PIM102: International Security

Module code: PIM102

Module provider: Graduate Institute for Politics and International Studies

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Derek Bolton, email: derek.bolton@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 30 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides students with a critical introduction into the nature and objectives of security politics from different perspectives. The module asks student to critically reflect on what we mean by security and how to best conceptualize security. The module thus provides a concise review of traditional theories of security, before critically examining newly emerging concepts such as ‘human security’ and ontological security. It then goes on to examine some of new areas that have been explored within the context of security studies.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Critically reflect upon and evaluate different conceptualizations of security studies in international politics;
2. Describe the impact and effects that new security issues have on government, the security forces, and international politics;
3. Evaluate the complexity, controversy and conceptual ambiguity involved in the study of international security and war;
4. Investigate theoretical debates and empirical case studies with diverse analytical tools.

Module content

‘International Security’ will give you a grounding in the discipline of International Security. It will give you analytical tools to understand and assess the range of security issues facing governments, the security forces, and international politics. It will provide you with conceptual tool through which to understand questions and debates around security and the implications these different perspectives have when it comes to making policy and thinking about the implications policies might have. The module will also engage with new topical issues that have arisen within security studies literature and critically analyse the ways these should/should not be considered security issues.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Directed discussions in weekly seminars; student presentations, independent study; individual consultations with lecturer as needed. Together with essay writing and examinations, these activities are designed to develop students' knowledge base as well as analytical skills. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

1,000 word essay at beginning of 2nd semester for students on MA SS programme.  

Reassessment

Additional costs