StudyQA — Master: Urban Studies — University College Dublin

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Description Contents Requirements

Applications are welcome from students with an undergraduate degree in Geography or a cognate discipline (including, but not limited to, Planning, Economics or Sociology). It is an academic programme but is also suited to practitioners/professionals in a related field who wish to gain a broader understanding of urban processes, policies and outcomes.

What will I learn?

The Urban Studies programme is an inter-disciplinary programme with a substantial urban geography component. You will gain critical reading, writing and thinking skills through an examination of a range of issues both historical and contemporary facing cities and regions. Through lectures, seminars and fieldwork, there will be an emphasis on the application of theoretical knowledge to real-world case studies.

How will I benefit?

You will develop a range of discipline-specific and transferable and skills to a high level as well as undertake independent research under the supervision of an academic expert. In particular, you will be encouraged to think independently, develop self-discipline as well as improving communication and team-working skills, all crucial in the current marketplace. This degree will also provide students who wish to move to professional training or doctoral study with an excellent academic foundation.

What is the programme about?

The programme aims to produce graduates who are able to analyze and interpret the world in which we live, depending on your chosen research focus:

* Urban politics and governance
* Urban environmental issues
* Urban social and cultural studies
* Regional development and the knowledge economy

The programme comprises of a total of 90 credits and taught modules make up 60 of the credits. The core modules focus on research design skills, methodology, Geography as an academic discipline, and a fieldtrip. 30 credits are assigned to the thesis, which involves the production of a piece of original research (of around 12,000-15,000 words in length) supervised by members of the School academic staff with a wealth of experience in research areas such as: the Environment and Sustainable Development, Urban Studies, the Geography and Geopolitics of regions such as Ireland, the wider European Union, Latin America, the Middle East and the US, Irish geographical history, migration, the global economic crisis, as well as the knowledge economy. Please note the curriculum is subject to a year by year review and the modules below may or may not be available in any given year).

Core Modules (40 Credits)

* History of Geographic Thought
* Research Design
* Geographic Analysis
* Key Ideas in Urban Studies
* Urban Fieldtrip

Elective Modules (max 20 credits from the following)

* Physical Geography of Cities
* Megacities and the Knowledge Economy
* International Economic Crisis

Max 10 Credits from the following:

* Urban Design Theory
* Metropolis: Modernism and After 10
* Urban and Regional Development
* Sustainability and Urban Development
* Contested Urban Environments

If English is not your native language, unless you have done your primary degree through English in an English speaking country, an English language qualification is required for all programmes.You will need:An undergraduate degree in any academic field, with a preference for fields of study related to your chosen stream.Good academic grades (your transcript should include grades for each subject taken).Names and contact details of two referees who can assess your intellectual ability, maturity and motivation. At least one of these should be a member of academic staff at your current institution.Applications to this programme for September 2012 are considered on a rolling basis. A further application stage will be available, however, the School of GPEP recommends that you make your application as early as possible, as late application may mean no further places are available. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 90