MA, "Air Power in the Modern World"
A distance learning, part-time masters degree from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London
A new masters award for RAF and other military students and interested civilians will open for registration in March 2009.
The MA, Air Power in the Modern World, has been created especially for the RAF (although it is available also to members of the other armed forces and civilians in the wider community) by the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, working in partnership with the RAF Centre for Air Power Studies and the Air Power Studies Division of KCL’s Defence Studies Department.
Students registering from March will be considered for enrolment on the programme in September 2009.
The new award will address the need of the RAF to equip its personnel for today’s strategic arena. The RAF has responded to the uncertainties of the current international environment and to its own diminishing size by providing its personnel with structured education that significantly develops their strategic understanding, intellectual dexterity and problem-solving abilities. Now they will also have the opportunity to obtain a masters degree from one of the world’s top 25 universities: King’s College London.
Air power specialists Drs Christian Anrig and Andrew Conway, both of them King's College London Lecturers in Air Power Studies are the lead academics for the new degree, under the guidance of Dr Joel Hayward, who serves as Dean of the Royal Air Force College, Head of King's College London's Air Power Studies Division and a Director of the Royal Air Force Centre for Air Power Studies. They will conceive, write and teach the air power studies courses, and supervise dissertations, to qualified students anywhere in the world.
Air Power in the Modern World will be based on the highly acclaimed War in the Modern World programme, with students from both programmes taking the required modules and some options.
The programme will typically take two years and six months to complete, assuming no interruptions.
Accreditation
RAF personnel who have completed the new 8-week Intermediate Command and Staff Course – Air (ICSC(A)) – with a pass mark of 50 per cent are eligible to apply to Air Power in the Modern World with 20 credits in hand. These credits may be applied to this masters programme only. Such students will be required to complete 160 out of 180 credits for the degree; see the detailed information on Pathways below.
Students will need to provide King’s College London with a copy of the ICSC(A) report proving that they have passed the Foundation Phase Essay. Passing the ICSC(A) permits students to apply for Air Power in the Modern World via the streamlined application process; see Applications below.
Applications
Applications for RAF-funded places should be conducted using the process laid out in the CAS Fellowship DIN.
King’s College London and the JSCSC have created a special, streamlined application process for students who have completed the revised 8-week ICSC(A). For more information, contact the War in the Modern World co-ordinator at ewaradmissions@kcl.ac.uk
Entry requirements
Students must possess a first or upper second class honours degree (or GPA above 3.25) in history, international relations, political science, economics or other appropriate subject from the University of London, or an equivalent qualification from another British or overseas university. Candidates with degrees in subjects other than those above will also be considered.
An alternative professional or other qualification obtained by a formal examination may be approved. Where such qualifications are not available, evidence may be required that a candidate can undertake academic study to the level required. If necessary, candidates will be asked to submit sample written work.
Programme suitability
Air Power in the Modern World will be particularly suitable for military officers (70 per cent of the current War in the Modern World student body), and civilians working in NGOs and other international organizations, legal practitioners and academics, diplomats and other civil servants, journalists, writers, teachers, consultants and international business people.
Current War in the Modern World students are employed as serving military officers or work in business, NGOs or for governments. They are an international group based in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the USA and elsewhere, as well as in the UK. Their wide-ranging interests and backgrounds are one of the special features of the degree, bringing a unique blend of experience and insight to the study of modern war.
Programme description
Air Power in the Modern World will give students an understanding of military campaigns, operations and security issues from 1945 to the present day, in the light of the wide-ranging economic, social, technological and political changes in the world, with special reference to the seemingly ubiquitous role of air power in integrated ("joint") contexts. It will equip students to engage critically with scholarly debate about the conduct and nature of contemporary warfare from an air power perspective, and will develop their understanding of the contexts in which military operations take place.
Each module is worth 20 credits and lasts one term. RAF students on Pathway 1 must complete 160 credits, while students on Pathway 2 must complete 180 credits: see the detailed pathways below.
Time commitment
Students will need to spend 10 to 15 hours per week for each 11-week term over the course of the degree.
Course delivery
The entire programme is web-delivered, and is accessible from any correctly configured computer. It features a very high level of student interaction and tutor online engagement. Flexibility is designed into the programme: many of the 150-plus officers who have studied, and continue to study, War in the Modern World have done so while deployed. Others have been able to interrupt for a term or two due to service commitments and then return to study.
Pathways
Typical progression through the Air Power in the Modern World degree programme is as follows:
Pathway 1 – for ICSC(A) accredited students
From September 2009 to graduation in January 2012, assuming no interruptions.
Year One: 2009–10
Term 1: 14 September–11 December 2009
History of Contemporary Warfare 1: The Early Cold War, 1945–1975 (compulsory for all students) 20 credits
Term 2: 11 January–26 March 2010
History of Contemporary Warfare 2: From Cold War to ‘New World Order’ (compulsory for all students) 20 credits
Term 3: 12 April–25 June 2010
Air Power Studies 2: Case Studies of Integrated Air Power 20 credits
Year Two: 2010–11
Term 1: 27 September–17 December 2010
First option choice (see options below) 20 credits
Term 2: 10 January–25 March 2011
Second option choice, 20 credits
plus Dissertation Skills module (five weeks, concurrent with option module).
Rest of calendar year, March – mid-December 2011 (submission date)
Researching and writing 15,000-word dissertation on air power studies approved subject (Dr Joel Hayward) 60 credits
January 2012: graduation
Pathway 2 – for non- accredited students
From September 2009 to graduation in July 2012, assuming no interruptions
Year One: 2009–10
Term 1: 14 September–11 December 2009
Induction (compulsory for new entrants only)
History of Contemporary Warfare 1: The Early Cold War, 1945–1975 (compulsory for all students) 20 credits
Term 2: 11 January–26 March 2010
History of Contemporary Warfare 2: From Cold War to ‘New World Order’ (compulsory for all students) 20 credits
Term 3: 12 April–25 June 2010
Air Power Studies 1: The Quest to remove Battle from War 20 credits
Year Two: 2010–11
Term 1: 27 September–17 December 2010
Air Power Studies 2: Case Studies of Integrated Air Power 20 credits
Term 2: 10 January–25 March 2011
First option choice (see options below) 20 credits
Term 3: 26 April–8 July 2011
Second option choice, 20 credits
plus Dissertation Skills module (five weeks, concurrent with option module).
June 2011 – March 2012 (submission date)
Researching and writing 15,000-word dissertation on approved air power topic (Dr Joel Hayward) 60 credits
July 2012: graduation
Options modules
Option choice may include the following:
- Air Power Studies 1: The Quest to remove Battle from War
- Air Power Studies 2: Case Studies of Integrated Air Power
- Contemporary Warfare and International Relations
- Strategic Dimensions of Contemporary Warfare
- Regional Security: South Asia (including Afghanistan)
- Regional Security: Middle East
- Regional Security: the New Europe (including Russia)
- Regional Security: Africa
- Insurgency and Counter-insurgency
- Intelligence in War and Peace
Not all options will be available in all terms.
Funded RAF students are required to take either or both of the Air Power Studies modules when these are available.
Contact
War in the Modern World Co-ordinator:
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7848 1430
For all other enquires information can be found at:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/sspp/ws/ps/tpg/wimw
