This Master's program has three orientations: social, research and policy. In the socially oriented part of the program, you will investigate questions related to the rise of populism, differences between countries, impact of class difference, globalization, and inequality. In the research orientation, you will learn research methods that you can use for your Master's thesis, and which give you the analytical tools to be critical and to find answers. In the policy orientation, you will investigate the effect of social policy on behavior and society. You will also look at the effectiveness of policy and write a policy paper in one of the courses.
Block 1 (August - October) (First intake moment)
You will take the following courses in block 1:
Social Movements: Social Media, Democracy and Change
You get a thorough introduction into the scientific field of social movement research. In a globalizing context and the current network and information society, it has become easier than ever to connect with people, share ideas and mobilize in collective action. In the recent decade we have seen several examples in which local movements spread globally through social media.
Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis.
Block 2 (October - January)
You will take the following courses in block 2:
Social Policy and Social Risks
Address social policy and welfare states and discover how various 'welfare regime types' have developed over time in different countries, reflective of different concepts of social solidarity and leading to varied outcomes in terms of economic well-being, stratification patterns, and life-course risks.
Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis.
Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
Master's thesis
Block 3 (January - March) (Second intake moment)
You will take the following courses in block 3:
The Social Structures of Western Societies
During this course, you get an outline of the main sociological concepts, theories, research and debates of the social structure of western society in general, and three important elements (social class, family and ethnicity) in particular. Learn to describe and explain the impact of national institutions, history and traditions, and overarching trends such as modernization and globalization in a micro-macro perspective.
Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
Master's thesis
Block 4 (March - June)
You will take the following courses in block 4:
Politics and Society in Comparative Perspective
Develop cross-country analyses of politics and societies, particularly focusing on the rise of populistic groups and of populistic rhetoric.
Analyse Seminar Master Sociology
Master's thesis
Master's thesis
Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's Seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis by training you in academic and research skills. In the first block, you will
Preferably, your Master's thesis has a strong link with the departmental research program.
You can choose your own research topic, you don't have to choose one from a predetermined list.
Your thesis can either have an empirical theoretical accent, with scientifically relevant conclusions, or it could be a sociological analysis of a social or practical problem and existing interventions, leading to relevant policy conclusions.
In case you do the Extended Master, it is preferable (but not mandatory) to connect the thesis to the junior traineeship.
Examples of Master's thesis subjects:
Discrimination of minorities in the labor market
Is judicial legitimacy declining and why?
Health apps and psychological constraints
School dropout among ethnic minorities
Social contacts and feelings of trust
Religiosity and civic morality in the Netherlands
Analysis of European values
Watch a trial lecture
Do you want to experience what a lecture of this Master's program is like? Watch the recording of a lecture and get an impression what to expect.
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