Level: Master
Start date: Autumn 2025
City: Jönköping
Credits: 120 credits
Degree: Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Global Studies specialisation in Sustainability Studies
For those who apply through universityadmissions.se, application period: 2024-10-15 – 2025-01-15
JU Direct Application (recommended), application period: 2024-10-15 - 2025-05-02

When applying through the JU Direct Application, the application period is: 2024-10-15 – 2025-05-02

Overview

Global environmental problems such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and increasing pollution add to existing problems with social inequalities and injustices. It is high time to reverse the current trend.

To create sustainable societies and social change, we use applied research based on close cooperation between the academic world and society. The programme is interdisciplinary and focuses on cross-cultural, comparative research, and long-term social change. You will learn about various theoretical perspectives of sustainability, get experience in data collection and analysis as well as develop practical skills and experiences in planning and working for sustainable societies and social change.

The programme provides a set of social science methods and tools for designing and applying solutions in real life situations, within the framework of sustainable development goalsc, by looking into recent changes and trends in different regions of the world. Academics and practitioners will use lectures, case studies, group work, and exercises to strike a balance between theory and practice and to stimulate interaction between participants.

The emphasis is on issues of sustainable development and social change that cut across different countries and world regions, and how these issues are applied in local settings. Examples are globalization, social justice, equality, diversity, human rights, environmental challenges, climate change, and urban and rural development.

As a part of the master thesis work you will start up a collaboration with a host organisation of your own choice within the non-profit, public, or corporate sector. With the support of a supervisor you will during the Research planning course develop and formulate a plan for the project, which will result in a thesis.

The programme is offered as a 1-year (60 credits) and 2-year (120 credits) programme. The latter is an extension of the former, which means that all students study together during the first year.

Research framework of Social Sciences of Sustainability

The programme is carried out within the research framework of Social Sciences of Sustainability at the School of Education and Communication at Jönköping University, and in collaboration with the master programs in Sustainable Communication (SusCom) and Learning, Digitalization and Sustainability (LeadS).

 

The programme is conducted at School of Education and Communication
Credits: 120 credits
Level: Master
Language: English
Rate of study: 100%
City: Jönköping
Place of study: Normal teaching
Start date: Autumn 2025
Selection: JU Direct Application: Admission is done continuously. For those who apply through universityadmissons.se: Selection is based on previous academic merits. Ranking is made in descending order.
Requirements: The applicant must hold the minimum of a bachelor’s degree (i.e. the equivalent of 180 ECTS credits at an accredited university) with at least 90 credits in global studies or social science including independent work, i.e., a thesis or the equivalent. English proficiency is required.
Here you can find the corresponding requirements for most countries.
Application code: HJ-MU129
Degree: Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Global Studies specialisation in Sustainability Studies
Tuition fee: For the first semester: 60000 SEK
Total tuition fee: 240000 SEK

Tuition fees do NOT apply for EU/EEA citizens or exchange students

The programme is designed to educate change agents with a deep understanding of sustainable development ideas and strategies, and their application in different settings.

You will acquire key competences and soft skills for the professional world, such as self-responsibility, problem-solving skills, and intercultural competence, in addition to skills in project planning and practical experience with sustainability work.

After completing the programme, you will have the relevant theoretical and practical knowledge to take on strategic roles in government agencies, non-government organisations and private businesses. You will also fulfil the requirements for third cycle studies, i.e., doctoral programmes.

Year 1

Social Sciences of Sustainability 5 credits
Introduction to Global Studies: Sustainable Societies and Social Change 2.5 credits
Critical Issues in Sustainability 1: Social Perspectives on Climate Change and the Environment 7.5 credits
Critical Issues in Sustainability 2: Social Justice, Equality, and Human Rights 7.5 credits
Project Planning and Sustainability Strategies 7.5 credits


Research Methods 1 in Global Studies 7.5 credits
Research Planning 7.5 credits

Critical Issues in Sustainability 3: Urban and Rural Challenges 7.5 credits
Master's Thesis in Global Studies 30 credits (specialisation) Module 1, 7,5 credits

 

Year 2

Elective courses, alternatively studies at other university, exchange studies or internship, 30 credits
Research Methods 2 in Global Studies 7.5 credits
Master's Thesis in Global Studies 30 credits (specialisation) Module 2, 22,5 credits

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