Research Methods (Politics, International Relations, Security) MA

This MA in Research Methods provides Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-recognised training in the fields of politics, international relations and security. The course has been designed to provide a thorough grounding in research methods allied to further specialisation within these fields for those intending to progress to a PhD and, as such, fulfils the ESRC research training guidelines requirement for ‘1+3’ PhD students.<br/><br/>The MA is offered in collaboration with other departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences. This provides wide-ranging opportunities for interdisciplinary study which you can tailor to your career  development needs or use as a stepping-stone into social science research.<br/><br/>You will study core modules in research design, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, as well as exploring the ethical and political issues that underpin social sciences research. This combination of theoretical and practical training is designed to develop the techniques you need to create your own research studies.<br/><br/>You also choose optional modules, some of which are designed to further develop your knowledge of research methods and others that are specific to politics, international relations and security. The MA dissertation brings together the different areas of learning into an area of research interest.<br/><br/>The School of Government and International Affairs is home to the Durham Global Security Institute and the Global Policy Institute. As a student in the School, your learning will be informed by the ongoing research carried out by experts from these institutes, many of whom are working at the forefront of their field.