MA in Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories
Groningen, Netherlands
DURATION
12 Months
LANGUAGES
English, Dutch
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 2,314 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU/EEA students: 01 May 2024 - non-EU/EEA students:01 May 2024 - Dutch students:15 August 2024
** EU/EEA students: โฌ2,314 | non-EU/EEA students: โฌ16,000
Key Summary
Introduction
How can historians help tackle problems within organizations? How can historical knowledge and skills detect blind spots in organizations and thereby improve their effectiveness and social impact?
The Masterโs track Politics, Organizations, and Learning Histories at the University of Groningen prepares you to answer these types of questions about the inner workings of organizations. You are taught how to gain historical insight into long-term problems within organizations and how to solve these, after which you become an expert in using the past to solve current issues. The track is unique in its implementation of historical thinking to all kinds of organizations.
The track focuses on the interconnection of politics and policy, democracy, and legitimacy, and the implementation and legal aspects of policy. You will contribute to solving societal problems by implementing historical knowledge and research by developing Learning Histories. This theory-based but practically applicable method requires the writing of a narrative that reveals certain blind spots within an organizationโs past by analyzing sources and conducting interviews. During your studies, you will be assigned to an organization to develop and practice these skills practically.
Why study this programme in Groningen?
- A track in Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories with a clear professional and societal relevance
- An excellent and proven programme that has a distinctive methodology โ learning history โ at its heart, which enables you to apply historical knowledge and methods to analysing organizational processes
- A clear focus on contemporary developments in the field of politics, policies and (non) profit organizations
- A unique focus on employability with courses on methods and profess
Admissions
Curriculum
Year 1
The core of this track is the course Learning History and Organization, in which lecturers and external experts instruct you how to translate historical knowledge into a tool to analyse organizations. As part of this unique course you will complete an assignment for an organization or company to gain first-hand working experience. You will write a proposal on the basis of a learning history-approach.
The course Masterclass is also characteristic of the track, as it trains you in various practical skills, such as grant writing and project management, in preparation of entering the job market.
You will also choose a number of methodological courses to enhance your historical skills, such as Quantitative Analysis, Organizational Sociology and Public Law, or Digital History. Furthermore, you will develop these skills by taking a Research Seminar, which offers an in-depth analysis of a specific topic. The list of research seminars to choose from links to the expertise of the lecturers and varies each year. All courses, but specifically Learning Histories, the research seminar and the methodological courses, prepare you for the final part of the programme. You will either write a Master Thesis on a historical subject or conduct a Master Project, in which you apply historical research by writing a learning history for an organization related to politics and policy.
Courses
- Historical Methods: Organizational Sociology & Public Law (5 ECTS)
- Masterclass I (5 ECTS)
- Research Seminar (10 ECTS)
- Historical Methods: Quantitative Analysis (5 ECTS)
- Masterclass II (5 ECTS)
- Historical Methods: Quantitative Analysis (5 ECTS)
- Learning History and Organisation (10 ECTS)
- MA thesis History (20 ECTS)
Programme options
- Master's Honours Programme (honours program)
- Master's placement (specialization)
Study abroad
- Study abroad is optional
A study period abroad can be combined with the placement and/or the Master's final assignment. You could also follow a seminar at a university abroad.
The duration of the program is 12 months, which corresponds to 60 ECTS.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Job prospects
On completing the Master's track Politics, Organizations, and Learning Histories, you are equipped with academic and professional knowledge and skills that are required to work for institutions and (non) profit organizations in the public domain. In addition to being able to apply distinctive methodological know-how in historical research and methods, our graduates can implement their expert knowledge in everyday working environments. The Master's track provides you with the expertise and tools to find positions within administrative bodies, (semi) public institutions, etc., giving you a clear advantage on the job market.
Job examples
- Policy advisor
- Communication advisor
- Journalist or editor
- (Historical) advisor or researcher
- Political strategist
- Teacher