MA Politics and International Relations (NEW PROGRAMME! Starts September 2013)
Duration: Two years part time
General Information
The MA Politics and International Relations is designed to accommodate the scheduling needs of working professionals in government, journalism, the NGO sector and other areas who wish to deepen their education in politics and international relations whilst continuing their employment. As such, the programme offers a range of modules taught late in the day (3-5pm, 4-6 pm, or 5-7 pm) that students may complete on a part-time basis over two years. Depending upon the year and term, these modules could cover Irish politics, comparative politics, European politics, international relations, international development, international political economy, nationalism and ethnic conflict, human rights, political theory and other topics.
Structure
The MA Politics and International Relations is a 90-credit, part-time programme including six optional 10-credit modules (no particular module is required), one required 5-credit module on dissertation design, and a 25-credit research thesis written with supervision by a member of the school’s academic staff.
Admission Requirements
Each application is considered on its individual merits. The applicants should have earned an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law/international law etc. with at least Upper Second Class Honours, or its equivalent (an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher in the American system). Relevant professional experience will also be taken into account. Note that meeting the requirements does 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 Politics and International Relations 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 public administration, journalism, business, and the voluntary sector.