Leadership for Sustainable Development: Master's Programme, Sociology, 120 credits

Validation

This programme syllabus was validated by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2018-08-22 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance. This programme syllabus was revised by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2020-05-27.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree including 90 credits in Sociology as the main field of study, English B or equivalent qualifications

Programme outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• reflect in-depth on the concepts and phenomena of sustainability and sustainable development from economic, societal, ecological and cultural perspectives.
• critically relate the concept of resilience to public organisation, business and civil society.
• clarify how leadership and organisation enable work on issues relating to the environment, equality, human rights and corruption in various types of organisations.
• use advanced sociological theories, methods and apply them, particularly linked to sustainability.
• clarify how the knowledge tradition found in sociology can be enriched by meeting other subject traditions within the field of sustainable development.

Competence and skills

On completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• critically describe, both orally and in writing, sustainability issues and challenges from ecological, economic, social and cultural perspectives for both scholarly and general audiences.
• using scholarly methods and theories, creatively identify and formulate questions and, within set timeframes, plan and conduct qualified tasks in the area of sustainable development and evaluate this work.
• autonomously and systematically select methodological and theoretical tools that are relevant to different scholarly problems/research questions and contribute to the development of knowledge in the subject of Sociology.
• in Sociology, critically and autonomously identify questions, plan, conduct and present a scholarly work in research and development, and critically review someone else’s work.
• autonomously and actively contribute qualified opinions on societal life and lead discussions that are relevant to society, state and citizens, inside and outside higher education.

Judgement and approach

On completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• formulate analyses and critically assess their own and other’s results for the scholarly, societal and ethical aspects of sustainability in the field of Sociology:
• critically reflect on the theoretical perspectives, methods and limitations of sociological research and on people’s responsibility for how they are used, particularly in relation to issues of sustainability:
• with insight, reflect on how sociological theories and approaches can be supplemented and deepened in their encounters with theories and approaches found in other subject traditions on various scientific fields.

Applicability

On completion of the programme, the knowledge and competence specified above increase the student’s employability for qualified leadership positions and development and investigation work focusing on sustainable societal development in private business, public organisations and civil society. The programme provides analytical tools in the form of in-depth theoretical and methodological knowledge in sociology, which provides eligibility for doctoral education and is also a good basis for a professional career outside of academia.

Qualification

Title of qualification:

Degree of Master of Arts in Sociology (120 credits)

Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet sociologi

Qualification stipulation:

A Degree of Master is awarded after the student has completed the courses required to gain 120 credits with a specialisation decided by the university. Of these, at least 60 credits are for a specialisation in the main field of study, including an independent dissertation worth at least 30 credits in Sociology. In addition, the prior award of a Degree of Bachelor of at least 180 credits including 90 credits in Sociology or the equivalent is required.

Programme design

This two-year Master’s programme covers four semesters of full-time study and is conducted at the School of Social Sciences. It covers issues related to the organisation and management of activities that work towards sustainable societal development. The programme’s design and study route gradually moves from basic knowledge of the phenomenon and concept of sustainable societal development from economic, ecological and social perspectives, to increasingly advanced knowledge of the practice and organisation of private business, civil society and public organisations, and the character and conditions of leadership when working on issues of sustainability. Particular focus in placed on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Cooperation with multiple subjects in the social sciences allows the courses on this Master’s programme to continually develop, the aim being for the student to develop nuanced and reflective knowledge of complex societal and ecological phenomena. One theme that runs through the programme is using new perspectives and creative problem formulations to meet the challenges entailed by the switch to a sustainable society. The programme thus provides in-depth knowledge in sociology, knowledge of how this is related to fields of knowledge and traditions found in other scholarly subject areas and to the field of sustainable societal development. The Master’s dissertation is written in Sociology which, combined with the general course offering, creates excellent conditions for specialised subject knowledge, broad competence in the social sciences and in-depth knowledge in the field of sustainable societal development.

Compulsory courses

• Sustainable development from an individual organisation and network perspective, 7.5 credits (advanced level)
• Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development, 7.5 crecits (advanced level)
• Leadership and Sustainability, 7.5 credits (advanced level)
• Qualitative Research Methods, 7.5 credits (advanced level)
• Quantitative Research Methods 7.5 credits (advanced level)
• Additional courses equivalent to 22.5 credits at advanced level in the field of Sociology. Course offerings in Sociology may vary from semester to semester. The courses offered in the next semester will be announced no later than two weeks before the end of the application period via the university website.
• Master's dissertation in Sociology with a focus on sustainability, 30 credits

A student on a study programme is guaranteed a place on the compulsory courses or on the specializations/courses within the programme. (For entry requirements, see, Other Stipulations.)

Optional courses

One semester (30 credits) of the programme consists of optional courses. Courses given during this semester are announced before the start of the semester.

• Challenge-driven Project Management for Sustainable Development, 15 credits (Half-time studies at advanced level)
• Sustainability Accounting and Communication, 7, 5 credits (Half-time studies at advanced level)
• Individual Study Course - Sustainable development, 7.5 credits (Half-time studies at advanced level within the student's main subject)
• Placement in the Social Sciences, 30 credits (advanced or basic level)

Instead of the above courses, the student may choose to study other advanced level courses on sustainable development at either Södertörn University or other Swedish or foreign higher education institutions. These courses must be previously approved by the programme coordinator.

A student is guaranteed a place on a range of courses equivalent to a full workload. There is no guarantee that a student is offered a place on his/her first choice of course. For entry requirements, see course syllabus.

Degree project

A Master’s dissertation worth 30 credits in Sociology, specialising in sustainability.

Credit transfer for prior studies

A student has the right to have prior learning assessed for accreditation within the study programme.

Other stipulations

For entry requirements for courses within a study programme, see course syllabus.