Master of Science in Sociology

Why are some people poor while others are rich? What causes some people to commit crimes? Why did people in days of old believe that the world in which they lived was "possessed" by supernatural powers, and why have we stopped believing that? These are only a few examples of questions to which sociology attempts to find answers. Sociology's basic assumption is that human behaviour - e.g. committing a crime - or human characteristics - being rich or poor - is to a certain degree determined by society. Our study programme's main purpose is to explain the underlying societal mechanisms. Sociology studies society's structure and culture. Structure refers to the different positions poeple take (e.g. the difference between haves and havenots, or the difference between men and women). Culture refers to people's ideas and values.  A second step involves studying two processess that support how society functions: institutionalization, or setting up standard procedures of human behaviour (e.g. regulating procreation through the institution of marriage) and socialization, or teaching those procedures to each new generation. These insights are applied to a number of sociological subdisciplines like e.g. social inequity, social change, crime, religion, family, gender, etnicity, health, education,  public participation in arts, etc... .

The Master of Sociology at Ghent University consists of three cornerstones: a broad and solid sociological education, awareness of peripheral fields of study, and a focus on knowledge and skills, including the close connection between the two. This trinity allows our graduates to become polyvalent experts.

At Ghent University, we have chosen for a broad and general academic study programme. In the Bachelor's programme you are given the opportunity to personalize your curriculum by means of the elective courses. By chosing a major in the Master's programme, you specialize in a specific subdiscipline: health and social deomography, culture and education, or political sociology. Additional elective course units offer an opportunity to either confirm a sociological content choice, or to immerse yourself into policy or organisational matters. The Erasmus major is an opportunity for studying abroad, at another European university. In the Master's programme, you hone the knowledge and skills acquired in the Bachelor's programme. You will learn to refine your ability to think and act academically. Knowledge and application of theories and methods are further perfected. Multidisciplinarity and an international line of approach are important.

We realize this objective by accentuating three important elements:

• the subdisciplines of sociology are put to the fore. The most recent developments in specific subdisciplines are linked to research that is conducted at our department, e.g. sociology of health, the study of risk behaviour, social demography and the study of migration and integration, research on culture and eduction. During your Master's programme, you are required to make an original contribution to the further development of sociology. For that reason, the Master's dissertation is a crucial element in your curriculum.  

• Unique to our approach at Ghent University, is a continued focus on strengthening methodological skills with a specific practice-oriented lab for specialized academics. We realize this by means of the course unit Advanced Quantitative Techniques.

• The smaller student groups in the Master's programme allow for innovative teaching methods: debating sessions, interaction with (international) guest speakers and work field representatives, interviews and participative observation, work sessions 'academic writing' and 'presentation techniques' under intensive supervision, ...

Internationalization

The Master's programme offers the opportunity to study abroad. One possibility, among others, is the Erasmus+ programme. For more information, join one of our information sessions or contact the Faculty Internationalization Committee.

In addition to the (domain) master described above, you can also choose a Master's Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). For more information, go to www.ugent.be/educatievemaster.

Graduated sociologists are in great demand for their understanding of society, their research skills, their project-based way of acting, and their communication skills. An education in sociology teaches you to gain insight into social phenomena and to manage sociological problems, so that you are well-prepared for the independent execution of academic projects commissioned by a university, the government or a research department. In addition, as a sociologist you are also well-prepared to design, implement and manage actions for social change, as a policy advisor or non-profit organization staff.

An education in sociology also yields benefits in more co-ordinating positions, when managing departments and projects within organizations (e.g. human resources). Finally, you can apply the skills you have been taught to interpret and explain social phenomena and sociological problems as a journalist or teacher.

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