MA Critical Geographies: Crises, Climate & Inequality

Program Overview

The MA Critical Geographies program at UCD Geography equips students with a critical understanding of power relations and inequalities shaping societies and environments. Through interdisciplinary approaches and hands-on learning, including fieldwork and expert faculty guidance, graduates gain analytical skills and knowledge to contribute to positive change and pursue careers in diverse fields or further academic studies. The program emphasizes engagement with contemporary issues such as climate change, inequality, and migration, preparing graduates for global citizenship and solving pressing challenges.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA Critical Geographies: Crises, Climate & Inequality is a graduate-level program designed to equip students with a critical understanding of power relations and inequalities that shape contemporary societies, spaces, places, environments, and lives. The program emphasizes a robust analysis of power dynamics and inequalities that define both the present and past, aiming to contribute to the creation of more equitable futures.

Key Objectives:

• Develop a critical understanding of power relations and inequalities: The program aims to equip students with the tools to analyze how power and inequalities are created and manifested in different places and through the places themselves.
• Engage with contemporary and past worlds: Students will gain a deep understanding of how critical geographical inquiry can be used to study power relations and inequalities across different historical periods and contexts.
• Contribute to improved futures: The program fosters a critical and engaged approach to understanding the world, encouraging students to use their knowledge to contribute to positive change.

Hands-on Learning:

• Fieldwork: The program includes a choice of field trips, including a Global South option, providing students with practical experience and real-world insights.
• Expert Faculty: UCD Geography boasts a diverse and internationally recognized faculty specializing in areas such as radical scholarship, anarchism, geopolitics, the Global South, postcolonialism and decoloniality, feminism, queer studies, healthcare, and urban studies.

Program Strengths:

• Interdisciplinary Approach: As a bridge between the natural and social sciences, Geography provides a unique perspective on global, national, and local issues.
• Relevance to Current Issues: The program addresses critical contemporary issues such as climate change, inequality, migration, urbanization, and hazard management.
• Career Preparation: Graduates are well-prepared for diverse careers and equipped to contribute to solving pressing global challenges.

Assessment:

• Critical Appraisal of Evidence: Students will be assessed on their ability to critically analyze evidence from research papers, everyday life, media, and historical sources related to critical geography.
• Dissertation: Students will undertake a dissertation, demonstrating their ability to systematically analyze research literature in a chosen topic.
• Research Design and Data Collection: Students will develop skills in research design and data collection, guided by faculty supervision.
• Communication Skills: Students will be assessed on their ability to articulate theoretical concepts, current debates, and research findings in both written and oral formats.

Teaching:

• Faculty Expertise: The program is taught by leading scholars in critical geography, providing students with access to cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives.
• Engaged Learning: The program encourages active participation and collaboration, fostering a dynamic learning environment.
• Fieldwork and Data Collection: Students will gain practical experience through fieldwork and data collection, applying concepts and methodologies learned in the classroom.

Careers:

• Direct Employment: The program prepares graduates for careers in NGOs, the voluntary sector, government, and the civil service.
• Further Academic Studies: The program provides a strong foundation for pursuing further academic studies, such as a PhD.
• Global Citizenship: The program develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, equipping graduates to become informed and engaged global citizens.

Other:

• Program Duration: The program can be completed in 1 year (full-time) or 2 years (part-time).
• Next Intake: September 2024/2025.
• Testimonial: A 2021 alumna, Morgane Rudaz, highlights the program's strengths in developing analytical skills, specializing in research areas, and diversifying research interests.
The program also fostered a sense of community and provided valuable tools for pursuing a PhD.

MA Critical Geographies: Crises, Climate & Inequality (W589) Full Time EU fee per year - € 9100 nonEU fee per year - € 22600 MA Critical Geographies: Crises, Climate & Inequality (W590) Part Time EU fee per year - € 5460 nonEU fee per year - € 11300