Programme Objectives and Requirements - Military and Strategic Studies

Undergraduate Calendar 2012-2013

• Programme Objectives
• General Programme Requirements
• Honours
• Major
• MSS Outline Tables
• Minor

Programme Objectives

This interdisciplinary programme is unique in North America at the undergraduate level. The Military and Strategic Studies (MSS) programme offers students an opportunity to acquire a sound grounding in military history, strategic thought, and international relations, as well as in Canadian government, politics and economics, English or French Studies, and military psychology and leadership. It leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Military and Strategic Studies, as a Major or at the Honours level. The MSS degree provides a solid basis for graduate studies and a professional career.

Students are encouraged to take at least one MSS course in their second language. Students with the requisite language profile are free to take all or a combination of courses in either official language while earning their degrees.

In addition to their course work, students enrolled in the MSS programme are encouraged to participate in the various extracurricular activities of the programme, including field trips to Ottawa, Washington, New York, USMA, USNA, and NATO HQ and several Model UN and NATO simulations at leading North American universities.

General Programme Requirements

To earn a degree in Military and Strategic Studies students must pursue one of two patterns of study:

1. Military and Strategic Studies; or,
2. Military and Strategic Studies, with a Minor in Military Psychology and Leadership (MPL), Business Administration, Economics, English, or French Studies.

Honours

The following are requirements for an Honours Degree in MSS, a 42 credit degree programme including the core courses in Arts and Science:

15 credits, comprised of the following mandatory courses:

• HIE202: Introduction to Canadian Military History (2 credits)
• HIE270: Introduction to Military History (2 credits)
• HIE380: Peacekeeping and Peacemaking (2 credits)
• HIE470: Strategy and Strategists (2 credits)
• POE216: Introduction to International Relations (1 credit)
• POE317: Introduction to Contemporary Strategic Studies (1 credit)
• POE460: International Conflict Analysis (1 credit)
• POE462: Current Strategic Issues (1 credit)
• PSE312: Military Psychology and Combat (1 credit)
• MSE424 or MSE426: Thesis or Research Project (2 credits)
• A minimum of 5 other credits for subject-field courses, of which 2 must be at the 400 level, approved by the PIC MSS.

Note: Maintain a B average in all mandatory Honours courses identified above and maintain a B- average in all academic courses in fourth year.

MSE424/MSE426: Special research on an approved subject, under the direction of a designated supervisor, resulting in the submission of a:

• MSE424: Thesis or;
• MSE426: Research Project in Military Strategic Studies.

Students will be provided with guidance on topics and methods before submitting a research proposal for approval.

Theses must follow RMCC thesis guidelines and will be evaluated by at least one subject expert in addition to the Chair and supervisor. An oral defence will normally be arranged for a thesis.

Those transferring from thesis (MSE424) to research project (MSE426) must do so no later than the add-course deadline of the winter term.

Major

The following are requirements for a Major in MSS, a 40 credit degree programme including the core courses in Arts and Science:

13 credits, comprised of the following mandatory courses:

• HIE202: Introduction to Canadian Military History (2 credits)
• HIE270: Introduction to Military History (2 credits)
• HIE380: Peacemaking and Peacemaking (2 credits)
• HIE470: Strategy and Strategists (2 credits)
• POE216: Introduction to International Relations (1 credit)
• POE317: Introduction to Contemporary Strategic Studies (1 credit)
• POE460: International Conflict Analysis (1 credit)|
• POE462: Current Strategic Issues (1 credit)
• PSE312: Military Psychology and Combat (1 credit)
• A minimum of 3 other credits for subject-field courses, of which 1 must be at the 400 level, approved by the Professor in charge of MSS.

The MSS Major may not be earned as a double major with History or Politics.

MSS Outline Tables

The programme outline tables are an example the typical course load of a student enrolled in the Military and Strategic Studies (MSS) Programme (Honours or Major).

Note: The course numbers which are in "italic" are part of the Core Curriculum.

MSS Honours

Notes:

1. Students from RMC St-Jean will normally arrive at RMCC for their second year with only HIE102(1) completed and must therefore complete HIE102(2).
2. The "new" mathematics stream requires that all students challenge MAE103. If successful, they may proceed directly to MAE113.
3. A credit in biology may be substituted for the credit in Chemistry.
4. RMC St-Jean students who arrive with credits in International Relations will receive credit for this course.
5. For the Honours programme, 3 MSS Electives, of which 2 must be at the 400 level, are required rather than the single 400 level MSS Elective required for the basic major.

MSS Major

Notes:

1. Students from RMC St-Jean will normally arrive at RMCC for their second year with only HIE102(1) completed and must therefore complete HIE102(2).
2. The "new" mathematics stream requires that all students challenge MAE103. If successful, they may proceed directly to MAE113.
3. A credit in biology may be substituted for the credit in Chemistry.
4. RMC St-Jean students who arrive with credits in International Relations will receive credit for this course.

Minor

There is no Minor in MSS.

Minors in MPL, Business Administration, Economics, English, or French Studies may be earned together with an Honours or a Major MSS Degree. Students pursuing one or more of these Minors will complete 8 credits in their Minor program, in addition to the core courses in Arts and Science.