University of amsterdam sociology
The Master’s in Sociology at the University of Amsterdam offers a comprehensive programme focusing on current social issues. The Master's programme in Sociology teaches you how to think about sociological issues independently and offers you a sound understanding of sociological theory and methods.
In this programme, you will acquire intellectual and practical skills enabling you to analyse problems, structures and processes related to the coexistence of people.
With a wide range of courses on offer, the Master's in Sociology provides you with the opportunity to put together your own curriculum within a broad sociological spectrum.
Student profile
If you want to know what causes social problems, you have a desire to understand underlying processes, if you are critical and interested in alternative explanations for what happens in the world around you, if you want to conduct your own research and be inspired by the classical sociological scholars on current issues, then this is your study programme. In sum: this Master's is the right choice for you as a critical, inquiring student who has a desire to gain in-depth knowledge on current social issues and find solutions for these.
Competencies
After completion of the study programme there is an array of job opportunities. As a sociology graduate you possess excellent research skills and have the capacity to define complex social problems, to come up with potential solutions and to translate these into written recommendations.
Focus on research
In recent years the Department of Sociology has attracted a large number of international staff members who excel in their own specialist field and are actively involved in teaching in their domain. The strong reputation of the staff is evident from the large number of research grants received in recent years from the Dutch Scientific Organisation (Nederlandse Wetenschapsorganisatie - NWO) and the European Commission. Many members of staff are also active in the public debate, and are involved in research on (government) policy. This is also reflected in the curriculum.
Specialisation tracks
Next to this Master's programme in Sociology, there are six English-language specialisation tracks in Sociology:
What is the difference between the MSc Sociology and the specialisation tracks?
The main difference between this Sociology degree programme and the English tracks is that the Sociology programme offers more choice.
Students in the general Sociology programme are allowed to put together their own curriculum by choosing from all the courses offered by the various specialisations, whereas it is compulsory for track students to choose from courses within their specialisation. Sociology students can specialise in one of the six majors, but may alternatively opt for a more general programme.
Dutch students of the MSc Sociology may write their thesis and papers in Dutch (provided that the lecturers are able to understand Dutch).