Masters Degrees in Sociology, Ireland

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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Overview

MA students will:

• Develop their ability to apply theories of social change to empirical investigation
• Enhance their ability to communicate effectively through regular class presentations and discussions.
• Receive a grounding in sociological methods and will be supported in using these methods in their dissertation work.
• Gain an enhanced understanding of the economic, social, political and cultural dimensions of Irish society in comparative perspective.
• Be provided with a comprehensive overview of the processes giving rise to social change and the challenges faced by societies in transition. 

The course involves 6 x 10 credit modules over two semesters and the completion of a thesis (30 credits). Classes are timetabled on a Thursday and Friday. See our website for our MA handbook.

Course Structure

The taught programme is built around three components: a core theoretical module, substantive courses, and methods courses. Modules include societies in transition, debating big ideas, analytical reasoning in the social sciences, quantitative research and qualitative 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 course involves 6 x 10 credit modules over two semesters and the completion of a thesis (30 credits). Classes are timetabled on a Thursday and Friday. See our website for our MA handbook.

Campus venue: Auxilia Building and Iontas Building North Campus

Duration: One year full time

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The goal of the Postgraduate Diploma is to provide a learning environment in which students can critically engage with the opportunities and challenges of social life online and develop an analytical skill set that focuses on the application of digital research methods in this sphere.

The Postgraduate Diploma programme offers (1) critical examination of the latest trends in the political economy and cultures of the internet; (2) knowledge of the latest research that engages with the social, ethical and legal aspects of internet use; (3) advanced social and digital research skills that will prepare graduates for researching online and using user data appropriately.

The proposed programme seeks to equip social and humanities graduates with the intellectual and practical research skills to understand social behaviours online. These should prepare students not only to work in academic and professional social research positions, but also for emergent roles in social media and community management jobs.

 

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The goal of the Postgraduate Diploma is to provide a learning environment in which students can critically engage with the opportunities and challenges of social life online and develop an analytical skill set that focuses on the application of digital research methods in this sphere.

The Postgraduate Diploma programme offers (1) critical examination of the latest trends in the political economy and cultures of the internet; (2) knowledge of the latest research that engages with the social, ethical and legal aspects of internet use; (3) advanced social and digital research skills that will prepare graduates for researching online and using user data appropriately.

The proposed programme seeks to equip social and humanities graduates with the intellectual and practical research skills to understand social behaviours online. These should prepare students not only to work in academic and professional social research positions, but also for emergent roles in social media and community management jobs.

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The goal of the Postgraduate Diploma is to provide a learning environment in which students are provided with the necessary critical and analytical skills to make sense of societies undergoing rapid and dramatic transitions.

The Postgraduate Diploma programme interrogates the political, economic and social dimensions of change in transitional societies, using Ireland as a key point of reference. Our aim is to stimulate students to think about the role that sociological analysis can play in helping to advance solutions to the current social and economic challenges. The programme also provides professional training in analytical reasoning and research methods in the social sciences.

The skills acquired transferable to a wide range of careers.

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The goal of the Postgraduate Diploma is to provide a learning environment in which students are provided with the necessary critical and analytical skills to make sense of societies undergoing rapid and dramatic transitions.

The Postgraduate Diploma programme interrogates the political, economic and social dimensions of change in transitional societies, using Ireland as a key point of reference. Our aim is to stimulate students to think about the role that sociological analysis can play in helping to advance solutions to the current social and economic challenges. The programme also provides professional training in analytical reasoning and research methods in the social sciences.

The skills acquired transferable to a wide range of careers.

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We aim:

- To provide high quality research training in a lively intellectual atmosphere
- To promote students’ professional involvement in academic life
- To ensure that students will make a contribution to the advancement of knowledge in sociology
- And to ensure that students will make a contribution to the understanding and well being of contemporary societies

By the end of their time as a research postgraduate student in the Department it is our goal that students will:

- Have completed a thesis which is a high quality piece of orginal sociological analysis and is at least partly publishable in a peer-reviewed academic outlet
- Have developed and demonstrated a significant level of skill in at least one methodology of sociological research and analysis
- Have a broad knowledge of a number of sub-fields within sociology
- And have had the opportunity to develop teaching and administrative skills and experience

Closing date
Research applications are generally accepted at any time however the deadline for applications is August the 15th if you wish to start in September of the same year.

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This programme is based in the UCD Institute of Criminology, the only centre of its kind in Ireland. Crime and punishment are issues of central importance to society and by bringing academic rigour to their examination the Institute contributes to the achievement of national priorities.

See the website http://www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/llmincriminologycriminaljustice/

Your studies

Students select their own modules from a list that includes: Crime and Society; Advanced Criminological Theory; Victims and International and Transnational Crime. You will also complete a supervised dissertation. The programme provides students with the opportunity to study subjects outside the School of Law, such as History, Sociology and Computer Science.

On completion of your studies, you will have:
- a deep understanding and knowledge of Criminal Justice and Criminology;
- identified legal and policy trends in criminal justice and their impact;
- developed advanced legal research skills;
- increased your ability to communicate the results of research; and,
- an increased ability to identify and analyse problems from a legal perspective.

Studying abroad

The School affords its students the opportunity to spend a semester abroad as part of the Comparative, International and European Law (CIEL) Graduate exchange programme with our partner Universities in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Students participating in the programme will have their dissertations jointly supervised by staff in UCD and in the institution which
they are visiting. Successful completion of the semester abroad will lead to the award of a Certificate in Comparative, International and European Law.

Your future

A specialisation in criminology and criminal justice will be of interest to graduates who want to work in one of the criminal justice agencies and to those working in prisons, probation, policing and the courts. This specialisation will equip you with a head start for a career in criminal law and the criminal justice system.

Features

The Institute of Criminology offers a wide range of modules for the Masters programmes. Modules of especial interest to those undertaking this programme include

- Coercive Confinement provides an overview the incarceration of individuals during the first fifty years of Irish independence, examining accounts of life within institutions whilst offering an explanation for the system’s longevity and the reasons for its decline.

- Crime and Society maps trends in crime and victimisation and relates strategies of crime control to wider societal factors such as a country’s political priorities, policy-making infrastructure and media culture.

- Punishment, Prison and Public Policy examines the response to crime since the mid-1990s which has been characterised an emphasis on prison expansion and explores some of the dilemmas that confront prison systems everywhere.

- Victims reflects on recent initiatives designed to assist victims and help them to participate more fully in the criminal justice process to discuss the rich body of knowledge about victimisation and its remedies.

CIEL

Any student admitted to an LLM programme in the Law School also can apply on a competitive basis to spend their second semester at one of our sister Law Schools:
- University of Antwerp
- Maastricht University
- The University of Mannhein
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
- Universite de Toulouse 1 – Capitole

Students must score 6.5 in IELTS or 90 in the internet TOEFL exams in the relevant language of instruction (English, French or German). Spaces are allocated on a competitive basis. Students who are accepted onto this programme graduate with an LLM and are awarded a certificate in International and Comparative Law (CIEL).

Careers

This programme is well- suited to those interested in legal practice, public service, or any other career where success is built upon the ability to understand, analyse and respond to developments in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

We have an excellent Careers Development Centre here at UCD, designed to help you with information regarding future employment or studies. UCD hold a number of graduate events throughout the year including a dedicated law fair at which at which many of the big Law firms will be in attendance. The School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on it’s Academic staff, Dr. Oonagh Breen, and a staff member from the careers office will be in attendance at the School of law on a number of occasions throughout the academic year. To see the full range of services offered by the careers office go to http://www.ucd.ie/careers/

See the website http://www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/llmincriminologycriminaljustice/

Find out how to apply here http://www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/llmincriminologycriminaljustice/apply,80087,en.html

Scholarships

The University and UCD Sutherland School of Law have a list of scholarships that are open to Irish, EU and International applicants.
For further information please see http://www.ucd.ie/scholarships
International students may wish to visit: http://www.ucd.ie/international

Why you should choose UCD

In the state-of-the-art UCD Sutherland School of Law, graduate students engage in advanced study with internationally renowned specialists to develop the transformative potential of law.

The School is ranked by the authoritative QS World University Rankings as Ireland's number one law school and amongst the world's 100 leading law schools. Students benefit from the School’s strong links with university partners; businesses; NGOs; and, domestic, EU and international governments.
We place particular emphasis on the quality and breadth of our graduate programmes across Diploma, Masters and Doctoral levels. Our graduate degrees are available on a full-time or part-time basis, beginning in either January or September.
We also offer part-time Diploma programmes and single subject certificates with the possibility of securing CPD points and building study up to achieve diploma or masters awards.

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Crime and punishment are issues of central importance to society and by bringing academic rigour to their examination the UCD Institute of Criminology contributes to the achievement of national priorities. The Institute brings together leading academics from across UCD and is the only centre of its kind in Ireland. Its members have conducted major research projects on a wide range of topics in the field of criminology and criminal justice, including work on coercive confinement, prison violence and desistance from crime. The work of the Institute has been the focus of debates in parliament, legislative and policy initiatives and numerous reports in the media.

On completion of this programme, students will be able:
- To understand and think critically about the intersections between law, politics and social policy that come to the fore in the study of Criminology and Criminal Justice;
- To apply their knowledge and understanding of Criminology and Criminal Justice to real and hypothetical factual situations;
- To conduct independent research and write coherent, well-structured papers.

See the website http://www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/msccriminologyandcriminaljustice/

Studying abroad

The School affords its students the opportunity to spend a semester abroad as part of the Comparative, International and European Law (CIEL) Graduate exchange programme with our partner Universities in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Students participating in the programme will have their dissertations jointly supervised by staff in UCD and in the institution which
they are visiting. Successful completion of the semester abroad will lead to the award of a Certificate in Comparative, International and European Law.

Your future

A specialisation in criminology and criminal justice will be of interest to graduates who want to work in one of the criminal justice
agencies and to those working in prisons, probation, policing and the courts. This specialisation will equip you with a head start for a career in criminal law and the criminal justice system.

Features

The Institute of Criminology offers a wide range of modules for the Masters programmes. Modules of especial interest to those undertaking this programme include:

- Criminal Justice History considers the history of specific offences in a broad socio-political context. Offences examined will include the history of unlawful killing and the evolution of sexual offences alongside aspects of the criminal justice process.

- Advanced Criminological Theory explores key theories of crime both classic and recent, including biological, psychological and sociological explanations of criminal behaviour and their potential application in the Irish context.

- Crime and Punishment explores a number of central issues in criminal jurisprudence such as responsibility, culpability, harm and moral wrongdoing to deepen an understanding of the basis on which conduct is criminalised and criminal liability imposed.

- International and Transnational Crime focuses on the emergence of international criminal law has emerged as a distinct body of law responding to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, before considering the impact of globalisation on crime.

Careers

This programme provides opportunities for those who wish to work or are already working in relevant areas, such as policing, youth justice, prisons, probation and voluntary organisations to enhance their knowledge of the field. It also provides a good platform for doctoral studies and a possible academic career in what has become an area of substantial growth in universities around the world.

We have an excellent Careers Development Centre here at UCD, designed to help you with information regarding future employment or studies. UCD hold a number of graduate events throughout the year including a dedicated law fair at which at which many of the big Law firms will be in attendance. The School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on it’s Academic staff, Dr. Oonagh Breen, and a staff member from the careers office will be in attendance at the School of law on a number of occasions throughout the academic year. To see the full range of services offered by the careers office go to http://www.ucd.ie/careers/

See the website http://www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/msccriminologyandcriminaljustice/

Find out how to apply here http://www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/msccriminologyandcriminaljustice/apply,80113,en.html

Scholarships

The University and UCD Sutherland School of Law have a list of scholarships that are open to Irish, EU and International applicants.
For further information please see http://www.ucd.ie/scholarships
International students may wish to visit: http://www.ucd.ie/international

Why you should choose UCD

In the state-of-the-art UCD Sutherland School of Law, graduate students engage in advanced study with internationally renowned
specialists to develop the transformative potential of law.

The School is ranked by the authoritative QS World University Rankings as Ireland's number one law school and amongst the
world's 100 leading law schools. Students benefit from the School’s strong links with university partners; businesses; NGOs; and, domestic, EU and international governments.
We place particular emphasis on the quality and breadth of our graduate programmes across Diploma, Masters and Doctoral levels. Our graduate degrees are available on a full-time or part-time basis, beginning in either January or September.
We also offer part- time Diploma programmes and single subject certificates with the possibility of securing CPD points and building study up to achieve diploma or masters awards.

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Overview

This programme empowers actors and practitioners from development, security and other peace and security related institutional backgrounds involved in international peace-building with the knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to provide leadership to reduce and ultimately eliminate violent conflict.

This master’s programme will provide a challenging learning experience for those who wish to develop and integrate mediation and negotiation knowledge and skills with their awareness of wider conflict and development issues while providing students with a critical insight of the entire spectrum of international conflict intervention.

The main theme of the programme will be an integrated and comprehensive approach to the the nexus of peacebuilding, security and development. With increased awareness of the importance of these interlinkages has come increased demands on national and international institutions to respond in a holistic way. In the field, security actors are required to have a better understanding and greater skills in engaging with local communities, institutions and organizations at the local level, while development practitioners recognise a skills deficit with respect to conflict resolution and mediation and are increasingly expected to understand and engage with representatives of multifaceted agencies and communities, particularly when anticipating or responding to the consequences of complex crises.

Students will develop

Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, including ability to analyse and articulate the violent conflict dimension of complex issues that require an integrated and comprehensive response.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex and unusual issues/problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions.
Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement.
Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to interventions in violent conflict.
The programme describes the process of negotiating and implementing peace agreements and security actors and international interventions, drawing in senior personnel experienced in peacekeeping/ peace making and security operations. It also explores the notion of partner and aid donors, the contribution of international organisations and cooperation with key strategic partners and the use of broad development instruments in support of conflict prevention and peace building.

Completion of the module, Mediation Knowledge and Practice provides the basis for the opportunity to take a Mediation Competency Assessment and on successfully passing this assessment, the student is in a position to apply for Certified Status with the Mediators Institute of Ireland.

Course Structure

The programme will be a fulltime offering every second year from August 2017 onwards. The programme will be delivered in the following manner;

Semester 1 – Classroom / Online modules (Aug – Dec)

Semester 2 – Classroom / Online-modules (Feb – June)

Semester 3 – Mixture of Online /Classroom/Supervision (May – Oct)

In following a fulltime programme, students must complete- 30 credits per semester and complete a dissertation within the 14 month period of the programme. A flexible approach to delivery will be taken, through blended learning. Classroom based modules will be provided on campus in Maynooth University or in Kimmage Development Studies Centre, as part of existing Maynooth University MA programmes.

For development modules, on-campus delivery of each 5 credit module involves 24 hours of class-contact. adopts a flexible approach to delivery of classroom based modules with some courses offered through 2 hour taught classes over 12 weeks (usually in the evenings) while others are offered through more concentrated blocks of time depending on timetable requirements and arrangements (typically 4.5 day blocks, delivered in a single week or over two weeks). Distance learning modules are structured to allow students to study at their own pace over a semester, with modules running in two cycles annually – October through January and February through May / June.

For the Kennedy Institute, classroom based modules which are normally 10 credits typically involve week long blocks (4.5 days). Each 1 ECTS module will typically involve at least 20 hours of work, including attending lectures, reading, writing coursework, preparing for exams and sitting exams.

For the dissertation module, master classes on research design /methods will be provided by lecturers, and lecturers will provide supervision sessions, which will amount to 36 hours. Students must also undertake approximately 500 hours of independent study when completing the dissertation.

Modules include

KD 615 Conflict, Development and Security (Online)

KD 601 Political Economy of Development (Online & Classroom)

KD 604 Introduction to Development Theory and Practice (Online & Classroom)

KD 602 Gender and Development (Online & Classroom)

KD 605 Adult Learning for Development (Online and Classroom)

KD 610 Facilitation for Transformation (Classroom)

KD 613 Health and Development (Classroom)

KD 614 Sustainable Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation (Online)

KD 616 Human Rights and Advocacy (Classroom)

KD 606 Research Methods

KD 607 Dissertation

MC 601 Mediation Theory + Conflict Analysis (Classroom)

MC 615 Mediation Knowledge and Practice (Classroom)

MC629 Resolving Protracted Conflict: Applied Concepts and Peace Process Theories (Classroom)

MC630 Post Conflict: Challenges of Implementing Peace Agreements (Classroom)

MC TBD Negotiation Theory and Skills (Classroom)

MC TBD Conflict Intervention, stabilisation and the comprehensive approach (Classroom)

MC 603 Research

MC 690 Minor Thesis

Career Options

This programme will give graduates knowledge, skills and competencies to work in:

-International Development and Peacebuilding NGOs

-Security Organisations

-International Organisations such as UN, EU and World Bank

-Government Agencies and Departments



Envisaged roles include:

-Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

-Conflict Analysis Advisors

-Military and security analysis

-Peacebuilding Policy Officer and Advocate

-Conflict Mediator

-Political Affairs Specialist

-Advisor on Gender and Security

-Advisor on Peacebuilding, Environment and Security

- Project Manager

among many others.

How To Apply

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

PAC Code

MH54M / MH55M



The following documents 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 two academic references and a copy of birth certificate or valid passport.

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

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The M.Phil. in Gender and Women's Studies provides a critical understanding of the current scholarship on the position and representation of gender in society. Drawing on insights and perspectives from a number of academic fields within the Humanities and Social Sciences, the course is both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, training students to research across a range of disciplines. Its students acquire a deep understanding of the cultural contexts in which theories of gender are produced, performed and negotiated and an ability to use primary source material as well as critical theories and scholarship. The course also hones the sort of analytical, written, and verbal communication skills that are highly valued and effective in a many different careers.

All students take the core modules Gender Theories, Gender Research Seminar and Approaches to Gender Research, which provide a grounding in key approaches and skills. Students choose further modules from a wide range of electives, varying from year to year. These include both special topics and further skills and methodologies training options, allowing students to build specific skills and to follow their individual interests. Recently offered modules include: Gender and Symbolic Violence; Gender, Art and Identity; Gender and War in the 20th Century; Saints and Sanctity in Ireland, Britain and Europe; Gender, Identity and Authority in 18th century France; Gender and Nation in Irish Writing; Approaches to Historical Research; Libraries and Archives; Curating Art in Theory and Practice. The capstone of the course is a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words on a research topic in the area of Gender and Women's Studies selected by the student, carried out under the supervision of a member of the teaching staff of the course.

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The M.Sc. in Applied Social Research is a taught Masters programme which can be completed on a one year, full-time or two year, part-time basis. It is designed for graduates in the social sciences who want to develop their research skills and gain employment in the area of research. This Masters is equally suited to those who wish to build research skills for application in their current work environments. The course also provides a strong foundation for further post-graduate study, particularly for PhD research.

Using a combination of lectures, workshops and practical assignments, this M.Sc. programme trains graduates to:

Design and conduct primary social research using both quantitative and qualitative research methods;
Analyse the research data collected using a variety of computer programmes and;
Write and present research findings to a variety of audiences.
Initiated in 1997, the M.Sc. in Applied Social Research has established an excellent reputation in training students in applied research skills. Graduates of the M.Sc. in Applied Social Research typically gain employment in research institutes or consultancies, government departments, semi-state agencies, the NGO sector, and in a range of policy environments. Others go on to complete further post-graduate study.

The M.Sc. programme consists of three integrated modules: Qualitative Research Methods, Quantitative Research Methods, and Research Design, Accessing Resources and Research Ethics. Students also complete an eight-week work placement where they get the opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers/research teams within their host institutions. Students already in relevant employment can complete their work placement in that setting. Exemptions from the work placement may be granted at the discretion of the Course Director in exceptional cases.

A 20,000 word research dissertation is submitted by all students at the end of August (of Year 1 for full-time students and Year 2 for part-time students). This applied research project is initiated following the completion of all course assignments.

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This course examines the techniques used by states to manage population movement and conflict, their social and cultural impact and the responses they elicit. It is unique in the way it applies race-critical, cultural and postcolonial theories to racialization, population movement, conflict and peace-making. It is designed for people who work or wish to work in any of these fields, and/or who are thinking of PhD research. There is a focus on Ireland, Europe (including the Balkans), the US and the Middle East.

The course has three components:

i) Three core modules: race-critical theory, research methods, and colonialism, conflict and liberal intervention.

ii) Optional modules covering topics such as ethnic cleansing and forced migration; ethnicity and social policy; human rights and international issues; gender, race and conflict; migration and the European labour market; migration and education; representation and resistance; social movements and international solidarity. (Topics can vary from year to year).

iii) A 20,000 word dissertation researched and written under the supervision of a member of staff with relevant expertise.

(There are also optional field-trips.)

Admission Requirements

Candidates should have a good primary degree (an upper second or equivalent, GPA of at least 3.2) in one of the social sciences or a degree that has included social science as a component.

In exceptional cases, candidates without a first degree may be accepted directly into the programme if they can demonstrate that they possess the equivalent of a good first degree, have work experience in the fields of population movement, conflict, and/or publications that demonstrate analytical skills. Applicants seeking admission in this category may, where practicable, be called for interview .

In all cases the quality of the candidates statement of interest and of their academic references are important.

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The M.Sc. in Disability Studies provides students with a deep understanding of disability from social, historical, cultural, economic and political perspectives. Graduates of the M.Sc. are equipped with the knowledge, analytical skills and perspectives to help translate rights into reality in the field of disability. The programme offers:

Immersion in the policy and practice implications of the critically important United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and related human rights instruments.
Familiarisation with the key global issues in the field of disability.
A thorough grounding in the principles and practice of programme planning and evaluation.
An internship in a cutting edge disability organisation in the public, private, or voluntary sectors.
Access to the unique expertise of the National Institute for Intellectual Disability and the Centre for Deaf Studies, both located in Trinity College Dublin and closely associated with the programme.
Academic interaction with the students of the Certificate in Contemporary Living, the first third level education programme for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland.
Exposure to teaching from a range of disciplinary perspectives.

The programme aims to prepare graduates for employment or career development in areas such as disability advocacy, quality assurance in disability services, programme planning and evaluation in the field of disability, disability research, and disability policy analysis.

Admission Requirements

The M.Sc. in Disability Studies offers admission to full-time (TRT69) and part-time (TRT79) students. EU and Non-EU applicants are required to hold at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant area (e.g., Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, Deaf studies, Law, and Psychology). Applications are taken on a yearly basis from January to July.

The following are required as part of the application:

Application form
Official transcripts
2 reference letters (at least one academic)
Curriculum Vitae
Statement of purpose addressing the following (1,000 words):
Your interest in the MSc in Disability Studies at TCD
A research topic in the area of disability you would like to examine in your dissertation
How the programme best suits your career development
Your preference for elective modules and placement

Successful applicants will be invited for an interview.

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Programme Overview

Global issues of environment, security and development have never been so important. A long war on terror with no end in sight, ongoing structural economic inequalities on a global scale, and the threat of climate change have brought questions of Western interventionary practices, neoliberalism and environmental sustainability to the fore. The MA in Environment, Society and Development is designed to enable students to synthesize both theoretical and practical concerns in bringing critical thinking to these vital challenges. The programme involves engagement with a number of core areas in critical human geography, including issues of geopolitics, development and political ecology, and exposes students to global concerns that encompass a complex and dynamic mesh of environmental, social and economic processes.

Field-Based Learning

Running through the MA is an overarching aim to impart understanding of how different philosophical and ideological approaches to environment-society relations influence policy formulation and implementation. In this context, our hope is to empower students to become critically informed by, and ethically engaged with, the various geopolitical, social, economic and environmental processes that shape the world in which we live. The practical emphasis of the MA is reflected in a field-based learning module in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where students intersect with the development work of UN agencies, and range of CSOs and NGOs. In connecting with the work of UN agencies like the United Nations Development Programme, a key challenge for students involves thinking through the scalar nature of all forms of development, in which initiatives on the ground are framed by broader geopolitical, economic and institutional structures that both enable and hinder development in complex ways.

Career Opportunities

The programme will prepare students for a range of workplaces including government departments, non-governmental organizations, planning and environmental management agencies and specialist research and policy institutes. The transferable and problem-solving skills gained from the field-based learning practices embedded in all modules are a particular strength for graduates. Each year, students gain vital experience working on the ground in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a variety of international development practitioners and local community leaders. Since its inception, the programme has had ICOS and other international students from a range of countries, including Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Malawi, Norway, Russia, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK, USA and Vietnam. Many have gone on to work in NGOs and UN agencies and, in addition, to pursue PhD research in leading Geography Departments across the world. In terms of a critical human geography Masters, the depth and breadth of the programme puts students in a very strong position in applying for PhDs, and post-MA we strongly encourage applications, internationally, nationally and here at NUI Galway, where Geography has strong research clusters in Geopolitics and Justice and Planning and Sustainability.

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