Taught Masters - MA in Global Justice

Debates surrounding issues of global justice have recently moved to the centre of both political theory and political practice. The numerous topics and concerns that fall under the rubric of global justice (e.g. human rights, just war theory, global distributive justice, abject poverty, global health, environmental justice, etc.) are therefore becoming of increasing interest to students and practitioners alike. This MA brings together the expertise of several members of staff within the Department of Politics in order to provide students with an in-depth and extensive investigation into the numerous moral, theoretical and practical facets of these debates and to therefore investigate some of the most pressing global issues facing humanity.

This exciting new programme is designed for graduates who already have some knowledge of the theoretical questions surrounding matters of global justice and wish to deepen their understanding of selected issues, or who wish to transfer into this area from related disciplines (for example Economics, International Relations or Philosophy). Whatever interest or particular background, it is our objective to further students' understanding and encourage them to take risks in questioning and developing their beliefs and intellectual assumptions.

The MA in Global Justice is closely aligned to the activities of the Centre for Political Theory and Global Justice. These include several seminars throughout each semester, in which an external speaker, member of staff, or PhD student presents a paper on their current research. Centre activities also include workshops and the annual Warrander Lecture; all of which students on the MA programme will be expected to attend (previous speakers have included Professor David Held, Professor Allan Buchanan, Professor Anne Phillips, Professor Michael Doyle, Professor Robert Keohane, Professor David Miller and Professor Carol Pateman). These run alongside the ‘master classes’ and ‘teach-ins’ that are available to all MA students. Our hope, therefore, is that students on this programme will feel encouraged to incorporate themselves and to engage with the vibrant and exciting research community of the Department.

Alongside the generic advantages obtained by successfully completing a social science MA (e.g. development of analytical and critical skills, writing ability, etc.), this programme will specifically provide students with a qualification in an area that will be directly relevant if they want to seek employment in the political sphere, including national and international organisations, governments, NGO’s and charities.

If you have any questions regarding this programme, please feel free to contact Dr. Matt Sleat (m.sleat@sheffield.ac.uk) or Dr. Garrett Brown (g.w.brown@sheffield.ac.uk).

Course Structure

All students must undertake 180 credits of modules as follows:

• One core module, POL6011 Global Justice (30 credits);
• Option modules to the value of 90 credits (all modules are subject to availability);
• POL6731 Dissertation in Global Justice (60 credits).