MA Political Theory
Duration: one year full time; two years part time
General Information
The School of Politics and International Relations offers an MA in Political Theory. Political Theory—reflecting on and evaluating political activity and institutions—is almost as old as politics itself. As a crucial part of understanding our human condition, political theory has always been held to be a valuable activity. More recently, however, changes in contemporary societies have made such systematic thinking about politics indispensable to understanding and participating in the life of our own state and a newly global world. Issues such as justice,, freedom, inequality, democratic participation, human rights, immigration and multiculturalism, security and terror call for consideration of the moral dimension of politics, informed by both contemporary political thinkers and the history of political thought. Political theory has also come increasingly to address the more immediate practical concerns of politics and policy that are of concern to governments, the media, civil society groups and individual citizens. Political theory combines a rigorous approach to analysing these problems with an imaginative search for solutions. It holds out the possibility of finding new ways forward in situations of conflict, inequality and global change.
Structure
The MA in Political Theory is a 90-credit programme. Full-time students must take three 10-credit modules and a shorter 5-credit Dissertation Design sequence in the first semester, and three 10-credit modules in the second semester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 25 credits that will be written during the summer term. Part-time students take a total of 90 credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. As the Dissertation Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it must be taken in the second year of study. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1.
Students in the MA programme participate in three core subject modules. Core subject modules are “Theory of Human Rights” (first semester),"International Political Theory" (first semester) and Debates on Citizenship (second semester). In addition, students choose a minimum of two optional modules from a list of theoretical modules offered by the School of Philosophy and the School of Social Justice. Finally, students choose one optional module from the wide range of courses offered in the School. Over the summer, students complete a thesis of approximately 10,000 words. Students are assigned an academic supervisor to help them choose their topic and guide their research.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Modules |
POL41030 Theory of Human Rights (10 credits) |
POL40550 Debates on Citizenship (10 credits)
|
| Theory Options: | PHIL40350 Law, Liberty and the State (10 credits) PHIL40840 Autonomy as Philosophical Problem (10 credits) |
POL40130 Development and Global Justice (10 credits) |
| Options |
POL40050 International Relations I (10 credits)
|
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy (10 credits)
|
N.B. This list of modules is correct at the time of going to press, but there may be minor alterations in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Module descriptor: http://www.ucd.ie/students/course_search.htm (search by school: School of Politics and International Relations; Philosophy, Social Justice, etc Level 4)
Admission Requirements
Each application is considered on its individual merits. The applicants should have earned an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject with at least Upper Second Class Honours, or its equivalent, such as an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher in the American system. Relevant professional experience will also be taken into account. Note that these are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission. Applicants in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted conditional on satisfactory completion of their undergraduate degree.
Career Prospects
As with most other qualifications in the social sciences, the MA in Political Theory offers no single predefined career path. Some graduates continue studying towards a PhD or towards professional qualifications in areas such as law or commerce. Others work in government, journalism, business, and the voluntary sector.
