Høst 2024

SVF-3208 Contemporary issues in societal security - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for teknologi og sikkerhet

Type of course

This is a mandatory course of the master’s degree "Contemporary Issues in Risk and Crisis Management". The course can be taken as a single course by all students.

Course contents

This course will provide insight into how the attention of security and politics has shifted towards a range of new threats. The new threats include but are not limited to a global pandemic, ethnic conflict, organized crimes with particular emphasis on human migration, cyber-security, and terrorism. Built around the concept of securitization, this course will look at how human migration is framed as a security issue. This course will look at cyberspace as a critical infrastructure where government, private business, and individuals confront different threats. The course will also provide knowledge about how terrorism, has become a contested phenomenon and a wicked problem through relevant international counter-terrorism approaches.

Admission requirements

The eligible student must hold a bachelor’s degree from a relevant field of study. Prior knowledge of societal security, risk management, safety management, international relations, crisis management and emergency preparedness are recommended but not required.

Application code: 9371

Objective of the course

Knowledge: 

The student:

can define societal security, understand key concepts, and explain different aspects of societal security at a basic level. 
understand the classical and modern theories in managing cybersecurity, terrorism, and migration
understand humanitarian approach to migration, explain the agencies and technologies of human migration utilizing security policies and practices.  
understand cyberspace as critical infrastructure for government and private business.
understand the role of authorities, businesses, state, and the international community in governing cybersecurity.

Skills:

The student:

can apply central theories of migration, cybersecurity and terrorism to concrete cases.
discuss the use of surveillance in managing cybersecurity and terrorism.
account for the challenges and ethical dilemmas in managing cybersecurity, terrorism, and migration and evaluate these challenges using cases and scenarios.
reflect on the ways in which different stakeholders govern security threats and discuss the obstacles UN, EU, and other security agencies face in governing migration, cybersecurity, and terrorism.
reflect on the different dimensions of insecurity and evaluate the political and economic consequences of human migration, cybersecurity, and terrorism.

General competences: 

The student:

can understand critical theories in migration, cybersecurity and terrorism and apply them to real situations.
contextualize and critically evaluate the changing demands of migration, cybersecurity and terrorism governance.
write innovative research applying aspects of migration, cybersecurity and terrorism principle and perspectives.
critically assess and evaluate the economic, social and political consequences of human migration, cybersecurity, and terrorism within a national and global context.

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

Video lectures, project work, training-through-research, supervisions, and digital seminars.

The course work includes module-based learning (4 modules in total per semester).