[Bilimsel Haber] PROG. INFO.- Master's Degree, Transformation in the South Caucasus

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

PROG. INFO.- Master's Degree, Transformation in the South Caucasus

Posted by: George Khelashvili <gkhelashvili at ucss.ge

Center for Social Sciences at Tbilisi State University

Masters Degree in the Social Sciences:
Transformation in the South Caucasus


Call for Applications

In Partnership with OSI and Tbilisi State University, the Centre for
Social Sciences requests applications for their cross-regional English
language masters degree Transformation in the South Caucasus.
  - Study regional and international politics and the social sciences
    in an international and cross-disciplinary setting.
  - Obtain a Masters degree from one of the most progressive teaching
    centres in the region affiliated to Tbilisi State University.
  - Gain knowledge and professional skills vital for work in
    government, the NGO sector and research.
  - Students from Armenia and Azerbaijan are provided with finances to
    cover accommodation, living expenses and travel.


Degree Offered

The degree requires 120 ECTS credits and will take one and half
calendar years (Sept 2006 to January 2007). The first year will be
spent studying taught courses of regional relevance intended to
develop the analytical, evaluative and presentational skills necessary
for working in the government, the NGO sector or in the research community.


Classes will be small (less than 20 students) and will include
lectures and seminars given by international staff who have
considerable academic and practical experience working in the
University, in NGOs, think tanks and Government. Teaching will be
collaborative, student-centred and skill-based.

The program involves a mandatory course in Academic Writing and
Research Methods. In addition the students can choose from courses on
International Relations, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies,
Nationalism, Foreign Policy Analysis, Transitional Economics, Public
Policy, International Political Economy and Post-Soviet History.

Following the summer exams the students will have six months to
complete a dissertation and a two month internship.


The Centre for Social Sciences

The first year of the course will be taught at the Centre of Social
Sciences, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. This is one of
the key focal points of higher educational reform in Georgia. Based in
the centre of the city it has state-of-the-art facilities available to
students including:
  - A lecture theatre equipped with computer projector and electronic
    white board
  - A library with over five thousand volumes of academic literature in
    the social sciences, history and philosophy
  - A computer room with 10 DSL networked computers (one for every six
students)
  - Photocopy and printing facilities


Costs and Financial Support Available

Students from Georgia no fees

Students from Armenia, Azerbaijan and the other regions of the
Caucasus will be charged no fees and will receive the following funds
for 10 months study in Tbilisi
  - Accommodation $150 per month
  - Living stipend $200 per month
  - Travel to/from Tbilisi $80 per person per year

International Students other than from the Caucasus must pay 4500 Lari,
approx $2500


Requirements for Applicants

  - All nationalities will be considered, particularly those from
    Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as those in the disputed
    territories of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

  - A minimum of a bachelor's degree in the social sciences or
    humanities. This would include applied subjects like law, journalism,
    business or economics as well as the obvious categories of sociology,
    political science, international relations, public policy, history,
    cultural studies etc.

  - A very good understanding of English, both written and spoken.


Personal Qualities

Given the makeup of the student body possibly the most important
characteristic of potential applicants is a willingness to consider
points of view that are different to their own.


We would encourage applicants to seriously reflect upon whether they
would be happy to calmly discuss highly sensitive political issues
with students from states and ethnic groups with whom they may
consider themselves opposed.


Application Materials

1. Applicant's Curriculum Vitae

2. A personal statement of not more than 400 words detailing
  - Your reasons for wanting to take part in this course what you feel
    you would get from the course personally and professionally
  - What the course will allow you to contribute to your country's
development

3. Copies of applicant's academic degree documents (copies of diplomas
    and transcripts). If application is sent electronically, these
    documents can be provided at Interview.


Timetable for Applications

The deadline for this first round of applications is the 15th
September 2006 with an expectation that applicants will be examined
between 18-22 September.

Further Information on the Centre for Social Sciences and the program
can be found at www.ucss.ge

Initial queries can also be made directly to the Director of Academic
Programmes Giorgi Khelashvili at gkhelashvili at ucss.ge Tel: (995 32) 252781

Applications can be sent to: George Khelashvili, Director of Academic
Programmes, Centre for Social Sciences, 10, Chovelidze St, Tbilisi 0108,
Georgia. Or electronically to gkhelashvili at ucss.ge




Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian
Studies