International Politics (Global Justice and Ethics) MA

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Newcastle University

Program Overview

# MA International Politics (Global Justice and Ethics)

## Program Overview

This master's degree investigates the central issues shaping our world—from human rights and global poverty to cosmopolitan democracy and environmental justice. You'll develop a deeper understanding of world politics while gaining rigorous training in global justice, international relations theory, and advanced research methods from influential political theorists and philosophers.

## Curriculum Structure

Year One (Full-time) or Months 1-12 (Part-time)

You'll begin with three compulsory 20-credit modules that form the intellectual foundation of the program. *Global Justice and Human Rights* equips you with advanced knowledge of contemporary global justice issues and the frameworks underpinning human rights debates, from relativism versus universalism to responses to global poverty and inequality. Alongside this, *Thinking About Politics* provides rigorous training in international relations theory and the theoretical approaches essential for studying politics at an advanced level. These core modules are complemented by 60 credits of optional coursework, allowing you to tailor your studies to your specific interests within areas like ethics, war, terror, peace, and international studies.

Dissertation Phase

The final 60 credits are dedicated to your independent dissertation project, where you'll synthesize materials from primary and secondary sources to conduct self-designed research on a topic of your choosing within global justice and ethics. This capstone element develops your theoretical and practical research skills, preparing you for either a career with significant international dimensions or further postgraduate research.

## Focus Areas

Global justice and human rights, theories of ethics, war and peace studies, international relations theory, international and regional politics, social science research methodologies, and human geography.

## Learning Outcomes

Advanced knowledge of contemporary global justice and ethics; understanding of social science approaches and research methods; theoretical and practical research skills including synthesis of complex materials; independent learning and critical thinking about global political dynamics; and the ability to undertake and complete self-designed research projects.

## Professional Alignment

The program is designed to prepare you for careers with international possibilities, including roles in inter-governmental organisations, diplomacy, civil society advocacy, and non-governmental organisations, or for further postgraduate research in global justice and ethics.

## Reputation

Newcastle University's School of Geography, Politics and Sociology is home to internationally renowned researchers in critical geopolitics and global justice studies, with PhD students drawn from 27 countries over the last six years, reflecting the program's global standing.

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Learn more and apply: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees/4087f/

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best parts of our MA International Politics (Global Justice and Ethics) at Newcastle University is how it builds real-world skills through hands-on learning—you'll dive into practical research, group discussions, and independent projects that sharpen your ability to analyze global issues like human rights and inequality. You'll work with primary and secondary sources to synthesize ideas, just like professionals in policy or international organizations do, and get rigorous training in social science methods that prepare you for careers with global impact. Seminars encourage cooperative group work and individual presentations, so you'll practice debating ethics and justice in team settings while honing your own voice.

This approach comes alive through specific opportunities like these:
- Cooperative group work in seminars: Tackle topics like war, terror, peace, and global justice theories alongside peers, building teamwork skills essential for international roles.
- Individual presentations and case study analysis: Present your views on human rights or cosmopolitan democracy, developing confidence and critical evaluation skills used in real policy debates.
- Self-designed research projects and dissertation: Design and complete your own 60-credit dissertation on global ethics, using advanced social science methods to pull from diverse sources—perfect prep for PhD work or think tanks.
- Rigorous research training modules: Compulsory modules like "Thinking About Politics" teach practical techniques for studying power, democracy, and international relations, with assessments via essays, exams, and papers.

These experiences set you up to make a difference—imagine applying what you've learned to roles in NGOs, government, or global advocacy. Ready to take the next step? Apply now and let's chat about how this fits your goals. For our full facilities list, check [Newcastle University Facilities](https://www.ncl.ac.uk/about/facilities/).

Progression & Future Opportunities

At Newcastle University, our MA International Politics (Global Justice and Ethics) stands out because you'll build real-world skills through hands-on research projects, case study analysis, and group work right from the start—think dissecting global poverty debates or human rights dilemmas in collaborative settings. You'll sharpen your analytical edge with rigorous training in social science methods, independent research design, and synthesizing sources from across politics and ethics, all taught by leading theorists in small seminars that feel personal and dynamic. This isn't just theory; it's practical prep for careers in international policy or NGOs, with a dissertation that lets you dive deep into your own self-designed project on topics like cosmopolitan democracy or environmental justice.

Here's how experiential learning comes alive in this program: through targeted activities and School of Geography, Politics and Sociology resources that bring global justice to life:

- Case study analysis and group work: Tackle real-world global justice scenarios collaboratively, building cooperative skills alongside individual presentations—key for A1-A2 learning outcomes in ethics and politics.
- Independent research projects and dissertation: Design and execute your own 60-credit research on global human rights or inequality, using advanced social science techniques to pull from primary and secondary sources.
- Rigorous research training modules: Compulsory units like "Thinking About Politics" and "Global Justice and Human Rights" equip you with practical methods for power analysis, democracy studies, and ethical debates.

Check out the full list of facilities here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/gps/study-with-us/facilities/. Imagine applying to this program and turning your passion for justice into expertise—spots fill fast, so let's chat about your next steps!