Program Overview

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Comparative Social Change (M.Sc.)

The Comparative Social Change (M.Sc.) program is a joint initiative between the Department of Sociology at Trinity College Dublin and the School of Sociology at University College Dublin. This program aims to develop students' knowledge of the main currents of social change today, the social, cultural, and economic forces driving them, and the different forms they take across states.

Overview

The course has a significant international dimension, drawing on the rich and informative experiences of other EU member states, North America, the four Asian Tigers, plus the BRIC countries, particularly Brazil, China, and India. It provides advanced training in conceptualizing, designing, and conducting comparative research across countries and the role that this can play in policy development.

Course Structure

The Masters is worth 90 ECTS, while the Postgraduate Diploma carries 60 ECTS (exit point only). Students who have exited with a Postgraduate Diploma may apply to submit subsequently for the corresponding Masters degree.

Course Content

Students take three core modules:

• Globalisation and Social Change: India, China, Brazil
• Introduction to Comparative Social Change: Concepts and Cases
• Research Methods

Students also select three elective modules, which may vary year to year. Electives offered in recent years include:

• The Migration Challenge
• Comparative Educational Perspectives
• Economic Globalisation and Social Change
• Gender and Social Change in a Comparative Context
• Comparing Healthcare Systems
• Migration, Labour and Conflict
• Nationalism and Social Change
• Religion in Comparative Perspective
• Sociological Thinking in the Digital Age
• Social Change and Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, Issues and Challenges

In addition, students will complete a dissertation not exceeding 20,000 words.

Admission Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Career Opportunities

Students receive academic training in social change issues, such as gender, education, and the labor market, which can be applied to real-world problems. This training has the potential to open career opportunities in fields such as advocacy, the media, and communications. Furthermore, policy-relevant and practice-based components, such as fieldwork projects, have been designed to contribute to the training and employability of the next generation of researchers.

Course Details

• Awards: NFQ Level 9
• Number of Places: 25 Places
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Coordinator: Dr. Gerard Boucher, University College Dublin
• Course Director: Professor Daniel Faas
• Closing Date: 30th June 2025

Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section of the university's website.

Is This Course For Me?

The Masters in Comparative Social Change is relevant for students with a background in Social Sciences who are interested in pursuing careers in research, policy development, the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and national or local government.