MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (MSIA)
1. PREAMBLE
These regulations shall be read in conjunction with the Faculty of Social Sciences Regulations and the General Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, hereinafter referred to as the General Regulations.The degree shall be awarded to candidates who have successfully completed the programme and passed the examinations in accordance with regulations set in the Faculty.
2. OBJECTIVE
2.1 The programme is for students interested in careers in contemporary international affairs.
2.2 The programme aims to develop the sound conceptual, analytical and critical skills that are required in dynamic and complex modern international relations contexts.
2.3 It intends to equip students with both theoretical and practical skills that are relevant to International institutions as well as government departments.
3. CAREER PROSPECTS
International Affairs graduates have career opportunities in a wide array of institutions and organisations which include the following:
- Government Ministries and Departments
- International Governmental Organizations
- International Non Governmental Agencies
- International Civil society
- Consultancy in International Affairs
- Academia
4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
4.1 To be enrolled into the programme, prospective students should be having a good honours degree in Political Science/Public Administration/Management, International Studies, Law, History, Economics, or Development Studies
4.2 Other degree holders shall be eligible for admission at the discretion of the Departmental Board
5. DURATION
The Master of Science in International Affairs is a one and half-year block-release programme structured to meet the developmental needs of Zimbabwe, the region and beyond.
6. GENERAL PROVISIONS
The number of modules taken by any student from outside the department may be restricted.
7. ASSESSMENT
Examinations, which shall normally be written at the end of each semester, comprise three-hour papers for theoretical modules.
- Continuous assessment includes tests and essays.
- Failure to meet deadlines shall be taken to mean failure to carry out assigned work.
- A student is normally required to attain 100% attendance of lectures.
8. WEIGHTING
Examinations contribute 60 % towards the final mark of a module. Continuous assessment contributes 40 % towards the final mark of a module.
9. MARKING SCHEME AND CLASSIFICATION
The following marking scheme shall apply for all modules:
| Range of Marks | Classification |
| 80- 100% | Distinction |
| 70- 79% | Merit |
| 50 – 69% | Pass |
| 0 – 49% | Fail |
MODULES TO BE STUDIED:
LEVEL ONE SEMESTER ONE
| Core Modules | ||
| Code | Description | Credits |
| MSIA 701 | Theories of International Relations | 4 |
| MSIA 702 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| MSIA 703 | International Institutions | 4 |
| MSIA 704 | Foreign Policy | 4 |
| Options | ||
| MSIA 705 | Zimbabwe s International Affairs | 4 |
| MSIA 706 | International Governance and Development | 4 |
| MSIA 707 | Africa s International Relations | 4 |
| LEVEL ONE SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| MSIA 710 | Diplomacy | 4 |
| MSIA 711 | Global Peace and security | 4 |
| MSIA 712 | International Law | 4 |
| MSIA 713 | Research Methods | 4 |
| Options | ||
| MSIA 714 | Geopolitics | 4 |
| MSIA 715 | International Human Rights Law | 4 |
| MSIA 716 | Regional Political Relations | 4 |
| LEVEL TWO SEMESTER ONE | ||
| MSIA 800 | Dissertation | 8 |
10. MODULE DESCRIPTION
1. MSIA 701 Theories of international relations
This course provides students with some of the foundations of international relations as an analytical field of research. The aim is to introduce students to some of the major theoretical developments in the field of international relations since its inception as a self-conscious scholarly discipline.
2. MSIA 702 International Political Economy
The module is concerned principally with understanding the interaction between political actors and economic forces in the international system.
3. MSIA 703 International Institutions
The module serves to analyse the political theory of international institutions and to increase understanding of the contemporary policy issues surrounding the work of International institutions.
4. MSIA 704 Foreign Policy
The module examines a variety of alternative theoretical models of how states formulate, implement and evaluate their foreign policies.
5. MSIA 705 Zimbabwe s International Affairs
The module surveys Zimbabwe’s international relations, identifying key theoretical foundations, key actors, and the overall making of foreign policy process.
6. MSIA 706 International Governance and Development
The module examines aspects of the structures and processes of global governance, especially within the UN system, and also governance in regional groupings. This module also takes a comprehensive and critical look at international development examining what it has accomplished in the twentieth century and what form it should take in the twenty-first century.
7. MSIA 707 Africa s International Relations
The module explores the major issues on relation between state and non state actors on the African continent. Conflicts, cooperation, trade and diplomacy among other issues will be examined.
8. MSIA 710 Diplomacy
 This module will cover in some detail the work of diplomatic agencies in the execution of foreign policy and their organization to accomplish that work. It will also cover issues to do with bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and diplomatic law.
9. MAIA 711 Global Peace and Security
The module aims to ground students in the central theoretical and practical aspects of global security. This is taught in the context of an understanding of the main approaches to International peace and security.
10. MSIA 712 International law
The module explores the key issues in international law. It examines competing approaches and considers the nature and sources of international law. The module examine issues, among others, dispute settlement, international privileges and immunities, the law of the sea, environmental protection and human rights, outer space and air law, and use of force.
11. MSIA 713 Research Methods
The module provides a general overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods in social science research and a more intensive focus on survey research methods (data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation).
12. MSIA 714 Geopolitics
The module provides a comprehensive overview of the major issues, ideas, institutions, and interests that make up the global politics. Particular emphasis is given to the relationship between the global environment and the global economy, as well as to the issue of global environmental governance. Specifically, the module dwells on explaining and predicting international political behavior of actors in international politics primarily in terms of geographical variables.
13. MSIA 715 International Human Rights Law
This module will analyse in detail the norms and regimes established at the international and regional levels to protect and promote human rights. It will trace the growth of international human rights law from its beginnings as part of the law of minority rights and diplomatic protection through to the proliferation of human rights instruments and bodies which followed in the wake of the atrocities of WWII.
14. MSIA 716 Regional Political Relations
The module examines relations between state and non state actors within geographical regions of the world. It also explores the creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective action within geographical regions.
15. MAIA 800 Dissertation
This is a thesis of at least 20 000 to 40 000 words that is based on a wide research on international affairs issues with the assistance of a supervisor.