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master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010 master s programmes in arts culture · ma arts and sciences · ma arts and heritage policy management and education · ma media culture · ma european studies on society science and technology · research master in cultures of arts science and technology msc two year · ma artistic research · ma gender and diversity studies master s programmes in social political sciences · ma european studies · ma european public affairs · ma analysing europe · research master in european studies msc two year · ma globalisation and development

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maastricht university leading in learning historic yet forward-thinking and contemporary typically dutch yet multicultural and vibrant maastricht is a city of contrasts not only is maastricht the birthplace of the modern european union it also continues to establish itself internationally thanks to maastricht university s position as a leading academic centre in europe beyond boundaries with over half of its master s students and a third of its academic staff coming from outside the netherlands maastricht university has a reputation for quality and for its international orientation and dynamic interdisciplinary environment most of our master s programmes are taught in english and international themes are deeply rooted in the curricula at maastricht university you will be encouraged to look across traditional boundaries for answers looking to other departments disciplines institutes universities and international scholars to provide better insight into your own education and research new perspectives as a master s student you are a contributing member of our academic community using the problem-based learning methodology you work in small groups alongside students from all over the world in close cooperation with the academic staff you and your fellow students seek solutions to real-world problems you exchange knowledge and experiences learn to see things from new perspectives and develop skills that will last a lifetime research research at maastricht university focuses on gaining insights into current issues in today s society and we recognise the value of bright young researchers in contributing to the development of fresh and innovative ideas that is why research plays an integral role in the majority of our master s programmes and why we offer a number of research master s focused solely on the training of future researchers career further specialising in your field by earning a master s degree at maastricht university will greatly enhance your career prospects the effectiveness of our approach to education and research is demonstrated by the performance of our graduates they are self-assured independent and assertive professionals who are able to make a smooth transition from university to the job market because they focus on more than just theory they also learn the skills they need to have a successful career.

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contents master s programmes in arts culture · ma arts and sciences · ma arts and heritage policy management and education · ma media culture · ma european studies on society science and technology · research master in cultures of arts science and technology master s programmes in social political sciences · ma european studies · ma european public affairs · ma analysing europe · research master in european studies master s programmes under construction · ma artistic research · ma gender and diversity studies · ma globalisation and development how to apply applying and enrolling deadline for application tuition fees scholarships master s meeting 4 7 11 14 18 20 26 30 34 36 36 37 38 the faculty of arts and social sciences the faculty of arts and social sciences consists of five departments philosophy history literature and art political science and social science and technology in 2009 the faculty had approximately 160 employees and some 1500 students over 70 of our master s students come from outside the netherlands the faculty offers twelve master s programmes all of which are taught in english the ma arts and sciences and the ma arts and heritage are also taught in dutch all programmes in this brochure are accredited by the accreditation organisation of the netherlands and flanders nvao except for the master s programmes under construction for more information on nvao please visit www.nvao.nl maastricht university is a signatory of the code of conduct more information about this code of conduct is available at www.internationalstudy.nl with respect to international students in dutch higher education 3

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master s programmes in arts culture the master s programmes in arts cultures are geared towards a better understanding of the major challenges confronting modern western society a society with a great degree of complexity that is profoundly influenced by dynamic developments in science and technology an important characteristic of contemporary social and cultural challenges is that they cannot be limited to any single discipline therefore our programmes offer a wide variety of general and specialised integrated courses based on insights methods and techniques developed in traditional disciplines such as philosophy sociology history the arts economics and law at present there are seven master s programmes which students can choose from · ma arts and sciences · ma arts and heritage policy management and education · ma media culture · ma european studies on society science and technology · research master in cultures of arts science and technology msc two years · ma artistic research under construction · ma gender and diversity studies under construction ma arts and sciences as profile the goal of the master s programme in arts and sciences is to give students the tools to analyse debates about culture and politics and gain insight into the various ways in which students and scholars of culture engage in contemporary society the programme has two perspectives in the first perspective the focus is on contemporary debates about the arts literature philosophy religion and culture questions will be discussed such as how do writers intervene in social and political issues what is the place and function of the visual arts in the public domain who decides what culture is what is the contribution of philosophers to the public debate the second perspective focuses on contemporary debates about politics and society for instance those regarding multiculturalism national identity political culture citizenship and cultural memory the two perspectives are dealt with in two specialisations · analysing arts culture and society · analysing politics and society the debates about the arts religion culture politics and society are interesting and relevant for two reasons firstly students gain insight into some of the most important cultural and political issues in contemporary society secondly they become acquainted with the diverse roles students and scholars of cultureplay in contemporary society either as a practitioner or a researcher they work as a commentator writer journalist critic researcher member of a think tank advisory board or public research committee staff member of a museum member of the editorial staff of radio or television programmes etc in the master the focus is on what these roles have in common in what ways do students and scholars of culture contribute to society the master does not train future professionals and specialists because the possible roles vary too much the aim of the master is to prepare graduates for these positions to make them more visible and to contribute to further reflection on these roles during the second semester students can choose between writing a thesis or doing an internship followed by a reflexive report the programme will be offered in dutch and english · as is a one-year international and interdisciplinary master of arts · as is open for students with a bachelor s degree from the arts and culture national and international students with a comparable degree team up together programme of the faculty of arts and social sciences and for all other · as courses are taught in english and dutch if possible students will · as is the continuation of the successful bachelor programme of the · as is about the arts culture society and politics and about the public roles of the professionals who are engaged in research management criticism and public debate about culture politics and society faculty of arts and social sciences 4 master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010

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the programme the curriculum consists of two semesters of 30 ects points each all students enrol in the first module a in module b they choose a track either analysing arts culture and society or analysing politics and society the third module c is a joined enterprise again in the second semester students set out their own path they can choose between a thesis or a combination of an internship or project with a reflexive report we encourage our students to specialise but also to be aware not to lose the comparative perspective if you are interested in debates about how culture science and politics are interrelated then this is the right programme for you logical follow up first semester module a make it new problems of cultural reproduction 8 weeks 12 ects in this module you study the various roles of students of culture either as practitioners or as scholars in contemporary society this is set against the background of important social and political changes in recent decennia in `the knowledge society `the creative society and `the citizens society in this module tutorial groups are combined with skills trainings and master classes after completing my bachelor s programme in arts and culture the master s programme in arts and sciences was the logical choice logical because this study continues on where my other programme finished the critical and interdisciplinary approach from the bachelor s programme is extended to the deeper yet characteristically broad analysis of the topics for someone who got as much satisfaction out of the bachelor s programme as i did arts and sciences is not only the logical choice but the best choice bram rooijackers the netherlands arts and sciences master s student specialisation 1 analysing arts culture and society module b 1 cultural remembrance and the arts 8 weeks 12 ects this module analyzes how contemporary artists writers and heritage professionals struggle to come to terms with the troublesome heritage of colonialism by rewriting and recreating seminal cultural achievements of the colonial period i.e novels films monuments and musea this course will focus on a number of topical postcolonial contestations while also paying close attentions to the colonial creations that inspired these contemporary work it aims to provide you with insight into the dynamics of cultural remembrance and with an analytical framework for interpreting and evaluating contemporary reconstructions of classical colonial art works and cultural institutions module c writing a review 4 weeks 6 ects in this module students write a review about a new book an exhibition or some documentary film or they write a political analysis second semester module d 4 weeks 6 credits in this module students prepare for the second semester they can choose between two options a thesis or a combination of an internship or project and a reflective report in the first case they write a short essay in which they work out the problem statement of the thesis they set out the problem of the thesis explain the methodology and supply the results of a literature search in the second case they write a short essay in which they outline their plans for the internship/project and how this internship/project is related to the master s programme module e 12 weeks 24 credits students write their thesis approximately 20,000-25,000 words or work on their internship/project and write a reflexive report approximately 5,000 words specialisation 2 analysing politics and society module b 2 new politics media intellectuals and the rise of cultural conflict at the turn of the millennium 8 weeks 12 ects the central theme of this module is the rise of cultural conflict in contemporary politics it analyses how since the 1990s cultural issues have once more become a source of concern and conflict in national and international politics more specifically it wants to investigate the role of media and intellectuals and other `cultural experts in this politicization of culture in this module tutorial groups are combined with collective research projects and mastermeetings 5

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special programme features integrated curriculum the arts and sciences programme in maastricht distinguishes itself by an integrated curriculum using different educational models the modules in the first semester are based on three components the tutorial group the seminar and the guest lecture tutorial groups the tutorial group is student centred and utilises problembased learning pbl the emphasis is on active analysis and the solving of problems by the students not a professor who simply presents knowledge the students learn how to work individually and in a team to find relevant information as well as select and apply a concrete question seminars in a seminar lecturers speak on practices facts concepts and theories that the students must know in order to actively participate in the tutorial groups just as in the tutorial groups students read a certain amount of literature in preparation for the seminar meetings guest lectures guest lecturers and speakers give an overview of and insight into a specific topic moreover they put the students in contact with professionals and scientists in the field of arts and science career perspectives the as programme does not focus on one particular profession or on teaching students specialist skills and knowledge that can be applied directly in only one of the many relevant professions graduates of the as programme acquire the insights and the tools to analyse contemporary debates about the arts culture society and politics and they also acquire the academic skills to discuss and to write about these issues depending on the choices they make in the second semester graduates of the arts and sciences programme will find work in the public or private sectors governmental or quasigovernmental organisations political or cultural institutions the media education or the academic world student profile the as programme is directed at · graduates of the bachelor s programme in arts and culture of the faculty of arts and social sciences or of comparable bachelor s programmes in the fields of humanities social or cultural sciences they are interested in interdisciplinary research into controversies about the arts science and politics and in the various roles and occupations of students and scholars of culture · professionals already working who share a similar interest and whose position or professional development requires postgraduate training admissions this programme is open to all holders of a bachelor s diploma in arts and culture at maastricht university for all other applicants enrolment numbers are limited admission is based on merit as assessed by the board of admissions admissions requirements and criteria · a bachelor s degree from a relevant academic field e.g bachelor of arts in philosophy or sociology and/or a cv indicating relevant working experience · a letter of motivation indicating why you wish to study arts and sciences you expect that you will be able to successfully complete the programme ibt with a minimum score of 90 or at the faculty of arts and social sciences at maastricht university and why · an advanced level of english ielts test minimum score 6.5 or toefl · a cambridge proficiency certificate grade a b c or a cambridge advanced certificate grade a b c high quality of performance in previous education further information on the application and registration procedure can be found on page 38 of this brochure or via www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/masters 6 master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010

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ma arts and heritage policy management and education ah introduction the master s programme in arts and heritage offered by the faculty of arts and social sciences examines the concepts of `heritage and `art as expressions of past and present culture it tries to find definitions of the key concepts and their change of meaning through time as well as their interrelation to society and social developments this analysis is linked to theory and practice of cultural policy and art education students therefore not only gain insight into the theoretical essence of arts and heritage but also acquire professional and academic skills in the practical organisation and development of artistic projects for example in the context of cultural management following the analytical results of the first semester the second semester offers great scope for practical personal development and specialisation within a network of professional or academic partners both nationally and internationally this programme is offered in both dutch and english profile the arts and heritage programme is interdisciplinary and practice oriented this master s ah programme defines culture in broad terms so as to encompass both historical as well as contemporary artistic and cultural manifestations in this definition heritage is regarded as a particular component of culture in the wider sense of the word the same is true of the relationship between art and culture between works of art and artefacts and between high culture and low culture in essence many of the scholarly policy-related and professional issues and themes associated with arts and culture are identical to those associated with cultural heritage key subjects of study in each are the definition meaning and boundaries of the terms `art `culture and `heritage other key questions in the ah programme are · what has been and is acknowledged appreciated supported and/or protected public policy and/or private initiative as a work of art a cultural manifestation or heritage · when by whom how and why is that the case · what have been the effects a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of interpretation presentation conservation management and education in the arts and heritage sector is also central to the programme · ah is a one-year international and interdisciplinary master of arts · ah is a selective master s programme with a maximum number of · ah courses are taught in english and dutch students from the however team up on many occasions approximately 40 students programme english language courses and from the courses taught in dutch will · the variety in disciplinary national and professional backgrounds · the programme consists of professional education that is research · ah has an integrated curriculum and uses the problem-based · ah has well-established links with practising professionals across the arts and heritage sector locally regionally nationally and internationally learning pbl educational methodology based and practice oriented of staff and students enrich the programme · students will gain practical and professional experience through · ah has partnerships with a number of universities outside the netherlands involving the exchange of students and staff an internship and/or a self-directed project 7

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a trip to somewhere new overview of the programme first semester module 1 arts and heritage theory and policy 8 weeks 12 ects module 1 places emphasis on the general issues and themes of the programme both in theory and in practice the key issuein this moduleis the appreciation of past and present artistic and cultural manifestations and the formation of heritage students explore evaluate and debate the state of art and culture from the perspective of art history art sociology and the economics of art as well as the principles substance organisation and implications of cultural policy various factors are considered from an international comparative perspective the first module also introduces the more specific theme of cultural heritage students once more explore evaluate and debate issues related to appreciation interpretation use management and policy module 1 includes a seminar on history and art history 2 credits and a seminar on cultural policy analysis and evaluation 5 credits the first seminar reviews the most important events developments styles and schools of history as well as the history of art in europe the topics of this seminar are closely connected with those of the workshop 5 credits the second seminar will provide students with the professional skills needed for the analysis of policy contents and the evaluation of policy results a presentation skills training is also part of this module module 2 arts and heritage management and education 8 weeks 12 ects the second module looks at how culture is passed on as well as the relationship between the arts and the public it focuses on the key themes of interpretation and presentation but also looks at arts education cultural tourism and the principles and practice of management and marketing in the cultural sector students will explore and discuss the role played by the old and new media in interpreting and presenting arts and heritage and study the formation and practice of the museum other important issues covered during this module include who are the audiences and visitors what does the public `want and how do different ways of interpreting and presenting the arts cultural heritage and the past `affect the public and the artefacts themselves what is the public support for cultural policy as in the first module the themes and theories will be studied with the help of examples from professional practice as far as possible this ensures that it is possible to realise and analyse the tension between theory and practice which is often characteristic of the daily contact with works of art and artefacts module 2 also includes the second part of the history and art history seminar 2 credits and a seminar on management and marketing in the arts and museum sector 5 credits the idea of this master s programme being a new and relatively unknown programme along with the idea of being a member of the inaugural class is very exciting to me the programme is diverse and you have a lot of freedom to personalise your study topics to get exactly what you want out of it regular visits to modern museums and ancient buildings in maastricht as well as trips to other cities keep the learning process fresh and lively the programme s international orientation is amazing because every day seems like a trip to somewhere new kevin tummers canada arts and heritage master s student aims and objectives the interdisciplinary study of the theory and practice of arts and heritage policy management and education is the central objective of this master s programme it will provide in-depth specialist knowledge of the differences and similarities concerning the main challenges addressed in the fields of academia policy and professional practice the aim of this programme is to fulfil professional requirements the ah programme takes two semesters each worth 30 credits ects each semester is divided into three modules the first semester is compulsory by nature all students receive the same instruction during the first two modules this differs from the second semester where they are given a great deal of choice students conclude this final semester and therefore the programme as a whole by writing a thesis or report on a work placement or project 8 master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010

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special programme features integrated curriculum besides the workshop each module of the first semester contains two seminars,in which experts teach about practices facts concepts and theories that students need to know to participate actively in the workshop module 3 4 weeks 6 ects in this short period students follow one of the elective courses art policy museum curatorship heritage and conservation theatre;art marketing cultural education in preparation of their specialisation during the second semester 4 credits this module also includes a workshop the festival writing and assessing artistic plans 2 credits writing an artistic plan is a crucial phase in the process of fundraising and applying for grants this workshop will train students how to write and present a clear coherent and convincing artistic plan by concentrating on the narrative and rhetoric of such a plan the key example will be the programming of a three-day festival this will be done by studying plans from the recent past and the evaluation of these plans by subsidising authorities,by suggesting research methods for creating ideas concerning the theme and by focusing on the narrative and rhetorical details of plans tutorial groups the educational format of the tutorial groups or workshops is student centred and based on collaborative and problembased learning pbl the emphasis is less on the teacher presenting knowledge but rather on the student solving problems the challengein professionaleducationis to create a learning environment that integrates academic expertise withlearning by doing students learn how to obtain and select relevant and reliableinformation and how to use it in solving a concrete problem seminars besides the workshop each module of the first semester contains two seminars,in which experts teach about practices facts concepts and theories that students need to know to participate actively in the workshop second semester module 4 8 weeks 12 ects there are elective courses in both theory and practice in this module · offered by the ah programme for example focusing on preservation and conservation of historic sites corporate art collecting and corporate support for the arts culture and cultural policy in europe the art market the museum theatre art criticism dealing with the past collective memory and cultural biography creative cities culture and city marketing visitor research cultural education · offered by other master s programmes in maastricht for example art and law faculty of law or other dutch universities · offered by one of the international partner universities in europe socrates/erasmus and the usa the exchange period can be extended to 12 weeks 18 credits · an internship or project modules 5 and 6 12 weeks 18 ects these combined modules are self-directed and enable students to achieve the master s degree with either a substantial written thesis or a project including a written report a project can consist of an internship and can be individual or collaborative one or more staff members will supervise each dissertation or project students and staff meet regularly to discuss work in progress guest lectures and `meet the experts the lectures and meetings with the experts are designed to bring students in contact with professionals and researchers from the world of arts and heritage policy management and education site visits and study trips group visits and study trips to art institutions heritage sites museums government agencies etc enable students to widen their experience with professional practice and to apply what they have learned in the ah course visits will also confront students with the many tensions between theory and practice the location of maastricht is ideal for study trips in the netherlands belgium germany and france 9

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student profile the ah programme is directed at · graduates interested in professional postgraduate training in inter-related areas of the arts and heritage policy management and education in both theory and practice they should have a completed academic or higher education bachelor s or master s degree and a command of a certain domain or specialisation as apparent by the equivalent of a degree in history art history archaeology arts and culture humanities or liberal arts particularly motivated students can also hold a degree in social sciences law economics or other disciplines · professionals already working and whose position or professional development requires postgraduate training are chiefly interested in the contemporary arts and culture as well as to students who are primarily interested in heritage in the way we deal with the past and/or in cultural policy graduates of the ah programme will find work in the public and private sectors in governmental or quasi-governmental organisations and at cultural institutions and organisations they will also be qualified to work in the media in the art market as art and cultural consultants in cultural tourism and in the cultural industries some will naturally continue in academia admissions as enrolment numbers are limited admission is based on merit as assessed by the board of admissions career perspectives the ah programme does not focus on one particular profession or on teaching students specialist skills and knowledge that can be applied directly in only one of the many relevant professions in the cultural sector it is at least equally important to have a more general background in arts and culture to specialisein cultural policy preservation management or education and to possess analytical and other academic skills the programme is designed to appeal both to students who admissions requirements and criteria indicating relevant working experience · a bachelor s degree from a relevant academic field and/or a cv · an advanced level of english ielts test minimum score 6.5 · a cambridge proficiency certificate grade a b c or a cambridge advanced certificate grade a b c or toefl ibt with a minimum score of 90 or further information on the application and registration procedure can be found on page 38 of this brochure or via www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/masters 10 master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010

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ma media culture mc introduction watching television programmes on your computer sending emails with your mobile phone showing your videos on youtube the media landscape is in continuous transformation and with that the way we participate in culture is changing as well the difference between making and enjoying music for instance tends to dissolve interactivity transforms the way we are involved in a story or game internet affects our engagement with politics older media such as newspapers radio or film have not disappeared but have rather changed in their interaction with the new the master s programme in media culture offered by the faculty of arts and social sciences addresses these developments and focuses on the way in which digital and electronic media technologies have changed contemporary culture it teaches students to investigate the culture of new media and the interaction of old and new media in a way that is useful in a professional context aims and objectives theory and practice the aim of the programme is to provide a deeper understanding of the interrelations between cultural transformations both within the media and in society at large and developments in media technology in particular the introduction of digital technologies digitalisation has a profound impact on the way we produce distribute and consume media products and has changed the form and significance of media objects themselves these changes are not unequivocal new media do not make older media obsolete they rather interact in a process of mutual change what new media do what they look like and how they relate to each other and to older media is not identical worldwide but dependent on local practices of production and consumption new genres emerge such as digital games provoking vehement discussions about their supposedly devastating impact new venues for public opinion and debate on the internet compete with traditional arenas such as the printed press or television and intermingle with them the pace and diversity of these developments demands continuous investigation and reflection not only in the form of academic research but also in the form of experimentation and innovation within the media organisations themselves new forms of education are demanded in which academic schooling is closely connected with an orientation on media practices profile the introduction of digital and electronic technologies has generated profound cultural transformations in the organisation of the media landscape new media such as cd internet or dvd have emerged providing new possibilities for the distribution of information amusement communication or education older media such as the book radio television or film are still present and interrelate in complex manners with the newer ones the production use form and significance of all media old and new are in a continuous process of change thus affecting culture as a whole the interdisciplinary and comparative set up of the master s programme in media culture combines theoretical reflection on these developments with research and media skills it is designed to provide students and professionals with the academic training needed to investigate the transformations in media culture and to participate in its innovations international cooperation media culture is a one-year international master of arts programme · media culture is a selective master s programme · media culture courses are taught in english · media culture addresses the interrelations between cultural transformations in the media landscape and technological developments from an interdisciplinary perspective i have studied journalism and media communication before and i have been introduced to many disciplines the more i studied however the better i understood that my main interest is the development of new media as means of communication and its relation to the `old media the international side of maastricht university is one that i personally value greatly i am very happy to continue working in an atmosphere to which i am accustomed where different nationalities operate together misia furtak poland · media culture courses are closely connected with innovative and its history academic research programmes on contemporary media culture · media culture provides a problem and practice-oriented training · media culture is aimed at students from different backgrounds such · media culture students work in small groups in close contact with their tutors in research methodologies and media skills as graduates from cultural or media studies or media professionals media culture master s student 11

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investigation and application the goal of this master s is to teach students both how to investigate contemporary media culture and how to participate in it it is aimed at students from a variety of backgrounds for instance bachelor of arts graduates in media and cultural studies who want to train in practice-oriented research or media professionals who want to deepen their theoretical understanding of media culture it educates for positions in which academic training in reflection and research is indispensable and skills and capacities for its practical application are required therefore the research training is consistently combined with training in media skills and assessed through the production of concrete products such as a review article or an audio documentary the skills training is based on instruction and learning by doing the specific skills to be acquired in a module are related to the theme or the problem of a module or the methods used they include working with advanced problem-based learning pbl the use of digital media in research and presentation research for media productions the analysis of media objects and the practice of participatory observation special attention is given to the training of teamwork in research and production especially the cooperation with participants of different educational and professional backgrounds module 3 game culture interaction participation performance 4 weeks 6 ects the central theme of this module is the relation between interactivity performance and participation in digital popular culture the module concentrates on narrative and game play in online digital games and investigates how games have affected youth and fan culture and the role of game communities in game culture module 4 sound technologies and cultural practices 4 weeks 6 ects how do old and new technologies affect the relation between the production and the consumption of music and alter the roles of listener and maker the module studies auditory culture at home and in the concert hall the history of recording and sampling and the making of soundtracks for films module 5 new public spheres 4 weeks 6 ects has the internet generated new venues for political and cultural participation and communication or does it enhance exclusion segregation and individualisation are the boundaries between private and public personal life and politics being permeated or shifting the module studies in particular the political use of discussion lists and websites overview of the programme the curriculum consists of two semesters a first general and introductory semester of five modules of four weeks each and a second semester aimed at specialisation and research during the whole curriculum students keep a web log with questions and reflections as a preparation for their research in the second semester second semester module 6 electives 30 ects the students spend their remaining time either writing an individual master s thesis taking an internship or participating in a collective research project the last two options may result in a concrete media product accompanied by a reflexive report the choice of the topics is free but must reflect issues of the media culture programme a member of the media culture teaching staff will be appointed as the student s supervisor examples of second semester topics are · youtube videos as a new genre · ipods and changing practices of listening and making of music · mobile gaming and the opening up of new spaces · weblogs as new public spheres · the future of film in the digital age · youth culture on social networking sites · interactive multimedia installations in museums · marketing in convergence culture · internship at the web department of a newspaper television or radio station first semester module 1 transformations in media culture 4 weeks 6 ects this module provides an introduction in the field of media culture media history and theory it starts from recent developments in digital media culture like web 2.0 and investigates how these developments affect the media landscape and relate to earlier changes in the media and to society and culture at large module 2 real virtualities 4 weeks 6 ects this module examines the changing relations between the real and the virtual have new media structurally changed our experience and our sense of space time and identity do we live in a `hyper reality in which signs only refer to other signs do `old and `new media differ radically or should we better speak about continuity and remediation these questions are centred on the case of virtuality and materiality in new media art 12 master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010

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special programme features case oriented the curriculum of media culture is case and problem oriented general theoretical questions about the cultural consequences of the digitalisation of the media are studied by focusing on concrete examples of media objects and practices these are found in what we usually call `the media press radio and television but also in many other places and institutions as museums hospitals businesses schools even families have their own `media cultures one of the consequences of digital culture is that media have become decentralised and in a variety of contexts the master s programme in media culture focuses specifically on examples from the domains of art popular culture and politics as breeding grounds for cultural innovation career perspectives contemporary media culture constitutes a continuously developing and changing field in which `life long learning is a prerequisite for a professional career media culture provides a sound basis for such a career by training students in problembased learning pbl in developing reflexive and research skills and in combining theoretical insight with practical orientation graduates of the master s programme in media culture may be employed as a applied researcher writer editor manager or policy maker in public and private media institutions and enterprises in cultural and educational organisations in which media are employed in pr and advertisment departments of commercial companies and in governmental or semi-governmental institutions interdisciplinary and comparative in order to study concrete examples of media change an interdisciplinary and comparative approach is used media objects specific games art works websites sound tracks and media practices production and use in museums hospitals political contexts and daily life are compared with each other both `old and `new media and with media objects and media practices in other times and places moreover different theoretical and methodological approaches are compared in order to give students a firm grasp on the various perspectives and research tools relevant for the investigation of present day media culture among these are historical research methods phenomenology the history and sociology of technology and virtual ethnography there is a close connection between the topics of the modules and current research programmes at the faculty which ensures that students become acquainted with the state of the art in innovative cultural research links with research there is a close thematic connection and interaction with current and recent research programmes of the faculty sound technologies and cultural practice and transformations in perception and participation digital games admissions admission is based on merit as assessed by the board of admissions student profile media culture is aimed at university graduates interested in the interrelations between cultural transformations in the media and technological developments especially the introduction of digital technologies with a completed academic education they should have a command of a certain domain or specialisation as apparent by the equivalent of a bachelor s degree in for instance media or communications studies film or television studies history social science humanities or liberal arts however the programme also addresses professionals already working in the media whose positions requires academic training in reflection and research on media culture admissions requirements and criteria indicating relevant working experience · a bachelor s degree from a relevant academic field and/or a cv · a letter of motivation indicating why you wish to study media culture at the faculty of arts and social sciences at maastricht complete the programme university and why you expect that you will be able to successfully · an advanced level of english ielts test minimum score 6.5 or · a cambridge proficiency certificate grade a b c or a cambridge · two letters of recommendation by a professor or employer advanced certificate grade a b c toefl ibt with a minimum score of 90 or further information on the application and registration procedure can be found on page 38 of this brochure or via www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/masters 13

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ma european studies on society science and technology esst esst is an international master s programme on governance and cultures of innovation introduction the emergence and diffusion of new technologies such as the internet genetic engineering nanotechnology and alternative energy production opens up both opportunities and risks to modern societies and economies citizens governments universities and businesses face great challenges when trying to take advantage of the seemingly infinite opportunities that scientific and technological developments offer there is an increasing need for experts capable of dealing with the complexities of modern societies in a reflexive and politically conscious manner therefore graduates of the esst programme are well prepared for a wide spectrum of professional activities in research and policy institutions ngos or private companies esst also prepares you to follow a subsequent phd programme this interdisciplinary programme is open to students from a variety of academic backgrounds way mobile phones have changed what it means `to be alone and how organ transplantation has redefined our understanding of life and genetic engineering has redefined our understanding of life and family planning an important question is how we can contribute to some sort of democratic control of science and technology development while at the same time using technologies to help solve some of the pressing problems of our complex modern societies therefore we will look at the role of these innovations as a focus of governance by governance we mean more than just the activities of formal political authorities governance implies the whole set of arrangements and procedures through which the development of science and technology is monitored and controlled these arrangements try to cope with the various challenges that are implied by innovation for instance how can policy institutions deal both effectively and democratically with the risks and moral dilemmas of new technological developments such as genetically modified food biomedicine and information or communication technology does the transfer of new technologies to developing countries increase their dependency on the north what role do local and supra-local institutions play in facilitating or curtailing attempts to close the gap from a policy perspective a need has been felt to better understand the cultures of innovation and to determine how through policy measures this process may be strengthened to provide impetus for sustained economic growth for economists and policy makers science and technological capabilities of a country are important premises for structural change development and economic growth moving beyond the narrow and mechanistic confines of mainstream economics evolutionary and institutional economics provide systemic perspectives on the problem of economic development therefore in the esst programme you will also examine the dynamics of science and technology and their interaction from an economics and policy perspective however there is no need to worry the programme is designed to teach those of you who come without an economic philosophical or policy background in this way the programme can be open to students with academic backgrounds in social sciences natural sciences engineering and humanities profile scientific and technological innovations are seen as the main driving forces of contemporary societies the focus of the esst programme is on the governance and cultures of innovation in the programme you reflect on the arenas in which controversial issues are discussed such as biotechnology genetics sustainable technology climate change the globalisation of economics and technology transfer these issues will be explored from different angles we will for instance reflect critically on the `common sense views of the making and use of new technologies and scientific claims science and technology do not merely assist us in our everyday lives they are also powerful forces acting to reshape our activities and their meanings the influence of science for example ranges from its inspiration for 20th century avant-garde movements to its impact on our dominant values and metaphors think only of `gene `symbiosis and `chemistry technology and science have an impact on mobility patterns and gender and sexual identities but also on the standardisation of practices in health care or think about the 14 master s programmes in arts culture and social political sciences 2010

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first semester · dutch accreditation committee qualification 2006 `excellent and staff from 13 european partner universities 30 students admitted anually · esst is an international master s programme exchanging students · esst is a programme with a maximum number of approximately · esst draws upon more than 15 years of experience est 1992 · the esst programme is based in the interdisciplinary field of science and technology studies sts and science technology and innovation studies st&i aims and objectives governmental non-governmental private and corporate organisations are increasingly faced with rapidly changing decisionmaking conditions in a period that is heading towards an ever more complex information society there will be an increasing need for people trained in an interdisciplinary way who are able to deal with our cultures of innovation in a reflexive and politically conscious way the global multicultural and environmentally conscious perspective of esst is aimed at developing ethical awareness and public responsibility in the knowledge society the esst programme explores · political and cultural analysis of the modern knowledge society · social and economic analysis of different cultures of innovation · ethical reflection on scientific and technological development module 1 introduction in society science and technology studies 4 weeks 6 ects this course offers an introduction to science and technology studies sts despite being a rather new academic discipline there is already a large body of theory to be discovered this module gives you a first impression of the heterogeneity and multi-facetedness of the field it will introduce you to the multiple ways in which science and technology individuals and institutions mutually shape one another to the benefit and sometimes detriment of society in this course we take a `critical approach to perspectives on the relation between science technology and society by this we don t mean being negative about science and technology on the contrary we focus on developing your ability to judge and hence constructively criticize the manifold aspects of science and technology module 2 science and technology in the making 4 weeks 6 ects the aim of module 2 is to illustrate the complexities involved in the processes of establishing scientific facts and the position of science as an influential actor in society you will be introduced to the way research programmes are set up and how they involve negotiations translations of interests and have political as well as cultural relevance therefore discussions are centred on different aspects of science in action such as commercialisation politics skills role of machines strategies choices patents ethical conflicts controversies innovations etc the module includes a full field day with interviews and observations in a laboratory module 3 interpreting the history of science and technology 4 weeks 6 ects module 3 examines how important innovations of the past may be interpreted it explores what a historical approach can contribute to the understanding of scientific and technological development the module focuses on two major transformations in the emergence of modern society 1 the scientific revolution of the 17th century which established the most important features of present-day science experiments laboratories mathematical and mechanistic ways of explanation and 2 the industrial revolution of the 19th century which created modern industrial society labour relations consumer products a new kind of economy several perspectives from which these developments can be understood are analysed and compared overview of the programme the programme is integrated into a network of 13 universities all over europe it covers 12 months of full-time study and is divided into two semesters the first semester consists of five modules of intensive coursework during the second semester you attend another set of specialized and methodology classes and write a thesis in an area of specialisation offered by one of the esst universities in most cases this will involve moving to one of the partner universities in europe 15

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