The MA in Social and Political Thought is an interdisciplinary programme that bridges the conventional divides between social theory, political theory and philosophy, the history of social and political thought, and the study of political and social movements. The primary aim of the MA degree is to provide students with competence in the methodologies appropriate to understanding the different styles of theorising and approach to objects characteristic of the social sciences and the humanities, taking social and political thought as a field in its own right, as well as considering its relation to empirical argument. It provides students with a variety of possible explanatory and normative frameworks that can inform empirical sociological and political-scientific research, and simultaneously an understanding of the major thinkers associated with those frameworks.
Programme structure
All students take Text and Critique in Social and Political Thought and Theorizing the Social in the Autumn Term. They then take two optional courses in the Spring Term. In the Summer Term students undertake supervised work towards a 15,000 word dissertation on a topic they choose and agree with their supervisor, which is submitted at the start of September.
Part-time students take the MA over two years, taking one course per term in the Autumn and Spring Terms and working towards their dissertation over both their Summer Terms.
Each course is taught by weekly small-group seminars. All courses are accompanied by e-learning using Study Direct.
Autumn Term courses
Text and Critique in Social and Political Thought (core course)
Theorizing the Social (core course)
Examples of Spring Term optional courses (subject to availability)
Democracy and Human Rights
Hegel and Marx
Law, Security and the Global Public Good
Political and Legal Philosophy
Race Critical Theory
Recent Social Theory
The Frankfurt School and Critical Theory
War,
Terror, Violence and International Law
With the consent of the Programme Convenor, students may take courses from related MA programmes, for example the MA in Philosophy, the MA in Critical Theory, the MA in Intellectual History, the MA in International Relations, or the MA in Human Rights. (Please note that the options offered can vary from year to year, depending on student demand and faculty availability.)
Admission requirements
Students should have at least an upper second class honours degree in a related discipline.
Further information
For further information on the MA programme, please contact the Programme Convenor, Gordon Finlayson, j.g.finlayson@sussex.ac.uk.
Applying
For details of how to apply see the Postgraduate Prospectus.
Please note that it may not be possible to run an advertised course in a given year if there is insufficient demand from students. For more general information on possible variation of programmes and courses, see the 'Terms and conditions' page in the 'Applying' section of the Postgraduate Prospectus.
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