Academic Year 2012 -2013 & learning outcomes

• Michealmas term: 24 September - 14 December 2012
• Hilary Term: 14 January - 5 April 2013
• Dissertation submission: 30 August 2013

Learning Outcomes

Aims

This full time 12 months postgraduate interdisciplinary programme, located within the Department of Sociology, offers students rigorous training and develops expertise in all aspects of race, ethnicity and conflict. The programme aims to provide a base for specialist research in the areas of race, ethnicity and conflict studies by offering theory, substantive and research methods training.

Working methods

The programme consists of three elements - mandatory theory, conflict studies and research methodology core courses (30 credits), elective modules (30 credits) and 20,000 words dissertation (30 credits). Attendance in all modules is mandatory but students make up 30 credits, in consultation with the course coordinator.

All classes comprise a lecturing input and student participation and formal and informal presentations. Students are allocated specific readings in advance of the sessions and are presented with topics for discussion and critique. The modules described below are assessed by individual essays or written group presentations. Students are allocated dissertation supervisors and are expected to work on their dissertation starting from April each year. Dissertations are submitted at the end of September each year.

Student intake

Students include recent EU and non EU graduates, as well as national and international public sector and NGO employees.

Teaching staff

Teaching staff come mostly from the Department of Sociology, but we also draw on expertise from other TCD departments as well as from NGOs and the legal profession.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:

• derive, explain and critically evaluate debates on race, ethnicity and conflict regarding social change in relation to conflict zones, post conflict societies and migration at global, European and Irish levels
• identify, understand and critically evaluate theoretical and research literature in the field of race, ethnicity, conflict
• apply and compare different research methods in these fields
• conduct independent research of a theoretical or substantive nature in specific fields of racial, ethnic and conflict studies
• write theses and research reports to a professional standard
• communicate that research through oral presentations for an academic audience
• perform problem solving in academic and policy contexts
• be qualified to work in policy and research in this field in Ireland and abroad.

Assessment and completion

Assessment is on a pass or fail basis. Prior to writing their dissertations, students have to complete all module assignments. Upon completion of the programme, students are awarded a Masters of Philosophy in Race, Ethnicity, Conflict.

Access to MPhil modules

Some MPhil modules will be made available to PhD students registering with the Department of Sociology researching race, ethnicity, conflict and migration, and to students of the MPhil in International Peace Studies.