Intro
Introduction Programme
Security ranks high on both the societal as well as the political agenda. The threat of terrorism, transnational organised crime, civil war, urban riots or natural disasters is making headlines almost every day and is a guarantee for political turmoil. Although from a factual perspective, the risk of high-end security incidents is low in most Western countries, the risk perception is far higher. When it comes to security and crisis, risk perception seems to be as important as actual risk assessments.
During the one year multi-disciplinary master's programme students will become familiar with the political and social dimensions of the governance of (in)security and crises. By analysing security discourses, security actors, security practices and security outcomes, students will become acquainted with the ‘wicked problem’ of security and crises topics in a complex and globalising world.
As security is no longer a public good solely provided by state actors or public actors but the combined outcome of public actors, private security actors, civil society and citizens as well, the master's programme will focus on the multiplicity of actors engaged in defining and practising security.
Further, as a result of the globalised and interwoven world of today in which incidents, images and messages travel within seconds from one part of the world to another part of the world, students will study current security and crisis challenges from a ‘glocal’ perspective: both global and local levels and especially the nexus of those levels.
The Master of Science programme in Crisis and Security Management is an academic programme that emphasises the ability to understand and analytically apply multidisciplinary insights from Security Studies, Public Administration, Political Science, Law, International Relations and other disciplines to challenges of crisis and security management.
The programme aims to educate students to become academically trained, reflective security and crisis professionals in a broad sense. It aims to teach students to develop a critical attitude, adopt a perspective of scholarly independence and a high level of self-directed and autonomous learning and functioning.
The programme strives to convey both general knowledge of the core themes and approaches in crisis and security management and specialised knowledge on the governance of radicalism, extremism and terrorism, the governance of crisis, cybersecurity governance, intelligence and national security, and war and peace. Furthermore, the programme emphasises the ability to reflect on the ethical and normative dimensions of crisis and security management and their consequences for the behaviour of government officials, agencies, actors in civil society and private sector.
The graduate is thus capable of recognising and analysing a broad range of complex and wicked problems in the domain of crisis and security management, both at the local, the national and the international level. The graduate is able to undertake independent research at graduate level, applying a broad range of theoretical and analytical approaches relevant to crisis and security management.
You can find the link to the programme overview on the right-hand side of this page.
The master CSM consists of a combination of main courses, specialisation courses and electives. The programme is concluded with a portfolio and reflection assignment. Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management can participate in the courses of Crisis and Security Management. Student can only participate in one of the six specialisations, and they cannot combine courses from different specialisations.
Career Preparation
Career orientation
Career preparation in master Crisis and Security Management
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you as well as possible for the labour market, and in doing so contribute to the development of your employability. In this way, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market, in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience.
3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through internships, work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.
5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
Employability in Master’s programme Crisis and Security Management
You will also find these employability elements in your study programme. Examples of subjects that pay attention to this are:
Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Global, regardless of specialisation:
Body of knowledge (specific for specialisation)
Shared transferable skills
Research:
Analysis:
Self-reflection
Practical experience
CSM Electives (one to be chosen by students regardless of specialisation), including small-scale group work as well as guest lectures by field professionals.
Labour market orientation
