12 MONTH MSc

Theories of International Relations
The module explores a range of theoretical approaches to study of International Relations thus introducing students to different ways current trends in the international system. The module will follow a historiographical approach thus starting with the “classical debates in IR theories, then moving on to mainstream debates and concluding with critical approaches.

International Security and Defence
The module expands and develops upon the issue of international security, as introduced in other modules. It begins by providing a background to the study of security and defence. This leads into a consideration of contemporary themes and their inter-relation including the various security and defence actors from international, regional, and sub-regional organisations to NGOs and private military companies

Research Methods
This course teaches students the rudiments of the scientific research process. Students would advance their understanding of research through critical exploration of research language, ethics, and approaches. The course would introduce the language of research, ethical principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Participants will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field or interests and determine how research findings are useful in forming their understanding of their work, social, local, and global environment. Students would also be introduced to the use of some software packages in analysing data. Research report writing would also be taught students.

Ghana Foreign Policy
This course is to upgrade students’ knowledge and understanding of Ghana’s foreign policy starting with concept of national interest and foreign policy making, the class progresses to contemporary dynamics and issues of Ghana’s foreign policy. Institutional dynamics of foreign policy formulation in Ghana will be discussed as part of the course. Students will also be taken through the determinants of foreign policy in Ghana. Finally, the historical and contemporary discussions will focus on Ghana’s good neighbour policy, economic diplomacy, continental affairs and extra continental international relations.

Regionalism and Integration in Africa
This course provides an historical overview of attempts at regionalism as a contemporary manifestation of this historical urge to a unity of Africans as well as analysis of contemporary realities of these schemes on the African continent. The course attempts to address emerging themes on regionalism, including the link between regionalism, peace and security, the political economy of regionalism and regional integration, as well as regionalism and issues of governance. This is supposed to be an exciting exploratory conversation about issues in Africa’s search for greater unity, be it economic, social, cultural, and political.

International Migration
This course is designed to introduce students to the scale, composition, characteristics, causes, effects and implications of evolving patterns of population movement between nations. It focuses especially on the relationship between migration on the one hand and economic development, environmental issues and social change on the other, arguing that the relationship is complex and multi-directional. It introduces the concept of diaspora and investigates its increasing significance. While the focus is on global patterns and issues there is a concentration on Australia and the Asia Pacific region to illustrate the main emerging patterns. A number of theories which have been put forward to explain migration are investigated and assessed. There is a particular concentration on the role of policy with respect to both the migration process and the reception of migrants in destination countries. Migration is a strongly gendered process and the migration of women; its distinct causes and implications are examined. Student migration is another topic of interest that will be examined in the course.

International Law
This course is intended to introduce students to the basic concepts and problems of public international law and of the international legal system. The course will cover the traditional major topics in this field such as the sources and subjects of international law, the jurisdiction of states, international law and the use of force, and the relationship between international law and the internal law of states. It will also address newer themes in international law such as the international law of human rights and international criminal law. The course will review and discuss a number of international law cases decided by national and international tribunals, as well as certain treaties, resolutions and other international legal instruments of importance.The primary focus of this course is upon public international law, which is traditionally considered to encompass the binding normative rules and principles dealing with the conduct of states and of international organizations and with their relations inter se. An important secondary theme will be the effect of public international law upon private activity.

Political Leadership
This module is concerned with understanding the role of leadership in the contemporary political environment. Much attention tends to be absorbed in observing institutional dimensions to change, such as parties, parliaments, and demography. However, this module establishes leadership as a vital factor in politics. This unit explores the various theoretical perspectives on the role of political leadership, including charisma and psychological approaches. It uses a range of examples to illustrate key dimensions of leadership and considers to what extend the requirement of political leadership have changed in response to the contemporary political environment. By examining leadership from a gender and dyadic perspective, the module also considers whether some nations have an issue in the accessibility of (and therefore representation by) leaders.
It also examines key issues political leaders face; from exploring how they cope with conflict to how they keep their hands ‘clean’ of corruption. It also considers ways in which we can quantify how successful a leader is.There is a focus on key issues in contemporary political events and case studies will be situated throughout the module. Students will also gain data collection and analysis skills in order to create empirical data for their leadership profile

Foreign Policy Analysis
This course examines the ways in which foreign policy is conducted in a variety of countries. It will examine a number of theoretical and historical perspectives, examine the variety of goals, actors, institutions, and cultural contexts that contribute to foreign policymaking, and analyse themes across a number of case studies. The course is organized in a basic “levels of analysis” framework that roughly corresponds to the historical development of the study of foreign policy analysis from outside, external approaches associated with general international relations theories, to societal sources of culture and public opinion, to government organization and elite decision-making. Particular attention will be paid to decision-making, especially psychological, approaches to foreign policy. The emphasis in the course is on theories of foreign policy, although students will also be exposed to the substance/content of the foreign policies of various countries.

International Human Rights
This unit explores the philosophical, historical, normative, legal, and political foundations of the contemporary international human rights regime and the main controversies surrounding human rights theory and practice. Key questions that will be addressed in this unit include: what are the foundations of human rights? Are human rights universal or culturally determined? How do we realize human rights in a world of states? What has the impact of conflict, globalisation and the war on terror been on human rights? The first part of the course examines the emergence and development of the human rights movement, explores the debate about the foundations of human rights, including critical approaches to the idea of human rights, and addresses the ongoing controversy over universality, culture, and human rights. The second part of this unit focuses on the practice of human rights. First, from a legal perspective, it looks at the main features of the current human rights system at the international and regional levels. Second, it addresses the praxis of human rights from an international relations perspective. The third part of the course looks in-depth at a number of specific issues and how they affect human rights, including humanitarian intervention, transitional and international criminal justice, globalisation and the war on terror.

International Economics
The course develops a systematic understanding of the key areas of the world economy – trade, investment, and finance – and how they impact on each other. Theory will be applied to international economic events, issues, and trends. As the international economic environment is dynamic in nature and is impacted by real world developments in business, politics and finance, the course coverage is updated periodically to include current real-world evidence as well as recent academic and empirical findings.

Conflict and Conflict Resolution
The module is dedicated to the analysis of violent conflict and its management or resolution. Its interests range from the interaction of high-level international, domestic, and local politics to the ideological, cultural, and political economy factors in violent conflict.
The module explains the causes, dynamics and outcomes of conflict and developing new perspectives on the institutional and non-institutional means by which conflicts can be better managed. The module has at its core some fundamental questions about what causes violent conflict. Why does it happen when it does and where it does? How and why do conflicts change over time? What can be done to manage or resolve a conflict? What is the role of international politics, or civil society? The aim of the module is to address these major questions that are pivotal to the comparative study of politics. The involvement of leading experts in the field will provide students with insights and critical thinking on the latest theoretical developments, research and best policy practices.

Global Governance
This module provides a general introduction to the contemporary system of global governance. It seeks to provide students with a general overview of key concepts, structures, and theoretical debates in this field. It looks at the links between national and international politics and encourages students to think critically about social, political, and economic trends.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Holders of a good first degree of at least 2nd class lower division or its equivalent from a recognized institutions in the relevant areas 
• Possess a minimum of 2 years work experience for applicants who have at least 2nd class lower division in a non-related area.

NB:  All foreign qualifications and certificates will be subjected to GTEC’s assessment and approval.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

For entry unto the MSc. International Relations, applicants should provide the following documents

• Copy of Original University certificate (1st Degree)
• Copy of Original Transcript
• Copy of any National ID card e.g. Passport, Voter ID etc
• Current CV showing at least 2 years working experience.
• Two passport photographs

  FEES

• Total : GHc 21,000
• Monthly Plan : Pay GHc 1,750 every month

• Quarterly Plan : (5% Discount)

 First Quarter – GHc 7,000

           Second Quarter – GHc 7,000

           Third Quarter – GHc 5,950

• Upfront Payment: Make an upfront payment of Ghc18,900 and enjoy a 10% discount

  PROSPECTIVE START DATE :  January 2025