During the past two decades, Securitization theory has been one of the most vibrant targets of debate within IR in general and Security Studies in particular. This debate has resulted in a large amount of both applications and criticisms of the “theory” of securitization. The course examines the basic features of both the original theory and its criticisms. After the course the participants will have a bearing on the basics of securitization theory and the tenets of its recent criticism, as well as have the ability to apply the approach to conduct empirical investigation. The course consists of lectures, course readings and presentations of course essays. Students are expected to pass an exam, write short papers on course readings as well as write and present an independent academic essay that applies the approach of securitization to an empirical issue of choice.