Course description
Focusing on the dynamics of inequality and transformative social justice action, this interdisciplinary course is designed to engage and challenge students in critical debates regarding the concepts and practices of equality, anti-discrimination and social change.
This course provides students with the opportunity to:
* Problematise traditional approaches to the thinking and practice of equality and social justice
* Explore and evaluate contemporary approaches to political activism and social movements
* Develop skills in traditional and alternative research methods including participatory action, anti-racist and feminist research methods
* Engage with leading anti-discrimination and social justice practitioners
Is This the Right Course for Me?
Given the interdisciplinary nature of the course, we are seeking students with a range of knowledge and experiences. This course is aimed at graduates working in a range of fields including social policy, research, health, regeneration and community education. In addition, the course is also aimed at those students who wish to embark on a challenging career in grassroots activism or policy analysis.
Course Structure
Study can be on either a full-time or part-time basis. Distance learning will be considered on an individual basis; please contact the Course Director to discuss this option further.
Postgraduate Diploma in Equality and Discrimination
The course comprises five taught modules which include:
* Ideology, Exploitation, Inequality and Change: exploring the development of language, traditions and value-systems that promote or undermine notions of equality
* Principles and Patterns of Resistance: investigating the history, formation, structure and goals of social movements
* Research Methods: debating concepts regarding the nature of truth and knowledge and developing practices to understand reality
* Institutional Discrimination: understanding the dynamics of institutional discrimination and exploring a range of anti-discrimination policies and practices
* Legal Interventions: examining notions of citizenship and human rights and investigating how legal protection supports or undermines notions of equality
Action Research Project
In addition to the taught modules, students are required to demonstrate their ability to bring theories of social change into practice by undertaking an action research project whereby students systematically investigate and analyse unjust practices and make evidence-based recommendations for change.
MSc in Equality and Discrimination
The Masters of Science degree is awarded through the successful completion of the taught modules, the action research project and a dissertation on a topic related to equality and discrimination.
Assessment Policy and Methods
The aim of assessment for this course is to enable students to become independent and critical learners. Assessments are an integral part of the learning process and are designed not simply to measure progress but to equip and sustain student learning beyond the boundaries of this particular degree course. To that end, the course uses a variety of assessment methods from traditional essays to case studies to action research in order to support critical approaches and understandings of equality and social justice.
Centre for Equality and Discrimination
As a developing research centre interested in problematising traditional approaches to the thinking and practice of equality and social justice, the Centre has particular research interests in the following areas:
* Discourse analysis and the language of equality and democracy
* Sociology and politics of 'race', ethnicity, gender and sexuality
* Anti-racist and feminist theories and practices
* Ethnicity and gender in employment
* Equality and employment law
