War in the Modern World

War in the Modern World aims to offer an engaging, well-designed and flexible online masters degree in War Studies to qualified graduate students both civilian and military.

War in the Modern World is a flexible, modular masters programme, rich in media and reading resources, delivered entirely online via the King's College London Virtual Learning Environment. Students will interact with an engaging and lively community of fellow graduates, from a wide variety of backgrounds.

The programme will give students a comprehensive and up-to-the-minute understanding of modern military theory and operations in the light of the wide-ranging economic, social, technological and political changes in the world between 1945 and today. It will equip students to engage critically with scholarly debate about the conduct and nature of contemporary warfare, and to understand the contexts in which modern military operations take place.

Study

Modules are divided into five units, each studied for two weeks. Within each unit, students read online authored content and follow links to extensive readings and other resources. Selected students then post a draft response to the unit Short Essay question, and this draft forms the basis of a lively and intensive asynchronous (message-board style) online discussion within the tutor group, moderated by the tutor. At the end of this discussion, the selected students revise their Short Essays for submission.

All students also complete an individual Long Essay for each module, due after all units are complete.

After studying the required number of modules, all students then complete an individual dissertation, which forms the final element of their degree programme.

Delivery and duration

The entire MA War in the Modern World Programme is delivered online, via the King's College London Virtual Learning Environment, (KEATS); there is no requirement for students to attend King's College London or even to be resident in the UK.

The programme timetable is based on three terms per academic year (September–December, January-March and April–June), with students normally completing one taught module per term. Students usually take two years to complete the required taught modules, followed by an additional nine months to complete the 15,000-word dissertation, (if doing the MA). It may be possible for a student to complete the programme in a shorter time if circumstances and teaching arrangements allow.

We estimate that students will need to allow 10 to 15 hours work per week for each 11-week term to complete the taught modules.