Masters Degrees in Politics & Government, Ireland

The objective of the course is to develop students' knowledge of comparative politics in contemporary Europe. This includes knowledge of the policies, politics of and public opinion in the European Union and its member states. In addition, the course aims to equip students with the research training required to conduct independent political research. Therefore, in addition to substantive modules on various aspects of comparative politics, the course also includes modules on research methods.

The course provides training in substantive topics relating to governance in the European Union, in addition to developing the research and technical skills needed to undertake political science research. It is ideal for those considering a career that deals with European and global issues. The course offers students the opportunity to study in international department with excellence in teaching and research in the area of European politics and governance.

The course is of twelve months duration, on a full time basis. Teachings starts in September and the M.Sc. concludes with the submission of a dissertation the following August.

The course offers a range of modules that will deepen students' knowledge of politics and policies in Europe and the European Union and help them gain new insight into the EU's role in today's world. The M.Sc. course consists of seven modules:

Government Institutions
Government and Politics of the EU
Principles of Comparative Research
Electoral Behaviour
International Organisations
European Union Policies and
Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods.

All modules are taught around a weekly seminar and assessed on the basis of assignments and exams. In addition, students will complete a dissertaion of approximately 10,000 words in length. Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory mark for the dissertation element may be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Political Science.

Admission Requirements

Candidates should normally have achieved an upper second class honour degree, or higher from an established university. GPA scores of at least 3.5 out of 4, or equivalent, will be expected from international applicants. A background in a social science will be an advantage but not a necessity. Applications are expected from candidates with a single or joint honours degree in Political Science, Economics, European Studies, History, Sociology, Business and Law.

Applicants must, in addition to the College requirement to provide academic transcripts and two letters of recommendation, provide a motivation letter and one piece of written work (for example an undergraduate dissertation or essay).

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The objective of the course is to develop students' knowledge of international politics with a comprehensive empirical approach to understanding many prominent problems in contemporary world politics, especially topics where domestic and international politics cannot be understood in isolation from each other. These topics include democratisation, international cooperation, development and foreign aid, international conflict as well as the politics of many environmental issues and their implications for the politics of developing countries. Students will also receive training in research methods.

This course aims to provide students with the necessary skills for a range of research-related careers in the fields of applied policy research, business, government, law, media, international aid, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations. It also will provide a solid foundation for progress to research PhDs.

The course is of twelve months duration, on a full time basis. Teachings starts in September and the M.Sc. concludes with the submission of a dissertation the following August.

The M.Sc. course consists of the following modules: International Politics, Democratisation, Development Policy, Principles of Research Design, International Environmental Policy, International Political Economy, International Organisation, International Conflict and Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods. In addition, students will complete a dissertaion of approximately 10,000 words in length. Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory mark for the dissertation element may be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Political Science.

Admission Requirements

Candidates should normally have achieved an upper second class honour degree, or higher from an established university. GPA scores of at least 3.3 out of 4, or equivalent, will be expected from international applicants. A background in a social science will be an advantage but not a necessity. Applications are expected from candidates with a single or joint honours degree in Political Science, Economics, European Studies, History, Sociology, Business and Law.

Applicants must, in addition to the College requirement to provide academic transcripts and two letters of recommendation, provide a motivation letter and one piece of written work (for example an undergraduate dissertation or essay).

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The United States is the most influential nation in the world. However, a number of challenges in recent years have called into question the sustainability of American leadership abroad and prosperity at home. These include, but are not limited to, the notion of American decline in relation to rising powers such as China: a political system that appears to have entered an extended period of dysfunction; recurring problems in race relations; and rising economic inequality. This MA degree programme, which is the first of its kind in Europe or North America, allows students to explore in depth the foreign policy and political challenges facing the United States. Drawing upon the disciplines of history and political science, it explores a wide variety of topics such as the origins of American exceptionalism, the importance placed upon individual liberty, the emergence of the US as a world power, the Cold War, transatlantic relations, presidential and congressional election, race and gender, partisanship and more. Modules in this programme are taught by resident UCD faculty and by visiting lecturers, who will consider theoretical and practical perspectives. The programme will interest those seeking a career in government, media, in the non-profit sector, in business and those hoping to undertake advanced study in these areas.

“Having spent years working in news I’d always wanted to get behind the headlines. This masters offers a fascinating insight into the policies, ideologies and people that have shaped the US and thus our world order”. – Niamh

CURRICULUM

This is a 90 credit programme, of which 60 credits come from taught modules and 30 from a dissertation. 50 credits are from core modules and the remaining 10 from a list of options available through other Schools.
Type of modules you could expect to take but is subject to change each year include:
American Political Tradition
Foundations of US Foreign Policy
American Politics Today
Challenges in Contemporary US Foreign Policy

Eligibility

Applicants for the MA should hold one of the following qualifications:
• A first class or second class, grade 1 degree
• A US or Canadian degree with a GPA of 3.0
• If an applicant doesn’t meet the normal entry requirement of a Level 8 degree, in exceptional circumstances they would normally • • present another qualification or award along with extensive work experience in order to be considered.

To Apply

– http://www.ucd.ie/apply

Queries can be directed to, Catherine Carey, Manager

[email protected]
http://www.ucdclinton.ie

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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 24 universities across all continents. In it, students receive leading edge transdisciplinary training in four 'pillars'- health, natural, social, and management sciences.

The MDP is led by the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Natural Science and University College Dublin (UCD) School of Politics and International Relations, and delivered by staff from all faculties across the universities, 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 five innovative elements that distinguish it from any other M.Sc. in Ireland. It is the first joint TCD UCD degree (joint degree and parchment). Synergies between the two institutions are vital to compete and deliver at world-class level. Secondly, 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, including GIS and climate modelling); Tropical agriculture; 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; and Language training. 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.

Thirdly, it combines a range of teaching and learning approaches both in the seminar room and in the field. Students engage in a minimum of eighteen class-room based modules and four 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, and Brazil.

In year two, students undertake two further placements. Firstly, students attend the UN Training School and take part in the UN Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) training programme. The exercise involves experiential learning on Civil-Military Co-Operation (CIMIC) and UN CMCoord in a complex, unstable, post-conflict setting. Students participate by role playing in UN bodies and NGOs coordinated in collaboration with the Irish Rapid Response Initiative for Irish Aid. Secondly, 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.

Fourthly, 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.

Fifthly, students engage with leading experts, practitioners, and academics both in the classroom and in the field. The MDP is delivered jointly by TCD and UCD in collaboration with a number of key partners, including the National University of Rwanda, The Mary Robinson Climate Justice Foundation, and a wide number of national and international organisations with specialist skills in development practice. Students are jointly registered at TCD and UCD.

The course is jointly taught by University of Dublin Trinity College and University College Dublin academic staff, and a joint award at the Masters level, with an exit Postgraduate Diploma, is offered to successful graduands by both universities. Students have joint institutional registration on the course. The Admissions Committee strongly recommend early applications, especially from international students, as we are reviewing applications on a regular basis. We aim to turn around all completed applications within 2 weeks from date of submission (of all documents).

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This MA programme in Media and International Conflict is designed to enable students to develop understanding of the ways in which media interact with war, international conflict and security. It analyzes the complex roles played by the media in the enactment and representation of international conflict and addresses the relationships among media, governments, the military, and NGOs in framing perceptions of international conflict.

It provides an interdisciplinary approach that considers both cultural and political dimensions of media responses to international conflicts, focusing on issues such as : public diplomacy as soft power, human rights and representation, distinctions between information and propaganda, the ethics of depicting human suffering, the role of new and social media in perceptions of conflict, the visual economy of the production, circulation and reception of imagery of conflict, and the effects of news reporting on government policy and NGO activity. Modules in this programme are taught by resident UCD faculty and by external speakers, both academics and practitioners, who will broaden intellectual discussion and speak to examples of media work.
The programme will interest those seeking a career in international communications, media, NGOs, public sector or professionals seeking more critical understanding of the international dimensions of their industry, and those wishing to prepare for advanced research in this area.

“Studying in the Clinton Institute was a wonderful experience. The classes are small, which means you really get to know everybody, and there is a very comfortable atmosphere. A wide range of topics ensured that everybody got a chance to study and discuss areas that they are passionate about. Lively debates were the norm!. This MA was a fascinating journey through history, current affairs, politics and media. It offered a great opportunity to build strong research, writing and presenting skills, with the help of diligent and engaging staff of the Institute. I would do it all over again if I could!” – Karen

CURRICULUM

This is a 90 credit programme, of which 60 credits come from taught modules and 30 from a dissertation. 50 credits are from core modules and the remaining 10 from a list of options available through other Schools.
Type of modules you could expect to take but is subject to change each year:

Media and International Conflict
Public Diplomacy
New Media and New Conflict
Challenges Facing US Foreign Policy

Eligibility

Applicants for the MA should hold one of the following qualifications:
• A first class or second class, grade 1 degree
• A US or Canadian degree with a GPA of 3.0
• If an applicant doesn’t meet the normal entry requirement of a Level 8 degree, in exceptional circumstances they would normally • • present another qualification or award along with extensive work experience in order to be considered.

To Apply

– http://www.ucd.ie/apply

Queries can be directed to, Catherine Carey, Manager

[email protected]
http://www.ucdclinton.ie

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International Peace Studies examines the sources of war and armed conflict and suggests methods of preventing and resolving them through processes of peacemaking and peacebuilding. The course combines perspectives from international relations, ethics and conflict resolution to reflect critically upon the wide range of social, political and economic issues associated with peace and political violence. A week-long Mediation Summer School provides an opportunity to develop practical skills in the area of conflict resolution and mediation. There is also the option to participate in various field trips in Ireland and abroad. Students are required to take the two core modules as well as four modules from the list of modules. A sufficient number of optional modules must be taken to fulfil credit requirements. A. Core Modules The Politics of Peace and Conflict Research Methods B. Students must take four modules from the following list of options: International Politics Ethics in International Affairs Conflict Resolution and Nonviolence Armed Conflict, Peace-building and Development The United Nations and Peacekeeping Human Rights in Theory and Practice Gender, War and Peace Northern Ireland: Conflict, Religion and the Politics of Peace The Politics of the Idea of Europe Race and Ethnicity, Theoretical Concepts Ethnic Conflict, Peace and the State NGOs in Theory and Practice: Internship Module Some changes to the structure and content of this course may be made during 2012-13. Prospective candidates should contact the Executive Officer for information on new developments. Teaching takes place in Dublin over two terms. A one term, non-degree course is available and is ideal for those on sabbatical, or for those who prefer a shorter period of study. There is also the option of attending single modules. Modules from the M.Phil. in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies and the M.Phil. in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation are open to students on the M.Phil. in International Peace Studies. Students seeking to be assessed for their work on a module in either of the two other courses must first secure the permission of the relevant course coordinators. Dissertation: A research dissertation (15,000 – 20,000 words) to be supervised by an appropriate member of staff and to be submitted by 16 August.

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A cross-border course - Belfast and Dublin After registration in Dublin at the start of the course, teaching takes place in Belfast over two teaching terms, September to December and January to early April. The second term includes a residential Spring School in Dublin. For the remainder of the programme, including the summer dissertation period, April-September students may be based in either Belfast or Dublin depending on their research interests. A one term (twelve week) programme is available and is ideal for those on sabbatical, or for those who prefer a shorter period of study.
Course Description:
This innovative cross-border programme allows M.Phil. students to take a broader joint course Master in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, or a specialist option for either a Master in Conflict Resolution or a Master in Reconciliation Studies. The Conflict Resolution specialism develops skills in conflict analysis and conflict intervention for both established practitioners and those seeking to develop new expertise in conflict management, conflict resolution and conflict transformation. The Reconciliation specialism offers an inter-disciplinary approach to the challenges of social reconciliation in the aftermath of political conflict, drawing on social research, politics, theology and ethics. Particular attention is given to ethnic conflicts, and the role of religion in such conflicts and in peacebuilding and reconciliation. Case studies typically include: Northern Ireland; South Africa; Zimbabwe; Rwanda; El Salvador; Guatemala; Israel/Palestine; and Sri Lanka. The programme equips graduates for work with local and international organisations, and provides transferable skills for a wide variety of careers, including mediation, diplomacy, policy, advocacy, journalism, teaching and Ph.D. research.

Students are required to take a 10 ECTS core module in Research Skills, a further 50 ECTS of taught modules, and a 30 ECTS research dissertation. In the Conflict Resolution specialism, students are required to take the core module, Conflict Analysis and Models of Intervention. In the Reconciliation specialism, students are required to take the core module, Dynamics of Reconciliation. Optional modules worth 10 ECTS include: Conflict Resolution Skills, Conflict Transformation, Conflict Resolution Lessons from Comparative Peace Processes, Social Research for Transformation, Reconciliation in Northern Ireland, Theology of Reconciliation, Community Learning and Reflective Practice in Northern Ireland, and Post-Conflict Justice and Truth Commissions. Optional modules worth 5 ECTS include: Guided Research Project and South Africa: The Ethics of Truth and Reconciliation. Modules are generally assessed on written work of 3,000-5,000 words, to be submitted according to the internal deadlines distributed at the beginning of each academic year, with final submission date by 1 May. Subject to satisfactory performance in the written work, students may proceed to the submission of the dissertation. Students who do not reach that standard, but who nonetheless are judged by the Court of Examiners to have reached a satisfactory level of performance, may be recommended for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma, without further assessment. The 30 ECTS dissertation is 15,000-20,000 words, and to be submitted by 1 August. The dissertation is required for all M.Phil. students.

Further details on the specialist tracks are available on the School website http://www.tcd.ie/ise/resolution/

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This Belfast-based degree is an innovative cross-border programme which takes an inter-disciplinary approach to the challenges of social reconciliation in the aftermath of armed conflict. The programme grows out of and addresses the needs and experiences of people in Northern Ireland. Particular attention is given to ethnic conflicts and the role of religion in such conflicts. It is designed to address the challenge of developing a fuller, more complex and more systematic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to reconciliation. Thirty years of violence have taught people some costly wisdom about reconciliation, which needs both to be consolidated and further applied in Northern Ireland and to be offered to others who have experienced similar conflicts. Reciprocally, the Reconciliation Studies programme will also be probing conflicts around the world for lessons to be applied in Northern Ireland and more widely. The programme also includes a one-week Spring School in Dublin.

Students take at least five of the eight courses offered and are assessed on four of them. The courses include Dynamics of Reconciliation; Theology of Reconciliation; Conflict Transformation; Northern Ireland – Conflict and Reconciliation; Social Research Methods; Resources of Reconciliation in World Religions; When the Fighting Stops: Transitional Justice and Truth Commissions; and Conflict and Collective Identity: Ethnicity, Nationalism and Religion. Students also participate in a one-week Spring School in Dublin, which varies in content from year to year. In addition seminars will be organised in support of the programme.

Assessment: The assessment consists of four 5,000-6,000 word essays: students submit an essay on the first course ‘Dynamics of Reconciliation’, at least one from courses 2, 3 or 4, and two others – to be completed by 1st May, and an 18,000-20,000 word dissertation to be completed by 15th September.

All students are registered on a common Masters programme and follow the same assessment procedures for the four essays required. Subject to satisfactory performance in the four essays, students may proceed to submission of a dissertation for the M.Phil. degree. Students who do not reach that standard, but who nonetheless are judged by the Court of Examiners to have reached a satisfactory level of performance, may be recommended for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma, without further assessment.

Admission Requirement:
Applicants should normally have an honors degree at second-class level or above. Students not meeting these criteria may exceptionally be considered at the discretion of the Dean of Graduate Studies.

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The teaching period will involve 2 evening sessions (6 hours per week) over 24 teaching weeks. There is also one Saturday workshop. This structure may be subject to some modification (contact the Course Co-ordinator for further information). Evening courses take place at the ISE, Dublin. The Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies course is designed to encourage an understanding of the nature and causes of conflict in political, ethnic, community, civil and related environments, and provides an overview of prevailing systems of remedy and redress and dispute resolution. The course examines the causes of conflict in corporate, statutory, voluntary, political, and community-based settings and provides training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes such as adjudication, facilitation, ombudsmanship and mediation, and addresses internationally significant commissions and tribunals on post-conflict justice. This one-year course interests those who wish to study non-adversarial dispute resolution processes. It is of particular interest to those, in both the public and private sectors, who wish to study civil mediation and other non-adversarial dispute and conflict resolution processes which are increasingly a part of legislative and management structures in the EU and internationally. It aims at achieving standards of best practice for those who recognise the value of alternative dispute resolution processes in resolving commercial, community, workplace and other pre-litigation disputes and in minimising damage caused by conflict. Through an alliance with Mediation Forum-Ireland those who complete the CDRS course will have the opportunity to have their names included in the relevant specialist panel of Accredited Mediators. Students are required to take all core compulsory modules: Course Content:

Understanding Conflict,
Aspects and Dynamics of Conflict,
Theories and Processes of Conflict Resolution,
Processes and Skills for Moving Beyond Conflict.

The assessment is based on two essays of approximately 4,000 – 4,500 words each, a 4,000 – 4,500 reflective log, and on a practical skills-based assessment to be completed by 1 August. One essay will focus on the underlying theory and philosophy of conflict, the other essay will focus on the theories and processes of conflict resolution. To complete the Diploma satisfactorily a pass mark of 40% must be achieved in the two essays and the log and practical assessment must be undertaken to a satisfactory standard.

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The M.Sc. in Economic Policy Studies (EPS) programme is a two-year part-time postgraduate programme designed to provide graduates with the skills to apply economic perspectives and approaches to the study of policy issues. There is an in-take of new students every second year; accordingly the next student in-take will be for the academic year commencing September 2014. Staff from the Department of Economics, as well as where appropriate other staff from both within and outside the College, lecture on the programme. The programme's aim is to provide participants with a greater understanding of the economic policy process and the ability to engage confidently in evidence-based economic policy making. It enables graduates to contribute effectively to the processes of economic policy formulation, change and implementation, using various concepts and methods in social science analyses. Policy making in any field requires a range of skills and analytical approaches; while this programme focuses on economic policy and on the economic analysis of other policies, the political economy context, both domestically and internationally, is also explored.

During the two years, students will undertake a number of modules over three ten-week terms and spend the remainder of the second year working on their dissertations. The first teaching term takes place from late September to December and the second from January to April of Year 1. Students undertake four modules in Year 1 as follows: data analysis, modelling and research methods; understanding markets; Irish economic policy issues and context; macroeconomic concepts and issues. The third teaching term takes place form late September to December of Year 2 and in this time students undertake two specialised modules from three possible options; namely economic evaluation, competition and regulation and money and banking. The remainder of Year 2 is focused on completion of the dissertation.

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This is a creative departure from the traditional Ph.D. offered elsewhere in much of Europe and is designed to produce rigorously trained, widely-read and well-rounded political scientists, able to take their place in the forefront of the profession. The programme combines an intensive set of courses on the substance and methodology of research along with a traditional emphasis on conducting original research. Political Science has eight full time academic staff and currently has thirty research postgraduate students.

In the first year students follow a number of courses in the qualitative and quantitative aspects of research, a course in political behaviour and comparative politics, which reflects the expertise and interests of most members of the department, and develops a research proposal for the final thesis. In the first year of the Ph.D programme, students are required to perform well on their coursework and to defend their draft thesis proposal successfully. In the second year of the Ph.D. programme, there are further optional courses and students start work on their thesis.

Successful applicants have a good honors degree in political science or a related discipline. Political Science seeks to recruit a varied mix of students from different disciplinary, cultural and educational backgrounds. Multiple awards are available each year for competitive candidates which cover fees and provide a stipend to meet living costs. In addition, our students have been very successful in attracting funding from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) after their first year.

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This course has been designed to offer a broad critical understanding of how society attempts to prevent or respond to problems associated with the use of licit and illicit drugs, as well as a more specific opportunity to develop research, management and policy-making skills in this area.

The course is aimed primarily at those who hold management or policy-making positions in any of the human service organisations which deal with drug and alcohol problems, but it also seeks to attract professionals who might play a leadership role in addictions work within their own professions.

Candidates from the first category might include: middle-ranking or senior civil servants or health board officials; directors or senior workers from voluntary drug and alcohol services; senior officials from the Probation and Welfare Service, the Prison Service or the Garda Siochana; members of Local Drugs Tasks Forces. Candidates from the second category might include: family doctors, community pharmacists, teachers, social workers, public health nurses, and other community care personnel. Candidates must have current or recent experience of either direct service provision, administration or policymaking relevant to the addictions field.

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This degree addresses issues of environment and development and the interlinkages between them. Global climate change and poverty are two of the most large-scale and serious issues facing humankind. Both compromise human and environmental security and are increasingly interlinked. This degree aims to develop a critical understanding of the operation of socio-political and environmental processes from local to global scales. Particular emphasis will be laid upon the interconnectedness between political and socio-spatial theory, governance, civil society, environmental conflict, and climate change, amongst other issues. The course includes an innovative fieldcourse based in Rwanda on Climate-Environment-Sustainability Interactions and Threats to Livelihoods. Further details on modules and on the fieldtrip are available from the course director.

A wide variety of careers will be open to graduates from this programme in overseas development assistance for public, private and non-governmental organizations. It is envisaged that the programme will also attract active professionals already working in these fields, who wish to strengthen their qualifications, in addition to students who wish to develop careers in this area or to pursue further academic studies.

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The Graduate Diploma/Masters in International Development Practice (MIDP) via blended learning programme is intended to help to maximise career opportunities for busy professionals and postgraduate researchers. The course is delivered on a blended learning basis, through a combination of residential summer and winter schools, online lectures and tutorials, plus a 20,000-word dissertation. Additionally, the programme will provide participants with a strong inter-disciplinary foundation and continuing professional development expertise in the area of international development practice.

This innovative programme is designed for those who wish to pursue careers within international organisations, government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), philanthropic institutions, and consultancy firms engaged in international development practice. The programme will create a cohort of international practitioners with the capacity to analyse and scrutinise some of the most chronic developmental problems of the twenty-first century and to provide participants with the practical skills to provide resolution along a wide spectrum of critical policy areas.

The programme is offered on a full-time basis over 18 months, with part-time options also available for participants over an extended period (up to three years).

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Overview

Societies such as Ireland are adjusting very rapidly to change in the external and internal environments.

The aim of this MA is to interrogate the social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of the internet in contemporary societies. From work to leisure, from education to politics, the internet provides a platform for new forms of interaction, engagement and socialisation. This exciting new MA will build upon the theoretical and methodological strengths of the Department of Sociology, with additional options offered by the Departments of Law and Media in Maynooth.

Course Structure

The taught programme is built around three components: a core theoretical module, substantive courses, and methods courses. Modules include the political economy and cultures of the internet, information technology and privacy law and advanced digital research methods. Beyond this, the researching and writing of a thesis constitutes 30 credits. Each module comprises on average 12 two hour seminars.

Career Options

The aim of the MA in Sociology (Internet and Society) programme is to prepare students for both academic and non-academic positions which support social behaviour online, including on social media and in large transnational online communities. Graduates of this course will be able to interface with programmers and designers and with those working on the deep statistical analysis of user data. There is a demand for digitally literate graduates who understand the social, cultural, political, legal and business aspects of transnational online users and communities. Graduates will be able to develop, execute and report on internet based research projects for a range of public and private sector employers. They may also wish to use their new skills to progress to PhD studies.

How to Apply

Online application only http://www.pac.ie/maynoothuniversity

PAC Code
MHY56 MA Sociology (Internet and Society)

The following information should be forwarded to PAC, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway or uploaded to your online application form:
Certified copies of all official transcripts of results for all non-Maynooth University qualifications listed MUST accompany the application. Failure to do so will delay your application being processed. Non-Maynooth University students are asked to provide a copy of their birth certificate or valid passport, two academic references and official transcripts. A personal statement is required. This should include any information that you consider relevant to your interest and ability in the MA in Sociology.

Find information on Scholarships here https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/postgraduate-studies/fees-funding-scholarships

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