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Course syllabus Internship, War Studies

Swedish name: Praktik, krigsvetenskap

Course code:
2KR033
Valid from semester:
Spring Term 2024
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
30.0 credits
Progression:
A1F
Grading scale:
Two-grade scale
Main field of study:
War Studies
Department:
Department of War Studies and Military History
Subject:
War Studies
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2023-06-13

Entry requirements

A minimum of 45 credits worth of approved courses from the first year of the master programme in War Studies, including mandatory courses (30 credits) during the first semester. In addition, the student should have submitted a complete master thesis and passed the peer opposition component to be eligible to apply for the course.

Course content and structure

The course creates opportunities for the student to apply acquired disciplinary knowledge and abilities from the master programme in War Studies during a professional internship.

The student strives during this internship to perform qualified tasks that connect well with the main area of study, for example this can take the shape of participation in preparation, implementation, and evaluation of work tasks, co-managing a case or project, or authoring a project report or similar. During the internship the student applies their disciplinary knowledge by reflecting on the conditions of sound decision-making whilst taking into account scientific, societal and ethical aspects. Verbal and written reflection on one’s own contribution and the practical competencies that are required to perform the work tasks in the work place is important for the student’s competence development and employability upon completion of the master programme.

The conversion of disciplinary knowledge into practical competencies during the internship will occur for instance through the opportunities that arise for the student to practice critical reflection, sound judgement, and professionalism vis-à-vis the employer and the colleagues. The course offers the student an opportunity to take responsibility during the internship and to gain deeper insights into how academic studies can foster generic competencies such as an ability to work with others, informed decision-making, and problem solving. The course consists of a supervised internship at for example a government agency, an organisation, or a corporation, in Sweden or abroad, an independently authored internship report, as well as a mandatory final seminar. The written internship report provides the student with the opportunity to critically reflect on situational judgements that took place at the internship.

Type of Instruction
Seminars

Supervision

Mentored internship

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Skills and abilities
  • plan, implement and evaluate independent work tasks, activities, and roles during the course of the internship,
  • analyze the overall societal roles and assignments of the organisation and the conditions that enable and constrain the professionals active in the relevant sector,
  • evaluate judgements that took place at the place of internship by reference to scientific, societal and ethical aspects,

Judgment and approach
  • draw parallels between professional performance in the work place and the knowledge provided during the masters programme and the mutual reinforcement of these during the internship,
  • appraise one’s own contribution in relation to the demands of the internship.

Examination formats

Examination
Scope: 30.0

Grading Scale: Fail, Pass

The course is examined based on having completed the internship, independent authoring of an internship report, as well as active participation in a mandatory final seminar at which the internship reports are discussed.

The grade of pass on the internship entails that the student has abided by the rules and obligations that the student, employer and course convenor had agreed in written form in advance of the start date of the internship. The course convenor follows up to ensure a dialogue with both the student and the supervisor. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a work certificate from the supervisor.

The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order to achieve a passing grade on the course. Examination papers submitted after the closing date will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner. Supplementary assignments shall be submitted no later than three working days after the result and supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified, unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner. A student who is absent from the mandatory seminar without sanctioned reasons may participate in a corresponding seminar the next time that the course is provided.

Grading
Grades are determined according to a two-point grading scale: Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To earn a grade of pass the student must earn a grade of pass for their participation in the internship, in the mandatory seminar as well as on their internship report.

Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.

Restrictions in Number of Examinations 
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.

Transitional provisions

When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.

Other regulations

The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.

The student is responsible for independently arranging the internship. The placement must be approved by the department in advance, ahead of the entering into an agreement between student, employer and the university. The organization that offers the internship must also provide supervision and appoint a contact person. Expenses that arise in connection with an internship at a distance from Stockholm or internationally shall be borne by the student.

The Swedish Defence University reserves the right to not approve suggestions of internships in case the organisation or contact person is deemed to be inappropriate. Internship activities cannot be in conflict with the basic values of governmental agencies in Sweden. Since it is up to the Swedish Defence University to make the judgements about internships, it also reserves the right to reject a suggested internship on the basis that making the judgement in that particular case is deemed too resource demanding.

If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.

Course evaluation is carried out after completion of the course through the Course Convenor and represents the basis for any changes to the course.

This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.