PRIO Network

Curriculum

The research school curriculum contains both mandatory and elective activities that participants can combine to best suit their own needs. The activities comprise research courses (academic courses or fieldwork on topical subjects in peace and conflict studies) and seminars and training (activities that focus on more practical aspects of being a scholar). Students are expected to participate in as many of the elective courses and activities as possible without hampering the progress of their dissertation.
A sample three-year program, with possible topics for research courses, is as follows: 
 

YEAR

RESEARCH COURSES

SEMINARS AND TRAINING

 

1

·   Introduction to Peace and Conflict Research

(mandatory 2 day course)

·   Critical security research

(3 consecutive days, short essay: 5 Credits)

·   Methodology course (5 credits)

·     Scholarly Writing and Presentation (mandatory 3 day course)

·     2 x Symposium (2 days each)

·     4 x PRIO Junior Researchers’ Forum

 

 

2

 

·   Gender in peace and conflict research (5 days plus full essay, 10 credits)

·   Causes and dynamics of civil war (3 days, short essay: 5 credits)

 

 

·     2 x Symposium

·     Academic publishing training

·     Presentation at international conference, possibly together with supervisor.

·     4 x Junior Researchers’ Forum

 

 

3

 

·   Research stay abroad

(E.g. 6 months)

·   Critical Perspectives on Peacebuilding

(active participation without submitting an essay: no credits)

·     1 x Symposium

·     Organizing an open PRIO seminar on the topic of the dissertation

·     Project development training

  

For an explanation of the various activities listed, see Activities. The research courses are intensive and take place over a number of consecutive days. The number of credits received for research courses will vary, depending on the size of the course. How many credits a student will take within the research school partly depends upon the rules of the university PhD program that the student is affiliated with. The above example would be well suited for a university PhD program that requires research education of 30 credits, five of which must be taken through mandatory activities in the respective program, and where the research school courses are all accepted as part of the research education.  


Students living outside of Oslo (e.g. students at NTNU in Trondheim) may choose to reduce the frequency of participation in elective activities, such as the PRIO Junior Researchers’ Forum. Participants should plan for approximately 4 stays in Oslo the first two years, and about two stays the third year. Travel expenses are not covered by the research school.