Introduction

Contemporary international relations impact on our lives in realms such as international politics, human rights, the economy, communications and trade. This degree offers a broad interdisciplinary introduction to this subject. It explores the concepts, forces and processes underpinning international relations, looking at the role of powerful states and international organisations, legal frameworks, foreign policy, and the international political economy. Students come from all corners of the globe and are both recent undergraduates and those already immersed in the field (NGOs, teachers), who want to further their professional development. The programme is suitable for students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, from politics, law and languages, to history, business and sciences.... [-]

The Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MA in Historical and Heritage Studies of the North West will enable students to deal with the theory and practice of historical studies; learn about lore, life and mythology in the region; and stimulate students in themes of local history, museum studies and agriculture.

The programme will introduce students to a wide variety of primary sources and other materials, utilised in researching folklore, local and cross-border history, museum studies and history of agriculture in the NW. The programme will reflect the interrelationship between theory and practice, combined with principles of adult learning and the lifelong process. Students will, therefore, be exposed to a range of innovative teaching and learning strategies, including fieldwork experience... [-]

The MA Degree in Development Studies is designed to prepare participants for work in development in a community, local government, youth/adult education, or NGO setting. It offers learners an opportunity to explore contemporary theories of social change and development and to analyse development policies and practices. It builds skills, especially in relation to research, leadership and working with groups and in the planning, management and evaluation of development projects.

It is aimed at advanced level participants who hold a primary degree or equivalent qualifications and who have experience of working in a development context. Particularly welcome are leaders, facilitators and managers of community development projects, government and development agency staff, people involved in pastoral ministry, researchers, development educators, volunteers and activists. It should also appeal to academics in the countries of the Global South engaged in teaching and research in development. Some places are also retained for recent graduates who wish to study further before embarking on a career in development work.... [-]

The MA in Culture and Colonialism explores literature, politics and culture from Ireland to India, and from Africa to the Middle East. It is a multi-disciplinary taught Master of Arts programme, aimed at graduates from the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Students analyze imperial ascendancy, race and racial theories, nationalist movements, postcolonial experiences, the rise of neo-colonial thought, multiculturalism and interculturalism, and the implications of globalisation and development for the modern world.

This MA allows students to combine the specialization of postgraduate research with the adaptable skills training of a multi-disciplinary approach. Students benefit from the legacy of an MA programme established in 1994; the programme has continuously re-invented itself in changing ideological climates while maintaining its primary goal: to offer a critical education in the cultural discourses of power.... [-]

The Professional MA in Healthcare Chaplaincy offers students a multidisciplinary approach to Healthcare Chaplaincy. It provides academic, pastoral, spiritual, personal and professional education for people who wish to work in Healthcare settings.

Who is this MA programme for?

The programme is designed for those wishing to pursue a career in Healthcare Chaplaincy in a variety of approved healthcare contexts including:

Hospitals Hospices Rehabilitation Facilities Nursing Homes & Care Facilities

The course is offered on a one year full-time, three semester basis only. Upon successful completion of this programme the Graduate will be able to:

Demonstrate an ability to engage in a holistic manner with the Chaplaincy needs of patients, residents, family, staff and wider community, Exhibit self knowledge to a degree that permits pastoral care to be offered within the contexts of his/her strengths and limitations Be aware of and articulate how their feelings and attitudes, values and assumptions affect their ministry Be competent in reflecting theologically and facilitating that process in others. Give evidence of understanding current theological, spiritual and ethical issues that confront chaplains Demonstrate an ability to articulate and empathise around spiritual, moral and medical issues Demonstrate an ability to understand and help others discover the meaning in the experience of suffering, grief and loss Demonstrate the facility to integrate theology of ministry and pastoral practice Understand the operational systems in the healthcare setting Engage sensitively in faith conversation and faith development initiatives in an invitational and inclusive manner. Exhibit competence as a reflective practitioner... [-]

The MA is a unique and innovative interdisciplinary programme which provides students with the academic knowledge and practical skills to resolve disputes between parties in a non-adversarial manner. Upon successful completion of the MA students receive both a QQI Level 9 academic qualification and a certified mediator accreditation for the Mediators Institute of Ireland. Dispute resolution is one of the fastest-growing fields and academic disciplines both in Ireland and internationally, offering professional opportunities in the corporate, legal, educational, political, HR, health, and community settings, as well as many others.

The MA in Dispute Resolution focuses on a wide range of non-adversarial dispute resolution processes including arbitration, mediation, conflict coaching and negotiation across a number of different sectors, including family, commercial, construction, and workplace. The curriculum is interdisciplinary, combining concepts from the law, business management, international relations, policy studies, sociology, psychology and organisational development.... [-]

What is Public Culture Studies?

‘Public Culture’ refers to public policies, ideas, communication and behaviour in society. It also deals with the relationship between individuals and the state. Key areas of interest include public/private culture and public life, citizenship, the mechanisms of governments, the media, the arts and the public realm. Public Culture Studies is also an emerging field in the arts, most notably in the area of the arts, arts activism, arts and critiques, and cultural policy.

This programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to public cultures in Ireland and internationally. It is ideal for recent graduates from a range of humanities disciplines who wish to build their knowledge. It also offers those in media, new media, the public sector and arts advocacy an opportunity to acquire a postgraduate qualification. ... [-]

MA in Psychology

The Master of Art in Psychology (MA Psychology) is a new full-time 1-year conversion course that integrates existing undergraduate modules and postgraduate modules.

The course has been accredited by the PSI and is designed for students with prior experiences in psychology and research methods (e.g., BA Joint Honours). This prior experience should be comparable to 1 year of study (10 modules; 60 ECTS).

The MA Psychology provides students with a menu of modules that reflect the breadth of psychological research and its applications and is therefore partly a conversion course. The undergraduate modules will be provided by the Department of Psychology (Education and Health Science); the postgraduate modules will be provided by the Department of Psychology, the Department of Design and Technology (Faculty and Science and Engineering), the Department of Personnel and Employment Relations (Kemmy Business School), and the Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department (Faculty of Education and Health Sciences).... [-]

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

The MA in American Politics and Foreign Policy encourages students to comprehend the how and why of the subject. Throughout the modules, you will encounter diverse perspectives but the main emphasis will be on scholarly and/or policy-oriented readings and discussions.

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.... [-]

“Doing an MA in American Studies at the UCD Clinton Institute was one of the best decisions I have made. Each of the classes offered was interesting, engaging and left me with a deeper understanding of American political issues. I am now putting everything I learned at the Institute to good use by working in Washington DC and so I would definitely recommend the programme to anyone considering it” – Niamh Ní­ Aonghusa

Because of the United States’ unrivaled status in the world today, the debates on American values and the mission of American democracy have become a matter of global concern. This programme introduces students to the advanced study of American culture and politics, in both domestic and international contexts. It is a multidisciplinary programme that promotes the study of the interactions of cultural social and political factors. It aims to deepen and widen students’ knowledge of major topics and issues as well as to enable them to develop a significant measure of expertise in the subject chosen for the dissertation. The MA programme draws on the expertise of UCD faculty across a number of departments, as well as that of the Professor of American Studies and the contribution of visiting scholars.... [-]

“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 the diligent and engaging staff of the Institute. I would do it all over again if I could!” – Karen Dunne

This MA programme in Media and International Conflict is designed to enable students to develop an 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.... [-]

Masters/Grad Dip in International Development Practice via blended learning

The Graduate Diploma/Masters in International Development Practice (MIDP) via blended learning programme is offered on a full-time basis over 18 months, with part-time options also available for participants over an extended period. This 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, an international placement programme that offers course participants the opportunity to obtain real-life experience of integrated approaches to international development practice, 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.A range of modules, emphasising the practice and theory of development, will be offered in year one of the programmes. Students who successfully complete this phase of the programme will be awarded a Graduate Diploma after Year One. The third semester of the programme will consist primarily of research... [-]