The Bauman Institute

MA International Social Transformation

If you are interested in developing an advanced understanding of globalization and international social change in order to explore those challenges that face each one of us at the start of the twenty-first century …

•  And wish to explore a sophisticated range of concepts, theories and methods at the forefront of sociological analysis of international social transformation …

If you want to be a part of the new and prestigious Bauman Institute at Leeds and contribute to a vibrant academic culture at the forefront of global debates … 

• And wish to develop independent learning skills, such as critical thinking and self-management appropriate for employment in a higher capacity in industry or an area of professional practice …

… then MA International Social Transformation is the programme for you.

MA International Social Transformation is available on a 12-month full-time or 24-month part-time basis. The course has five modules: three compulsory and two elective options.

Compulsory Modules

In Contemporary Social Thought, you will gain an advanced grounding in social and political theory. The module provides a space for encountering and reflecting upon different theoretical approaches within contemporary social thought in order to illuminate current social trends and issues within our globalised societies.

The module is team-taught by recognized experts from across the campus to provide you with a first class encounter with a number of major theoretical approaches, including: Classical Sociology; the Frankfurt School; Structuration Theory; Contemporary Critical Theory; Deleuzian social theory; Globalization; Postmodernism; and the work of Slavoj Žižek.

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the rich variety of sociological, social and political thought at an advanced level. The module will foster a critical approach to this body of theoretical work in order to allow students to develop a critical understanding of contemporary social and political life.

The module aims to develop and to extend theoretical ideas in a number of areas and to provide students with the conceptual tools required for a robust analysis of all contemporary social and political problems.

Globalization and International Development provides the opportunity to examine the nature of globalization from a number of different theoretical perspectives – most obviously those that have developed from political economy and cultural theory.

These perspectives will then be used to inform the consideration of a range of areas of social, political and economic life that have (arguably) been significantly altered by the impact of economic and/or cultural 'globalization'.

For example, the module will explore the changing nature of poverty in global society, the impact of globalization on human migration and the potential relationship between globalization and contemporary terrorism. In each case, close attention will be paid to how well theoretical explanations of globalization explain the changes observed.

International Social Transformation Dissertation allows you to tailor your own programme of training and research under the supervision of a relevant academic member of staff from the School.

This extended piece of assessed work provides you with the opportunity to develop further the themes encountered on the MA programme in order to produce a 12,000 word dissertation on a relevant topic of your own choosing.