Decisions and guidelines

The Master Programme in Social Analysis of Economy and Organization is a one-year Master's program with a clear research focus. It is a unique collaboration between the Departments of Economic History, Business Studies, Social and Economic Geography and Sociology. The program is taught in English and admission to the program takes place every autumn semester.

The aim is to offer a research-oriented program with a clear profile that captures the great interest among students for economic issues. Economy and organization is increasingly important in society and economic research in Sweden, as well as internationally, is diverse, and an interdisciplinary perspective appears to be increasingly important. The program includes analysis of economic issues and provides a coherent course package that has a parallel track of mandatory activities. These aim to provide students with skills and thus create a clear added value in the program. The activities are examined within the program courses. Great emphasis is placed on skills such as writing, interpretation and analysis, which students achieve by carrying out practical analyses, group assignments and course-spanning projects. Teachers and students participate in seminars where skills are practiced and offer opportunities for close contact with researchers. The program's interdisciplinary collaboration enables the integration of education with on-going research at the university.

Entry requirements

Economic History

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be economic history or a similar field of study.

Students with another main field of study within the social sciences and 60 credits in economic history or a similar field of study are also eligible.

Language requirements

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

• IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
• TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
• Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Business Studies

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be business studies.

Language requirements

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

• IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
• TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
• Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Social and Economic Geography

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be human geography or a similar field of study.

Students with another main field of study within the social sciences and 60 credits in human geography or a similar field of study are also eligible.

Language requirements

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

• IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
• TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
• Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Sociology

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be sociology, social psychology or a similar field of study.

Language requirements

All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

• IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
• TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
• Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Aims

The purpose of this research preparatory program is training for an academic career or alternatively a career requiring advanced types of analysis. At the four participating departments, research is conducted in areas relevant for the program, and students will be integrated into on-going research projects. The program provides formal eligibility for postgraduate studies.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

The student will be able to

• demonstrate knowledge of current research in the area and be able to explain its main features, as well as be acquainted with key studies in the research area
• demonstrate knowledge of key issues in the research area

Skills and Abilities

The student will be able to

• carry out comparative literature analyses of various perspectives of different disciplenes and research fields, and in doing so be able to evaluate and criticize them.
• be able to formulate problems, conduct an investigation and to communicate this, especially in writing but also verbally, in other words, conduct own projects based on a thorough analysis
• identify and understand different disciplinary traditions, also based on oral communication

Evaluation ability and approach

The student will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the limitations and opportunities presented by different research approaches.
• demonstrate the ability of being able to take responsibility for the further development of knowledge in research that falls within the program's specializations

Layout of the programme

The Master programme based on courses of 7.5 credits. The first semester emphasizes skills training where students are trained in academic and work-related generic skills. The focus is on academic writing, analysis, communication and presentation.

During the last semester, the skills training will be in form of tutorials in small groups. Each such group has regular meetings during the semester. The intention is to create a forum for interdisciplinary discussion and encourage thinking across disciplinary boundaries.

Courses included in the program:

Introduction and overview 7.5 credits

Economic History 7.5 credits

Economic Sociology 7.5 credits

Reading Course 7.5 credits

Organization Theory 7.5 credits

Economic Geography 7.5 credits

Thesis 15 credits

Degree

The program leads to a one-year Master's degree (Degree of Master in Social Science, 60 credits) with 30 credits in the respective major field.