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Political, Social and International Studies Courses

MA Social and Political Theory

  • Course Code DNT1L380101
  • Duration 1 Year
  • Attendance Full Time
  • Award Degree of Master of Arts
  • Overview
  • Why Choose Us
  • Requirements
  • Course Profile
  • Fees and Funding
  • Apply
Overview
Lee Marsden with students in SeminarThis MA shows how a consideration of social and political theory is relevant to politics in the contemporary world. Some of the questions addressed include: Should liberty prevail over equality? What are the limits of tolerance in a multi-racial society? Should the mass media reflect or manufacture public opinion? How can theoretical perspectives inform debates about practical matters of public policy?


Why Study Social and Political Theory at UEA?

This is a multi-disciplinary MA which is taught jointly by political theorists and philosophers. You will get an understanding of the political issues and controversies addressed by modern and contemporary political theorists, an understanding of different normative and epistemological perspectives and of how these affect political debate and policy.


Courses, Content and Structure

The MA lasts twelve months for full-time students and two years for those studying part-time. You will have seminars and lectures during the first two semesters and then over the summer you will work on your dissertation which is handed in at the start of September.


Transferable Skills

Over the course of the MA, you will develop a variety of transferable skills. These include debating, giving oral presentations, team work, project work and essay writing. All students also take a module called Methods of Social Enquiry which is specifically designed to help you improve your research skills. This will enable you to write a better dissertation, but it will also be useful if you decide to take up a career in research.


Dissertation

The dissertation is a very important part of the MA. Students choose their own topic and are allocated an individual supervisor who gives advice on all aspects of writing and researching a dissertation. The School also organises a Postgraduate Day when all postgraduates, including MA and PhD students, meet together and discuss their research. There is a session set aside for MA students to discuss their dissertation proposals. A guest speaker also gives a talk on the subject of his or her research and there is still time to socialise over a free buffet lunch.


Course Assessments

Assessment is based on a mix of dissertation, essays, research papers and performance in seminars.


Post-Graduate Online Journals

At their own initiative, MA students recently set up an e-journal, called Irrational, which publishes the work of students. It can be found at the PSI website: www.irrationalmagazine.org


Careers

It is difficult at the moment to find good jobs, but it is always good to have an extra qualification, and an MA is a good way of making yourself look a bit different from the rest. The career centre at the University is an excellent resource, and it helps us put on special days for students studying Politics when people working in the field come and discuss their jobs and how they got into them. Recent graduates from our MA programmes have taken up jobs in a wide variety of fields, including: business, teaching, research, journalism, and public policy professionals
Course Organiser
Dr Alexander Brown    
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