Conflict Transformation & Social Justice

Overview
This is a unique and innovative interdisciplinary programme taught through subject areas that include law, anthropology, English, history, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology and the creative arts. Module choice within the programme will permit you to build your own personalised portfolio of knowledge and learning within the area of conflict transformation and social justice. You will be taught by academics and practitioners whose expertise is both national and global and who offer research-led teaching in areas of conflict such as South/ Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Southern Europe, South America and Northern Ireland.

Queens University offers the only global MA programme on Conflict Transformation and Social Justice.

Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete two core modules (40 CATS points), four optional modules (80 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

The MA is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules.

Students will study and critically examine the key conceptual, moral, legal, political and cultural issues that relate to conflict, conflict transformation and social justice. This may relate to the fields of politics, law, sociology, history, anthropology, English, drama and psychology.

Conflict Transformation And Social Justice Highlights
This programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding both conflict transformation and social justice working closely with The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute.

Career Development
• Our graduates find employment in NGOS, civil sector organisations, in policy research, law, advocacy, government, peace journalism, and conflict mediation settings.

World Class Facilities
• Established in 2016, The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice is an international centre of excellence at Queen's University Belfast. The Institute fosters collaborations across a range of subject areas which allow the Faculty to address some of the key global challenges faced in seeking to achieve fairness, security, prosperity, social harmony and progress. A flagship for interdisciplinary research in areas of major societal challenge, the Mitchell Institute brings together excellent researchers from a wide range of disciplines to tackle some of the greatest global issues of our age.

Internationally Renowned Experts
• Students are afforded the opportunity to meet both scholars and practitioners of conflict transformation and social justice through a range of modules, masterclasses and events that emphasize both the scholarly and applied elements of conflict transformation and social justice.
• You will be taught by staff with research profiles of international standing, and wide ranges of interest in conflict transformation and social justice both geographically and disciplinary You will have annual masterclasses with visiting world-leading researchers, diplomats and/or practitioners.

Student Experience
• This programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding both conflict transformation and social justice. Students will meet experts from three different schools as well as the for Global Peace, Security and Justice, allowing for a broad range of geographical and conceptual/disciplinary insights.
• Location of Belfast: globally-significant locale for conflict and peace research; access to institutions, community projects, case studies for students' own work. Voluntary placements with local community groups are also facilitated as part of this programme.
• Queen's is ranked in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022)
• Queen's ranked 17 in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022)
• Queen's is ranked in the top 75 universities in Europe for

Teaching Excellence (Times Higher Education, 2019)
• 15% of the Queen's student population are international students (Queen's Planning Office, 2022)

Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
You will be part of a community of learners within the Institute who are dedicated to understanding conflict and its transformation. Class time includes plenty of opportunity for discussion. You will have annual masterclasses with world-leading experts and be able to attend the numerous public lectures organised by the Institute. You will also meet your lecturers and classmates at monthly brown-bag lunches and other informal events.

Some students may avail of the opportunity to participate in voluntary, non-assessed placements with local peacebuilding organisations.

Personal Development
Our MA can help you gain the skills and knowledge that can lead to meaningful work in range of fields, all over the world.

Our MA can also be useful as an aspect of continuing professional development for those already working in careers in social and community work, politics and policy making, teaching, policing, religious ministry, the victims sector, and journalism.

Students are required to take the following TWO CORE modules in Autumn:
CSJ7001 Global Concepts and Practice of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice
HAP7001 – Approaches to Research Design

And one further Optional module from below:
CSJ7006 Bridging Community Divisions in Irish Drama and the Novel
LAW7810 Theoretical Criminology
LAW7811 Transitional Justice
LAW7812 International Human Rights Law
LAW7813 Human Rights in Practice
PAI7022 The Politics of the Republic of Ireland
SCA7002 Cultural Policy: Its Relationship to Arts Management

Students are required to take Three modules from below:
ANT7003 Anthropology of Business
ANT7013 Anthropology of Music
ANT7023 Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond
PAI7058 From Cold War to Cold Peace. The Transformation of the International Order. (1979-1999)
CSJ7005 Religion and Peacebuilding
LAW7815 Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights
LAW7816 Comparative Human Rights
LAW7841 Issues in Policing and Crime Prevention
PAI7007 Global Terrorism
PAI7021 The Politics and Institutions of Northern Ireland
PAI7027 Conflict Intervention
PAI7030 International Political Economy
PAI7032 Gender and Politics: Thinking Globally
PAI7052 Institutions and Politics of the EU
PAI7100 Engaging Citizens in Democratic Institutions
PHL7057 Social Injustice
SOC9062 Conflict and Change: New Sociological Research (10 Credits only)
SOC9058 Inequality and Emotions (10 Credits only)
SOC9071 Exploring Algorithms in Contemporary Society (10 Credits only)

N.B. If choosing to take SOC modules, Students must take BOTH in order to ensure they gain sufficient credits

If you wish to take the programme on part time basis you will be required to complete 3 taught modules each year (one in first semester and two in second semester or vice versus). It is advised you should complete the core modules in your first year. Please note, all modules run at the same time for full time and part time students. Please contact the programme convenor for further information.

Graduate
Normally at least a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in an Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences discipline or another cognate subject area.

Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may be admitted if they hold a Master's degree, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, or if they have 3 years' relevant working experience in the field of conflict transformation, youth work, social justice or related experience in community engagement or public service delivery.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

• Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

• Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 11th August 2023 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

How to Apply
Applications should be submitted online via the Postgraduate Applications Portal for admission to the vast majority of postgraduate programmes.

New applicants will need to register via the Portal to create an application account. If you are already a Queen's student with an active Qsis account, you can log in using your student number and Qsis password. Guidance on how to complete an application is provided within the Portal and it is possible to save application data and return to complete it at a later date, if you wish. After core details about yourself and your academic background have been provided, you can submit an application, or multiple applications, if required.

If you applied in a previous cycle through the Portal and are re-applying, you should use your previous log in details. Please review and update your personal and contact details, academic and professional qualifications before submitting a new application.

Important – please ensure that the email address you provide is correct and active, as this will be used by us to communicate the progress of your application to you.

1 year (Full Time)
3 years (Part Time)

Teaching Times
Teaching takes place at a variety of times from 9-8pm Monday – Friday.

Career Prospects
Introduction
Our MA will equip you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a range of careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors, domestically and internationally, including working in peacebuilding organisations, charities, international development agencies, journalism, social and community work, dispute resolution, counselling, policing, politics and policy development, law, teaching, religious ministry, research, and doctoral study/academia.

Our MA can help you gain the skills and knowledge that can lead to meaningful work in range of fields, all over the world.

Our MA can also be useful as an aspect of continuing professional development for those already working in careers in social and community work, politics and policy making, teaching, policing, religious ministry, the victims sector, and journalism.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Employment after the Course
Our MA can help you gain the skills and knowledge that can lead to meaningful work in range of fields, all over the world.

You may follow in the footsteps of some of our alumni, who are building careers in restorative justice, equality advocacy, international diplomacy (embassy work), the United Nations, Law school and doctoral programmes, policing, peacebuilding organisations, and organisations working with victims of human trafficking.

Our MA can also be useful as an aspect of continuing professional development for those already working in careers in social and community work, politics and policy making, teaching, policing, religious ministry, the victims sector, and journalism
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Professional Opportunities
The study and employability skills associated with the MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice include:
• Group work
• Independent learning
• The collection and analysis of information
• Research skills
• Problem solving
• Communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills
• Working under time constraints and to deadline

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.