The Master of Arts Degree in Peace Studies and International Relations is designed as an intensive two-year academic programme with an emphasis on the major subject areas of the theory and practice of international affairs and conflict management. The M.A. degree is awarded on completion of a 20,000 word thesis. The course will consist of two parts:

• The first three semesters will be devoted to full time study by course work and end-of-semester examinations.

• The second semester of the second year will be taken up by the research project lasting a minimum of twelve weeks. Candidates will be allowed to commence their research project only after clearance with the supervisor and the Academic Board. MA students will commence writing their thesis once their thesis proposal have been presented, defended and approved by a minimum of three panelists as a fulfillment of the comprehensive examination.

Academic Year and Semesters

An academic year is equivalent to two semesters. A semester consists of 15 weeks, of which fourteen are for teaching and instruction, and one week for examination.

Definition of Credit Hours

A credit is defined as one contact hour per week for fifteen weeks. A unit which has three contact hours per week is a three credit course.

Structure of the Programme

Candidates will be offered a set of core and elective courses each semester. 

• Core units are compulsory for all candidates registered for the Master of Arts in Peace Studies and International Relations Programme and must be examined for the award of the Masters Degree.

• Elective units are those preferred by students depending on their needs and area of interest. Both core and elective courses registered must be passed.

• Each candidate for the MA must take a total of 36 credits in course work: four courses per semester; three cores and one elective. The presentation and defense of the thesis proposal will count for 12 credits and, the thesis itself when completed and marked will count for 13 credits.
  

Evaluation of Teaching

The Dean of Studies, the Director of the Institute, and students registered for a given course will evaluate the quality of teaching, based on adherence to the curriculum, punctuality, and other factors to be determined by the Institute.

Evaluation of teaching staff

The performance of the academic staff will be evaluated every semester in a process involving students, the Dean of Studies, and the Staff Evaluating Committee.

Peer evaluation

To ensure that the Institute adheres to its mission and philosophy, visits from the Commission for Higher Education, external examiners, lecturers from other universities, and alumni will be organized to assess the facilities and quality of instruction. The Institute will establish and appropriately engage a network of academic, research and advocacy institutions and individuals, to guarantee high quality teaching and proactive involvement with current themes and issues.

Examination Regulations

• Students will not be allowed to sit the end-of-semester examination unless they have attended lectures and seminars regularly and consistently, and have covered not less than two thirds of the course. The final mark given for a unit will be a combination of course work and final examinations.

• For each unit, the pass mark will be 50%, based on a combination of course work tests, assignments, term papers, practical work, class participation and end-of-semester examination marks, as follows:

  Coursework and continuous assessment	30%
  Final written/oral examination	70%
  TOTAL	100%

• In order to proceed to the next academic year of study, a candidate must pass in all the courses registered and examined in a given academic year, either by ordinary, supplementary or special examinations.
  
  

Supplementary Examinations

Any candidate who fails up to two courses in a semester with a mark of between 40-49% may be allowed to sit supplementary examinations within three months of the end of the semester in the academic year in which the course was offered.

The pass mark in a supplementary examination shall be 50%.

Special Examinations

Any candidate who through unavoidable circumstances is unable to sit for one or more examination papers or continuous assessment tests may, on recommendation of the Examinations Board, be permitted to take special examinations in the relevant papers or complete his/her course assessment.

Repetition

Any candidate who fails supplementary examinations will repeat the course or courses. The maximum number of courses a candidate can repeat is three. One can repeat a course only once.

Discontinuation

• Any candidate who fails more than two courses in a semester will be automatically discontinued.
  

• A candidate who fails a repeated course will be discontinued
  

• Any candidate involved in any form of cheating or plagiarism on assignments or examination violates intellectual integrity and is subject to discontinuation.

Grading System

The following grades are used in the graduate course work:

Research Project

• In the second semester of the second year of study, all Masters students will be required to undertake a research project and submit a dissertation/thesis of not more than 20,000 words.

• A student will commence writing the dissertation only after his/her thesis proposal has been presented, defended and approved by a minimum of three panelists as a fulfillment of the comprehensive examination.

Internship

The research proposal shall be presented, defended and approved by a minimum of three panelists as a fulfillment of the comprehensive examination. Given the implications of these academic expectations, students must choose their research topics carefully. In this regard, students have the prerogative to seek internship with organizations whose mandate constitutes their area of research, or to prepare a proposal based on private study. The internship does not count for any credits, and is therefore optional.

Graduation Requirements

In order to qualify for the award of the Master of Arts in Peace Studies and International Relations, all M.A. students must:

• Register, attend lectures, do course work and examinations, and pass in all registered units. 

• Submit a research project and score 50% or above in the completed thesis.

A Seminar is a non-credit two-hour session of presentation and discussion given by an academic, a professional or an activist in the field of peace, international relations, conflict and reconciliation.

The programme for 2006-2007 includes six in the first semester and six in the second.

1. Jesuit Spirituality and Peace
2. Responsibilities for Refugees and Displaced people.
3. Methodologies of Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking
4. Interpreting the Old Testament Concept of Peace in an African Setting.
5. Yahweh, the God of War and Peace.
6. Humanitarian Intervention
7. The clash of Cultures and Peace in the World
8. Field Diplomacy (Bridging Grassroots Peace Building to Decision Making)
9. Managing Disasters in Africa