The International Master programme Education for Democracy andSocial Justice leads to a Master Degree in Social Sciences (MSc.) withorientation to the field of education. The programme is offered incooperation with the Research School for the Conditions of Democracy atÖrebro University and other partners in Europe, Africa and CentralAmerica. The programme deals with central questions of education in the21st century in different parts of the world in relation to issues ofdemocracy, social justice, globalization and citizenship education. Infocus are questions of democracy and the different demands of democracythat vary for different groups of people worldwide, but which can atthe same time be characteristic for a common, global, context. Thecontent of the programme is formed in the interrelation of the generaland the particular. 

Contents
In the first year the thematicbasis of the programme is laid down through several profile courses.This is followed by a deepening of the perspectives of democracy at thesame time as the concept of democracy is put in relation to educationand citizenship. During the second year research perspectives are infocus. In a concluding independent work (thesis) questions dealt withduring the first year of the programme are problematised in relation totheir relevance for education.

 Study programme syllabus for Education for Democracy and Social Justice

Study form
The programme isorganized as a combination of distance education from your home countryand concentrated periods at Örebro University.

The first semester contains two concentrated periods with lecturesand seminars at Örebro University. The second semester contains oneconcentrated period, each concentrated period lasts for twoweeks. These concentrated periods serve to introduce different coursemodules. A similar structure is designed for the second year, with oneconcentrated period each semester. These two concentrated periods focuson the specific particularities of the independent work with theconcluding thesis.

The remaining time of each semester consists of distance studiesfrom your home country, during which an independent work should be madeconsisting both of course papers and in the form of a concludingthesis.

The student must have access to a computer with Internet in the homecountry in order to follow the distance education between theconcentrated periods.

Also visit: www.oru.se/pi/master

Aims of the programme
After this education students should have:
-knowledge about democracy theories and actions related to education and teaching,
-knowledgeabout human rights and how they are contextualized in differentsocieties and environments and their relevance for education,
-knowledge about the effect of globalization on society's different levels and its meaning for education and teaching,
-knowledge about social factors and conditions for individuals to educate themselves,
-knowledge about theories of social justice and their consequences and relevance for education and teaching
-knowledgeabout the meaning of identity for learning and knowledge, knowledgeabout how diversity is handled and develops in teaching and education

After completing the education students should also:
-independently be able to integrate educational perspectives and methods in their work,
-havedeveloped the ability to handle complex questions in relation to socialand cultural differences and the demands of this on teaching andeducation,
-have developed, to a high level, the ability toindependently formulate research problems and to be able to do researchand write reports.

Requirements
Theapplicant must have a completed Bachelor degree, comparable to aSwedish Bachelor degree, from an institution of higher education ofthree years or more. The Bachelor degree must have the field ofeducation as major (90 ECTS credits in education) and must include adegree thesis.

The applicant must have knowledge in English. If the applicant'sfirst language is not English, knowledge in English must be documentedby an internationally recognised proficiency test. See the followinglink for information on the different proficiency test and theirrequired minimum scores for eligibility.

 English proficiency tests

Selection
The selection of thequalified applicants is based on the applicant's grade from theBachelor degree, and/or the courses within the Bachelor degree and theapplicant's written statement of purpose.

Submit
All documents listed belowmust be attached to the application form. You find the application formon the page with information on how to apply.

- Officially certified copies of your original graduation diplomaand transcripts from the upper secondary school issued in the officiallanguage.

- Completed Bachelor degree, comparable to a Swedish Bachelordegree, from an institution of higher education of three years or more.Submit both diploma and transcript issued in the official language.Please note that if you are a citizen of a country other than a Nordicor EU/EEA country your university diploma and transcripts must be sentdirectly to Örebro University from your university in a separate sealedofficial envelope. This separate sealed official envelope from theuniversity can also be placed in the envelope with your applicationform and other necessary documents.

- Certificate of English proficiency test if your first language is not English.

- Documents confirming professional experience.

- Written statement of purpose.
The written statement of purposemust be no less than one and no more than two pages. You shall alsodescribe your expectations on the programme, why you want to attend theprogramme, and how you believe you would benefit from it in the future.

- All documents must also be translated into English and issued bythe official educational authorities (or a notary public) in yourcountry.

Application deadline
February 1st 2006.
More information about the specific dates for the concentrated period will be published here later.

Scholarships
There are a limited number of full scholarshipson offer from the Swedish Development Agency and the Swedish Institutefor needy and deserving students. These cover travel, accomodation,insurance and other living expenses during the time spent in Sweden.

Start date
End of August 2006.More specific information about start date will bepublished here as soon as possible.

Issuing department
 Department of Education

Degree awarded
Degree of Master of Social Sciences

Contact
For information about the programme, please contact the Department of Education.
E-mail: mastereducation@pi.oru.se
Also visit: www.oru.se/pi/master

For information about the application or the admission procedure, please contact the Admission Office.
E-mail: freemover@oru.se

Reference:
http://www.oru.se/templates/oruExtNormal____29389.aspx