Course syllabus Special Forces: Theory and Practice
Swedish name: Specialförband i teori och praktik
Course code:
2KR014
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Three-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.
Entry requirements
Admission to the Master’s programme in politics and war.
As stand-alone course: Officer’s commission/degree or Bachelor’s degree consisting of 180 credits, of which 90 must be in War Studies or an equivalent field.
As stand-alone course: Officer’s commission/degree or Bachelor’s degree consisting of 180 credits, of which 90 must be in War Studies or an equivalent field.
Course content and structure
The purpose of the course is to permit students to acquire a deep knowledge of the development of Special Forces in theory and in practice to facilitate understanding about the use of Special Forces in international relations.
The course focuses on how secret military forces developed and their underpinning theoretical foundations and relationship with modern strategy. It also covers the relationship of Special Forces with technology, their roles in irregular warfare, in counterterrorism and their prominent role in the contemporary use of force.
The course will be comprised of lectures, seminars and self-study periods.
Seminars
Lectures
Independent Study
The course focuses on how secret military forces developed and their underpinning theoretical foundations and relationship with modern strategy. It also covers the relationship of Special Forces with technology, their roles in irregular warfare, in counterterrorism and their prominent role in the contemporary use of force.
The course will be comprised of lectures, seminars and self-study periods.
Type of Instruction
Seminars
Lectures
Independent Study
Objectives
After completed course the student should be able to:
- identify and discuss the theoretical foundations of Special Forces in relations to strategic theory.
- describe the relationship between technology and the emergence of Special Forces
- demonstrate an understanding of the requirement for Special Forces with an emphasis on irregular and limited warfare
- discuss the role of Special Forces and their significance for strategy and military effectiveness.
- critically and independently apply different theoretical and historical perspectives regarding Special Forces and their utility in international relations
- critically evaluate the development of Special Forces and their application in international relations
Examination formats
Examination
Scope: 7.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
The course is assessed by means of one written assignment (essay) and active participation in seminars.
Absence from a mandatory seminar may, subject to the examining teacher’s decision, be compensated by submission of a written supplementary task.
The examining teacher can decide on supplementary tasks in order for the student to achieve a passing grade (G). Late submissions are not accepted, except under certain medical or other compassionate circumstances that the examining teacher has sanctioned beforehand. The student must complete any supplementary tasks within three days of its announcement, except under circumstancesthat the examining teacher has sanctioned beforehand.
Grading is done according to a three-tiered scale: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass(G), and Fail (U).
In order to achieve a Pass with distinction (VG) on the course, the student has to have participated actively and constructively in the mandatory seminars, and received a Pass with distinction (VG) on the individually written paper.
In order to achieve a Pass (G) on the course, the student hasto have participated actively and constructively in the mandatory seminars and received a Pass on the individually written paper.
Grading criteria are described in the course description.
There is no limit of the number of examination sessions
Scope: 7.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
The course is assessed by means of one written assignment (essay) and active participation in seminars.
Absence from a mandatory seminar may, subject to the examining teacher’s decision, be compensated by submission of a written supplementary task.
The examining teacher can decide on supplementary tasks in order for the student to achieve a passing grade (G). Late submissions are not accepted, except under certain medical or other compassionate circumstances that the examining teacher has sanctioned beforehand. The student must complete any supplementary tasks within three days of its announcement, except under circumstancesthat the examining teacher has sanctioned beforehand.
Grading
Grading is done according to a three-tiered scale: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass(G), and Fail (U).
In order to achieve a Pass with distinction (VG) on the course, the student has to have participated actively and constructively in the mandatory seminars, and received a Pass with distinction (VG) on the individually written paper.
In order to achieve a Pass (G) on the course, the student hasto have participated actively and constructively in the mandatory seminars and received a Pass on the individually written paper.
Grading criteria are described in the course description.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit of the number of examination sessions
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when its content has been changed in its essence a student has the right to be examined according to this course syllabus once every semester during a period of three consecutive semesters.
Other regulations
The course can not be included in a degree together with a course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
The course is given as a part of the Master’s programme in Politics and War. The language of instruction is English.
The course convenor will arrange for the course to be evaluated after its conclusion. The evaluation forms the basis for eventual 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.
The course is given as a part of the Master’s programme in Politics and War. The language of instruction is English.
The course convenor will arrange for the course to be evaluated after its conclusion. The evaluation forms the basis for eventual 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.