Master of Arts in Global Education and International Development

at University of Warwick United Kingdom

This innovative MA course is one of the first in the UK to focus specifically on global history, offering you the chance to investigate one of the most dynamic areas of current historical enquiry and debate. Most modules are taught by a team of experts, ensuring that you are exposed to as many different viewpoints and approaches as possible.

In the first term you will study two core modules. ‘Theory, Skills and Methods’ provides a foundation in historical methods and theoretical frameworks used to study society and culture from the early modern period to the contemporary world. ‘Themes in global history’ examines this emerging field, the methods it adopts, the subject areas it addresses and the criticisms it has attracted. Throughout, you are encouraged to explore how the global can be investigated in relation to the regional and the local, as part of wider debates on historical methods and interpretation. This provides a route into studying major regions of the globe, including Latin America, India and China.

In the second term, you will select two optional modules in which you can explore themes and approaches to the historical study of religious cultures; gender and sexuality; science and technology; empire; consumption and the medical humanities.

The final key element is the dissertation - here you have a large amount of freedom to develop a project of your own choice with help and guidance from your supervisor who will meet with you throughout the third term. Throughout the year, you will be able to take advantage of the Department’s six research centres, especially the Global History and Culture Centre, and participate in the lively schedule of academic research seminars, lectures and conferences.

The programme will appeal equally to those wishing to undertake further postgraduate study and those pursuing a career outside of the University, equipping you with research, writing and critical thinking skills vital in a range of professions.

Why do bad ideas become policy and good ideas languish for years? Why do governments respond differently to global policy challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic? Governments are facing more complex demands every day. If you want to make a difference in the world, you need to understand the limits and possibilities of how policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated.

This programme will give you an advanced understanding of the major theories and concepts of governance, public management, and public policy. You will work with world leading experts on transnational policy making and gain a practice focused understanding of why and how ideas are turned into public policy.

Big data and quantitative methods are transforming political processes and decisions in everyday life.

Local, national and international administrations are making ‘open data’ available to wide audiences; giant, world-level web organisations are putting more and more services in synergy; and some private companies or governments are developing strongly ideological projects in relation with big data. Therefore, there is a need for trained specialists who will have the capacity to compete and/or collaborate with strictly business or technique-oriented actors on the basis of sound knowledge from political and international studies.

Our programme provides you with an understanding of the implications of different approaches to issues concerning big data and public policy.

If you are interested in questioning the concepts of gender and development, and giving priority to issues and debates identified within specific countries – rather than relying on predominantly western literature – then this is the programme for you. It is an international, interdisciplinary and analytical course. It does not assume that development is about the ‘third world’ modelling itself on the west, nor about women modelling themselves on men.

Skills from this degree

• Ability to analyse and evaluate development policy
• Ability to analyse and evaluate development practices
• Ability to analyse gendered effects of development policy and practice
• Ability to carry out independent research
• Ability to understand and assess claims to knowledge made by a range of relevant disciplines
• Ability to write about complex ideas in a clear way

This MA encourages you to place developments within medical theory and practice in a broad social and cultural framework, and use a wide range of sources available to the historian of medicine (such as medical texts, practice records, diaries, case records, public health reports and health propaganda, and visual sources). Most modules are taught by a team of experts, ensuring that you are exposed to as many different viewpoints and approaches as possible.

The Term One core module ‘Themes and Methods in Medical History’ is designed to introduce you to some of the main historiographical approaches and debates within the history of medicine from the early modern period to the twenty-first century. The module focuses on the evolution of ideas, institutions and practices within medicine, the reception of new approaches and lay responses, the structure of medical practice and the medical professions, and the scientific, social and cultural context of medical intervention.

The Term Two core module, 'Matters of Life and Death' focuses on recent contributions to the discipline, providing you with the opportunity to discuss in depth methodologies and approaches, the research questions underpinning the work and theoretical frameworks, while also relating the seminars to your interests and dissertation research. By studying these texts, you will actively engage with the wide range of sources available.

The final key element is the dissertation - here you have a large amount of freedom to develop a project of your own choice with help and guidance from your supervisor who will meet with you throughout the third term. Throughout the year, you will be able to take advantage of the Department’s six research centres, especially the Centre for the History of Medicine, and participate in the lively schedule of academic research seminars, lectures and conferences.

The programme will appeal equally to those wishing to undertake further postgraduate study and those pursuing a career outside of the University, equipping you with research, writing and critical thinking skills vital in a range of professions.

This course is for you for you if you're interested in understanding the history of people, culture and societies, and their evolution in the modern era. The two complementary subjects both involve understanding people - their interests, motivations and culture - and why societies and social groups act the way they do.

You'll be taught by staff from both departments, and will draw information from sources including film, visual images, literature and television as well as written texts. The flexible course structure enables you to choose modules from a wide range of options in both History and Sociology. Core modules in your first year introduce you to research and quantitative methods, and to the study of modern history set in a global context. Sociology core modules cover the history of sociological thought, and class and capitalism. In your second and third years you can choose from optional modules, with current options examining areas such as British imperialism, slavery, the significance of gender, crime, religious conflict or health in history, and political sociology. In your final year you can either maintain a balance between the two subjects or specialise in either History or Sociology.

Study abroad

History and Sociology students have the opportunity to join History students in Venice for a term at the start of year three and can also apply for an intercalated year at one of the partner universities offered by either the History Department or the Sociology Department.

The Student Mobility Team based in the Office for Student Opportunity offers support for these activities, and either Department's dedicated Study Abroad Co-ordinator can provide more specific information and assistance.

Warwick offers an innovative approach to Hispanic Studies, combining the study of the Spanish language alongside a diverse range of Hispanic cultures across Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas, including Hispanic history in Africa and the Pacific.

In Economics, you will study the choices of consumers, corporations, governments, networks and nations. You will also develop a deep knowledge of global and local economic trends, institutions and policies.

You will normally spend your second or third year abroad, to consolidate and enhance your learning.

Study abroad

We strongly recommend that you take a year abroad as part of your modern languages degree, if you are able to. If you are unable to take a year abroad you may move to a three-year degree. In such cases, you will be required to complete further language reinforcement work. You will also be encouraged to spend time abroad in other ways, during vacation times.

You will usually spend your year abroad doing one of three things:

• Working as a language assistant teaching English in a primary or secondary school
• Studying full-time at a partner university in your chosen country
• On a work placement

Economics is at the core of Global Sustainable Development (GSD). On this degree you will critically analyse economic models and theories of sustainable development through quantitative and qualitative approaches. Economics modules will provide you with an essential background in micro and macro economics, as well as methodologies for statistical analysis.

Your studies in GSD will empower you to consider the human and environmental implications of development. You will consider challenging questions on climate change, biodiversity, gender equality, and other core components of sustainability. The combination of Economic Studies and GSD encourages you to take a new perspective on our changing global economy.

You can enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

Biomedical Science involves the study of life processes in humans. The subject provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of human and animal disease, including infection, cancer and neurological decay.

The application of new biological concepts in medicine is an ever-growing and exciting process. Developments in molecular, genetic and cellular biology research continue to drive progress in areas such as vaccine development, neurogenerative diseases and metabolic diseases.

You will develop the hands-on lab, problem solving and research skills employer’s desire. If you are considering a career in medicine, we provide mentoring and support for medical school applications.

You can opt to take a year-long industrial placement or study abroad between your second and third years.

Study abroad

As an alternative to a work placement we support student mobility with the opportunity to apply for a year abroad at one of our partner universities all over the world. The Study Abroad Team supports these activities, and the School’s dedicated Study Abroad Co-ordinator will provide more specific information and assistance.

By studying linguistics together with German, you will explore the fascinating human capacity for language, while also building your fluency in German. As a linguist, you will learn about the structure and function of language, and about relationships between language and society.

You will also study and practice written and oral communication in German, and learn broadly about communicating across languages and cultures. Your skills in linguistic analysis will support your language learning, and your knowledge of German will complement your work as a linguist. This course opens many career opportunities that require the knowledge and skills of both a modern language and a deep understanding of language, culture and communication.

(75% linguistics, 25% German).

Study abroad

If you wish to spend a year abroad (which we thoroughly recommend), this will take place in your third year, meaning that you will complete your degree in four years instead of three. All students have the opportunity to apply for an intercalated year abroad at one of our partner universities. The Student Mobility Team offers support for these activities, and the Department's dedicated Study Abroad Co-ordinator can provide more specific information and assistance.