The MA in Geopolitics & the Global Economy equips students with an in-depth understanding of international relations, war and conflict resolution as well as national, local and regional economic development, global economic processes, global political events and the knowledge economy.
The course includes fieldwork in an overseas location such as Berlin, Madrid, or Reykjavik. Students acquire a solid grounding in the key knowledge and skills required by a geographer specialising in political or economic geography.
Students can choose whether to study the political geography of Europe or US foreign policy in detail and can select a number of optional courses to focus on subject areas that interest them. These optional courses introduce the opportunity for interdisciplinary study with courses offered in political science, history and American studies.
Graduates work in government agencies, international aid agencies, global multilateral agencies, human rights institutions, think-tanks, research bodies and private firms in roles such as researchers, lecturers, aids workers, GIS specialists, planners and local government officials.
Graduates now work in organisations such as:
The Master in Development Practice (MDP) is a world leading and uniquely innovative programme that blends science and social science to further international development. It is part of a global network with a Secretariat at the Earth Institute, Columbia University in New York (and was the only programme to receive seed funding in Europe in the first round). In the programme, students are exposed to leading edge scientific and social science techniques and researchers in order to develop international development solutions. The MDP is part of the only global educational network of its kind, involving 30 universities across all continents. In it, students receive leading edge transdisciplinary training in four “pillars”- health, natural, social, management sciences and mdpglobal.org.
The MDP is led by the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Natural Science in collaboration with leading scientific researchers, and national and international organisations with specialist skills. The goal is to produce rounded development practitioners with a deep understanding of scientific methods and techniques to reduce global poverty, in addition to extensive on-the-ground training in developing country contexts, and in international organizations.
The MDP has innovative elements that distinguish it from any other M.Sc. in Ireland. This innovative course utilises a modular structure to develop student capabilities to understand theories, practices, and languages of different specialities. Students develop deep analytical and practical skills across four core pillars of the programme.
Specialist skills are formed across a range of areas including research design, methodology, and methods (with training in cutting edge scientific quantitative, qualitative, and digital tools and techniques, sustainable agriculture and hand use; Development economics; Health; Gender; Climate change and Climate justice; Science, technology and sustainable development; Impact measurement; Post-conflict situations; Governance and politics; Globalisation and African development; smart cities and sustainable urbanism. Students also produce a dissertation drawing upon research conducted during fieldwork modules. These have attracted attention from policy-makers, such as the Minister of Education in Rwanda.
It combines a range of teaching and learning approaches both in the seminar room and in the field. Students engage in a minimum of sixteen class-room based modules and three work-based placements to gain hands-on practical experience during the programme. In year one, students undertake two placements. Firstly, students complete a research project with an Irish Based International Development Non-Governmental Organisation. Secondly, they spend up to three months completing cross-disciplinary fieldwork in a developing location. To date, students have undertaken fieldwork in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Brazil., Malawi, India, USA, Vietnam and Madagascar.
In year two students undertake internships in leading international organisations. To date, students have taken placements with UN Women, WHO, FAO, OECD, World Bank, UNESCAP, and a multitude of other international organisations.
Students have the opportunity to collaborate in a global community through their participation in the Global Classroom, a web-based capability, managed by the Earth Institute, to bring students and teachers from across world together to engage in collective classes and educational innovation.
Students engage with leading experts, practitioners, and academics both in the classroom and in the field. The MDP is delivered by TCD in collaboration with a number of key partners, including The Mary Robinson Climate Justice Foundation, and a wide number of national and international organisations with specialist skills in development practice.
You can find further information on fees, visas and scholarship information here: http://naturalscience.tcd.ie/postgraduate/dev-pract/further-info.php
The MLitt and PhD degrees are research degrees, awarded on the basis of a research thesis. Thesis presentation is supported by a number of taught mandatory Graduate Education modules (GREPs).
Closing date
Research applications are generally accepted at any time
Commences
September (or other agreed time)
The MLitt degrees are awarded on the basis of a research thesis. To support the completion of the research thesis, all MLitt students are required to participate in a Graduate Education Programme (GREP). Students take a variety of taught and other modules to enhance their substantive knowledge and their professional development, in a programme of study that is designed to suit a student's individual needs. MLitt students are generally required to complete 25 credits of taught modules over Years 1 and 2. There may be exemptions for appropriate prior learning.
Duration: 2 years Full-time, 3 years Part-time
