issues with regard to their national and global aspect.

National Security Threats

This course is designed to enable students to understand key threats to national security threats and the evolution processes of national security in the XX and XXI century. Upon completing the course students will be able to understand how to recognize the threats to national security and how to define and critically analyse strategic and doctrinal documents system of national security is grounded on.

National Infrastructure Security

This course will introduce students to the fundamental knowledge in the field of security and international, national, regional and local critical infrastructure management. Through the analysis of preventive and existing protective measure on a national and international level, students will be able to understand, critically analyse and implement risk and vulnerability assessment measures using descriptive and numerical methods, as well as decision-making methods.

National Sovereignty and Transnational Institutions

This course is designed to enable students to assess different forms of traditional and modern theories of national sovereignty within the context of contemporary geopolitical reality. They will be able to understand the very concept of sovereignty, particularly in the context of increasing activity of transnational institutions and with regard to key dimensions of globalisations. Additionally, they will understand important processes that are gradually changing political and security map of the world.


FIRST YEAR (Semester 2)
ELECTIVE GROUP 3
– CORPORATE SECURITY –

Corporate Security System

This course introduces students to the fundamental elements of the processes of managing, decision-making and direction in an organisation under normal circumstances, as well as in crises and during emergency. While studying the concept of corporate security, students will focus on the methods and techniques for designing the organisation, structure, process and methods or risk quantification and how to organize assistance during the decision-making process. Legal, organisational, financial and technological aspects will be analysed too.

Protection of Corporations against Illegal Activities

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental elements of the protection of corporations against different illegal activities (comprising numerous activities requiring protective measures) and enable them to acquire skills to recognise and analyse different types of illegal activities requiring different measures to be taken against the perpetrators (within criminal, misdemeanour or economic law).

Corporate Risk Management

The goal of this course is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge in the field of corporate risk management, on the subjects of corporate security, as well as on the risk a legal entity (corporation) is exposed to. They will be introduced to the processes of identification, analysis, assessment, response strategies and risk evaluation, as well as how to prepare risk management plans. Additionally, they will be able to understand fundamental principles of risk management and its importance for the corporate sector.

Human Resources and Corporate Security

This course will focus on enabling students to acquire knowledge in the field of human resources management in groups and organisations during emergencies with the goal of preserving corporate security. They will understand individual and group dynamics, and the role of a human in group and organisational processes, and find out about leadership skills essential for successful managers. Consequently, they will be able to understand the processes intrinsic to strong organisations.


FIRST YEAR (Semester 2)
ELECTIVE GROUP 4
– ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY –

Environmental Security System

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the modern environmental security systems and to enable them to monitor, analyse and resolve an array of security challenges, risks and threats to environment. They will be presented with the fundamental issues of sustainable development, quality of life, environmental integrity, prevention and response to environmental risks, focusing on the prevention of their negative impact.

Environmental Risks and Threats

The goal of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills and present them with relevant approaches to environmental risks and threats on a global, regional, national and local level. The course will focus on the character and phenomena of environmental risks and threats, on the interrelatedness of anthropogenic activities and development, of environmental risks and threats, as well as of natural hazards (disasters) and environmental risks and threats, on the need to raise environmental awareness and to adopt new approaches to resolving environmental issues, education and sustainable development.

Crisis Management of Natural and Industrial Disasters

This course introduces students to fundamental elements, features and phases of crisis management during natural and industrial disasters. Students will acquire knowledge of fundamental phenomenological, etiological and conceptual aspects and characteristics of preparedness and planning, mitigation, response and rehabilitation from the impact of natural and technological hazards. They will be able to understand theoretical aspects of disaster research, crisis management, environmental protection systems during disasters, as well as the integrated disaster management measures.

Climate Change and Environmental Security

This course introduces students to an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how environmental changes due to climate (but not non-climate) change, regarding natural and human-induced disasters, affect the most important aspects of security (migration, water resources, food, etc.). Additionally, students will be presented with the basic tools to manage, adapt and mitigate them.


Work Placement

Students will acquire practical knowledge of the work and organisation of civil authorities, security sector agencies and inspection departments within state-owned companies and institutions, as well as of the profit organisations involved in activities regarding strategic, national and environmental security.

Master’s Dissertation

Master’s dissertation aims to demonstrate that students have acquired and integrated knowledge and skills essential for the post of security managers – master in security studies, and that they are capable of conducting research independently in the field of the defence studies, security studies, civil and environmental studies and human and social resources management.