Content of the programme

The programmes of the English taught Sociology tracks are all similarly structured. In the first semester you follow a 6 EC course in advanced social theory, a thematic core course which is part of your track and an elective. In the third block of the first semester you follow an intensive winter school in methods. In the second semester, you choose another elective of 6 EC, and prepare and write your master's thesis (23 EC in total). The course Labour Market Orientation takes place during the first and second semester. The schedule is the following:

Schedule 2012/2013

Semester 1      Sociological Perspectives (6 EC)     Thematic Core Course (12 EC)     Elective (6 EC)     Winter School Methods (6 EC)     Job Market Seminar Semester 2     Elective (6 EC)     Thesis Seminar (6 EC)     Master's Thesis (17 EC)     Labour Market Orientation (1 EC)

Methods

In the third block of the first semester the programme offers an intensive Winter School in research methods. You can choose one of the courses (6 EC) from four different options.

Blok 3      Methods: Policy Analysis (6 EC)     Methods: Ethnography (6 EC)     Methods: Quantitative Data Analysis (6 EC)     Methods: Social Networks (6 EC)

Electives

In the first and second semester you will follow an elective of 6 EC. In total you need to complete 12 EC of your programme with electives. One of the electives (6 EC) can be chosen from one of the other tracks. This means that either the elective in the first or the elective in the second semester has to be part of your track.

Labour Market Orientation

During the first and second semester you will participate in the course Labour Market Orientation. The main goal of the course will be to stimulate master's students to think about their possibilities and position on the labour market once they've completed their studies.

Master's Thesis

In the first block of the second semester, you will follow a thesis seminar in preparation of the writing of your master's thesis. You will be placed in one of the thematic thesis groups. These thesis groups will be devoted to developing a research question and research design. Upon approval of your research proposal at the end of the first block, you will receive both individual and group supervision in writing your thesis. Early June you have to present your results. After you've received feedback you have until late June to submit the final version of your thesis. More information about the master's thesis and the procedures can be found in the Thesis Rules.

Degree

Students of the English tracks receive a Master's degree in Sociology (Sociologie). The quality of this Master's degree has been accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of The Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). This means that upon successful completion of the Master's programme students will receive a legally recognised Master of Science (MSc) degree.

More information

For more information on the master's programme, courses, lecturers and registration please check our website http://www.graduateschoolsocialsciences.nl or contact the programme manager Marieke van Leeuwen: gsss@uva.nl.