Teaching / MSc / MBA Programmes

Master of Science (Strategic Studies)
Master of Science (International Relations)

Objectives
The bases of international security are undergoing profound changes. The end of the Cold War, the emergence of new power centres in East Asia, the outbreak of ethnic and nationalistic conflicts around the globe, the rise of religiously motivated terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, are some of the factors that have transformed the nature of conflict in the international arena. The global security architecture is in a state of flux, due to the rising power and influence of countries such as China, Japan and India. Security is also no longer a matter of military force alone. Economic and ecological concerns, migration, drug trafficking and other non-military issues have become more salient in the security agenda.

The challenge of conflict management has become more daunting. The relevance and dominance of traditional approaches to security and order - such as deterrence, balance of power, collective security, and collective defence - are being challenged by concepts of common, comprehensive and cooperative security. Global and regional multilateral institutions are experimenting with new techniques of dealing with conflict, such as preventive diplomacy, peace-keeping, peace-building and humanitarian intervention, often with mixed results.

Against this backdrop, it is vital for professionals in the fields of defence and foreign relations to be not only conversant with the new security concepts and strategic theories, but also to acquire the know-how and skills in strategic planning, design and policy analysis. Such training is also useful for corporate planners grappling with the complexities of globalization.

It is with this in mind that the Master of Science in Strategic Studies and Master of Science in International Relations programmes were conceived. The M.Sc. (Strategic Studies) programme aims to develop security analysts conversant with pressing strategic issues in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, and to introduce students to current thinking across the whole spectrum of strategic and security-related issues. The M.Sc. (International Relations) programme aims to equip students with a systematic understanding of the theories purporting to explain the nature of interactions between states as well as non-state actors in an increasingly globalized international system.

Content
The M.Sc. (Strategic Studies) and M.Sc. (International Relations) programmes have been specially crafted to cover a broad spectrum of issues, including

Theories of International Relations;
Traditional and non-traditional dimensions of security;
Business planning and technology management;
Area studies, specifically of the Asia-Pacific region

Students are required to take two core courses under both the MSc (Strategic Studies) and MSc (International Relations) programmes. In addition, MSc students completing a dissertation will take five additional elective courses or seven electives for students in the non-dissertation stream.

Master of Science (International Political Economy)

Objectives
International Political Economy (IPE) sits at the intersection of politics and markets. Many political scientists have studied political decisions divorced from the economic context. Similarly, economists have often studied the mechanisms of the market as though the economy works without manipulation from political actors. Yet these two areas cannot be regarded separately. Government actors frequently intervene in markets by setting wages, prices, tax levels and so forth. Investors sometimes flee states, markets or currencies that are following objectively sound macroeconomic policies yet persist in investing in inefficient projects elsewhere in the world.

We study the interaction between the production, distribution and use of wealth with politically organized rules and institutions in the global environment. For example, we study how trade patterns or capital flows both affect individual state government actions and how state government actions can alter trade and capital patterns. We study these interactions at two levels--theoretical and practical. The theoretical level helps us structure our understanding of real-world examples. IPE offers rich understandings of contemporary developments in world economics and politics, such as the uneven impact of globalization on states and societies, the embrace and resistance to greater economic integration in the developed and developing world, and the ongoing contest between different actors over the norms and rules underpinning global governance.

Content
The MSc (International Political Economy) programme has been designed to ensure that students gain a sound rounding in the theoretical and methodological issues in International Political Economy, as well as the basics of economic analysis, with a special focus on macroeconomics; trade, finance and exchange rate economics; and key economic trends and developments in the world economy. Students are required to take two core courses. In addition, MSc students completing a dissertation will take five additional elective courses or seven electives for students in the non-dissertation stream. Students without a background in economics are strongly urged to take IP6001, Economics for IPE.

Please note that IPE at RSIS is not a course in international economics. Although economic concepts are taken very seriously, the focus is firmly upon the political determinants and effects of economic outcomes.

Master of Science (Asian Studies) Programme

Objectives

Asia is one of the most dynamic regions in the world today. It is home to many thriving economies. Politically, many Asian states are experiencing profound historical transitions. There are also many potential flashpoints in this region, including the Korean Peninsula, the Taiwan issue, the South China Sea, regional arms races, resource scarcity and environmental degradation, and the rising influence of Islamic fundamentalism. At the core of regional and global concern is the rise of China to become an economic and military powerhouse, which has been arousing keen interests among observers and policymakers across Asia, Europe, and the United States. To a lesser extent, the rise of India and a more assertive Japan are also attracting a lot of attention throughout the world. Many Southeast Asian countries are now moving in new directions politically and economically. ASEAN as a collectivity plays a crucial role in shaping the relationships among major powers and in cultivating East Asian regionalism.

The MSc (Asian Studies) Programme is designed in response to these new developments and challenges. We strive to help candidates who are interested in Asian political economy and security issues develop an in-depth understanding of these dynamic changes by adopting approaches pioneered in the disciplines of history, comparative politics, international relations, and economics in our research and training. The programme also aims to facilitate students to obtain the relevant analytical tools and historical perspectives to be attuned to new trends emerging on the Asian horizon and to quickly appreciate and understand the dynamics and trajectory of contemporary developments in Asia. The cutting-edge knowledge and skills offered in this programme are expected to benefit students in their professional careers in the private sector or in public offices.

Unlike Asian studies programmes in the West, students reading this programme at RSIS spend their time living as participants-scholars in one of the most cosmopolitan and strategically-located cities in Asia. Students are immediately connected and attuned to the latest developments in the region and will have ample opportunities to meet foreign policymakers and prominent Asian specialists from think-tanks, non-profit organizations, and universities throughout the world. Students also have the opportunity to further hone their linguistic skills in Singapore, which is home to various communities that converse in many Asian languages.

Content

The MSc (Asian Studies) Programme is empirically-driven and area-centred. There is a strong political economy and security focus in the programme. Key diplomatic, economic, political, and security issues, which have contemporary policy implications, are explored in detail. The programme is tailored to the interests of individual students so that they can also choose to focus on a specific country or develop extensive expertise on certain issue area. Students are required to take two core courses. In addition, MSc students completing a dissertation will take five additional elective courses or seven electives for students in the non-dissertation stream.

The Nanyang MBA (International Studies) Programme
(jointly offered with NBS, NTU)

Objectives

The Nanyang MBA (International Studies) degree allows students to obtain the best education available in international studies at RSIS as well as obtain an MBA degree from the Nanyang Business School (NBS). NBS offers one of the top business degrees in Asia and is internationally ranked as well.

This exciting new programme allows students to gain a solid base of knowledge in international affairs combined with a rigorous education in business. Students will become better equipped to handle the challenges of operating in an increasingly globalized economy. Our programme provides specialized knowledge of international affairs—acquired through graduate level courses in the social sciences—that will enhance student capacity to manage in international settings. This interdisciplinary degree will allow students to gain necessary knowledge and understandings in an integrated and efficient manner. The programme offers students a multinational learning environment located in the heart of Asia.

Content

Students will take two core courses from RSIS in International Relations and International Political Economy as well as S6007 Professional Skills Enrichment (non-examinable course). Students are then allowed to select any four electives from the broad range of courses offered within RSIS in International Relations, International Political Economy, Strategic Studies or Asian Studies. Students will also take 9 courses from the Nanyang Business School. Students will also either: 1) complete an individual 10,000 word research dissertation supervised by faculty at RSIS or 2) participate in an overseas Business Study Mission supervised by NBS or 3) complete two additional courses in either RSIS or NBS. We anticipate that the average period of study for full-time students is 4 trimesters and part-time students is 6-8 trimesters. Please note that most RSIS courses are offered during normal business hours only (i.e., Monday-Friday between 9:30am -5:00pm).

In addition to the requirements imposed on all RSIS applicants, The Nanyang MBA (International Studies) applicants should note that they are required to submit a good GMAT score and be prepared for a personal interview before acceptance into the programme.

Teaching in the M.Sc. Programmes

The courses are taught via interactive seminars in a stimulating and lively intellectual environment. To ensure optimal interaction between faculty and students, the intake will be kept small. Candidates will also have to complete the “Professional Skills Enrichment” component. This involves participating in a number of seminars on research methods, as well as contemporary strategic and security issues. Students will also be exposed to eminent security and international relations scholars, discuss films and documentaries pertaining to security studies, and even learn media handling and conflict negotiation skills. Student performance will be assessed through a combination of examinations, assignments and seminar participation. Overall, the programmes will stress self development, encourage students to refine their analytical and policy-research skills, and provide a platform from which they can continue the process of self-education and career development.

Academic Links

Faculty teaching in the Master of Science (Strategic Studies), Master of Science (International Relations), Master of Science (International Political Economy) and Master of Science (Asian Studies) programmes as well as the Master of Business Administration (International Studies) programme taught with the Nanyang Business School are drawn from international and domestic specialists in the fields of international relations, strategic studies, foreign policy analysis and business management. Professor Stephen M. Walt, the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Faculty Chair of the International Security Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, is the School’s consultant. The External Examiner is Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor and Professor at the University of Exeter. Also collaborating in the teaching of the programmes are the Nanyang Business School and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The degrees of MSc (Strategic Studies), MSc (International Relations), MSc (International Political Economy), MSc (Asian Studies) and The Nanyang MBA (International Studies) programmes are conferred by the Nanyang Technological University and fulfill the university’s standards for teaching and coursework.

Structure

The five programmes can be taken either on a full-time or part-time basis starting in July each year. Examinations take place at the end of each trimester.

Applicants intending to pursue their studies at RSIS on a part-time basis should note that most MSc classes are conducted between 9:30am and 5pm on weekdays.

Candidature Periods

MSc Programmes	Minimum Period of Candidature	Maximum Period of Candidature
Full-Time Student	3 trimesters	9 trimesters
Part-Time Student	6 trimesters	12 trimesters

The Nanyang MBA (Int’l Studies) Programme	Minimum Period of Candidature	Maximum Period of Candidature
Full-Time Student	3 trimesters	6 trimesters
Part-Time Student	5 trimesters	15 trimesters

Degree Requirements

The programmes leading to the degrees of MSc (Strategic Studies), MSc (International Relations), MSc (International Political Economy) and MSc (Asian Studies) comprise: