University of Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen

Master of Arts in International Relations and Sociology

The Master of Arts in International Relations and Sociology in International Relations is offered by University of Aberdeen.

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

Master of Arts in International Relations and Sociology offered by the University of Aberdeen

International Relations and Sociology at Aberdeen gives you solid grounding in the role of power, states and governments in an ever-changing global context and combines it with a fascinating exploration of how the societies we live in shape us as individuals in all sorts of ways. With top-rated teaching and a culture of dynamic research, you will gain the skills to be a sought-after graduate by employers in many sectors, and with strong international possibilities.


In International Relations, you will look closely at how states and organisations interact, global wealth and poverty and the ever-present concerns of conflict and peace.

You will study regional and international tensions, nationalism, concepts of democracy and be taught by internationally renowned academics with strong track records in publishing international papers and articles and who appear regularly in the media, analysing and explaining national, European and world developments from the viewpoint of their own area of expertise and research.

Sociology at Aberdeen will complement and add depth to your studies of how global societies interact. You will explore how society shapes us as individuals in all sorts of ways and study sociology of the family, work-life balance, religion and society.

You will be taught by experts in social movements, conflict and peace, religion and secularisation and global political sociology. You will become skilled in the social research methods used to gather the evidence to better understand aspects of society – such as observation, interviews, large-scale surveys or analysing the content of documents and videos.

You will have great career options in politics, media, local and national government, NGOs and international affairs and also marketing and advertising, social and market research, teaching, health and social services, charities and human resources.

What You'll Study

Year 1
Compulsory Courses
Academic Writing for Social Sciences (AW1006)
Politics & International Relations 1: Democracy and Governance (PI1018)
Introduction to Sociology I: Self, Identity & Society (SO1007)
Politics & International Relations 2: Power and Conflict (PI1518)
Introduction to Sociology II: Systems of Power (SO1509)
Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)

Optional Courses
Select a further 60 credit points from courses of choice.

Year 2
Compulsory Courses
Ideas and Ideologies in Politics and International Relations (PI2009)
Global Politics: Equality and Inequality (PI2508)
Sociology of Everyday Life i: the Embodied Self (SO2006)
Sociology of Everyday Life II: Global Issues in the 21st Century (SO2509)

Year 3
Compulsory Courses
Social Research Methods (SO3524)
Researching in the 21st Century (PI3069)

Optional Courses
Select one of the following:

Thinking Sociologically (SO3066)
Religion and Society (SO3067)
Plus select one second-half session level 3 Politics and International Relations course.

Thinking Sociologically (SO3066)
Religion and Society (SO3067)

Year 4
Optional Courses
Select one of the following dissertation options:

Dissertation (International Relations) (IR4031)
Research Project (SO4049)
Plus select credit points from level 4 courses in Politics & International Relations and level 4 courses in Sociology to gain a total of 60 points in each discipline.

Dissertation (International Relations) (IR4031)
Research Project (SO4049)



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