MA Political Theory
Postgraduate
In Colchester
Description
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Type
Postgraduate
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Location
Colchester
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Duration
1 Year
About the course
How are we to understand political life – as the expression of violence, tradition, domination, the search for freedom, the struggle for equality? How should we think about democracy – as the participation of citizens, the contest of representatives or the search for a common good through deliberation? What is justice – equality for all human beings, solidarity among some human beings or the free play of personal choice?
These questions have exercised minds since ancient Athens and, in recent years, they have received new interpretations in political theory, one of the most intellectually fertile sub-disciplines of politics
Our MA Political Theory will help you secure a solid grasp of key debates in social and political thought, give you a strong foundation in theoretical principles
You explore topics including:
Research methods in critical political theory and analysis
Classical and contemporary texts of political theory
Democratic theory and social justice
Philosophy of social science
Ethics and public policy
Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication
We are rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began
Our expert staff
Some of the biggest names in the field work at Essex, giving you unparalleled access to some of the best minds in politics
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
Reviews
Subjects
- Political Theory
- Politics
- Teaching
- Public
Course programme
Postgraduate study is the chance to take your education to the next level. The combination of compulsory and optional modules means our courses help you develop extensive knowledge in your chosen discipline, whilst providing plenty of freedom to pursue your own interests. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore to ensure your course is as relevant and up-to-date as possible your core module structure may be subject to change.
For many of our courses you’ll have a wide range of optional modules to choose from – those listed in this example structure are, in many instances, just a selection of those available. Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current postgraduate students, including details of all optional modules.
Year 1
MA Dissertation
Political Theory
Research Seminar in Political Theory and Methods
Advanced Research Methods (optional)
Comparative European Politics (optional)
Conflict Resolution (optional)
Contemporary Theories of Justice (optional)
Ideology and Political Discourse (optional)
Environmental Politics (optional)
International Security Studies (optional)
Political Economy (optional)
Political Explanation (optional)
Political Parties in Britain and Europe (optional)
Public Opinion and Political Behaviour (optional)
Research Design (optional)
Theories of International Relations (optional)
Theory and Explanation in Political Science (optional)
Survey Measurement and Question Design
Teaching
Courses are designed to provide you with an advanced understanding of either the politics of a geographical area or an aspect of the discipline
Courses include both compulsory and optional modules, so the course can be tailored to fit your interests and aspirations
Learn through discussion and problem-solving
Lab sessions allow you to improve your technical research skills
We encourage students to attend national conferences to meet researchers and discuss their work
Assessment
Your coursework comes in the form of essays, simulations, presentations and in-class tests
Dissertation
You are given guidance on how to prepare a Masters dissertation by our Graduate Director in the spring term
We link you with an appropriate supervisor at the earliest opportunity
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Additional information
MA Political Theory