Graduate study on the cutting edge

Next year the School of Geography at the University of Leeds is going to offer a Master of Arts degree in Activism and Social Change.

From the course overview:

Activism and Social Change is an innovative and original interdisciplinary programme of research-led teaching and participatory study that brings together the worlds of academia and progressive social campaigning. It is led by academics working and researching with social movement organisations and communities; they are at the cutting edge of Geography's tradition of disciplinary involvement with social justice, a tradition that dates back at least to the early 1970s and runs stronger than ever today.

The programme's originality lies in four areas:
1) its intellectual attachment to the concept of 'autonomy', which in its radical understanding is the belief in society organised collectively through the practice of self-management, mutual aid and direct democracy;

2) its integration of social and environmental themes and issues, distinguishing it from other programmes in Britain, which focus on one element or the other;

3) its direct collaboration with NGOs, campaign groups and social entrepreneurs who will work alongside the programme coordinators to explore the ideas, practices and geographies of activism and social change;

4) its integrated provision of training for academic research and special skills training for work as a practitioner in NGOs and social movements.

Main course features
The main features of the programme can be summarised as follows:

An exploration of the core ideas in radical and transformatory social theory (see module: Spaces of Radical Thought module);

An overview of global social movement struggles with particular reference to anti-systemic and neo-colonial struggles in the Global South (Empire and Resistance);

Contemporary political debates about alternatives to neoliberal development and the critical challenges we face (Autonomous Futures);

Qualitative and quantitative research methods training relevant to campaigning and social change with strong emphasis on conducting Action Research with social movements and campaign groups (Researching for Social Change);

An introduction to key strategic debates and skills within the practitioner community through guest lectures and workshops by journalists, campaigners, researchers and activists (Campaigning for Social Change);

Work and campaign placements based around course themes;

An innovative portfolio of Masters-level assessments relevant to activism and social change including: campaign diaries; web-design; project plans; film; and extended action-research dissertations.

The MA has been carefully designed to respond to two related aims: the first is to provide a particular experience in training for research in university or similar arenas; and the second is to deliver knowledge and skills required by social movements, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), environmental and political campaigns, and other civil society groups such as trade unions and think tanks.

This masters programme offers a unique and integrated set of modules: two ESRC recognised research methods training modules (qualitative and quantitative) delivered between Geography and the School of the Environment; a theoretical module designed to engage students with important radical thinkers whose works and ideas are essential knowledge for students taking the programme; a conceptual module on empire and case studies of resistance struggles from around the world; modules on researching and campaigning skills directly focused on activism and organisations involved in social campaigning; a more praxis oriented module focusing on strategies for implementing ideas; and finally an action research Dissertation through which students will undertake a substantive independent research project.

It should lead to some interesting dissertations but if you want a cosy nine-to-five job with lots of holiday and a good pension it probably isn't the course for you. Do you think that David Horwitz would approve? (Note: It thought linking to an al-Jazeerah editorial about Horowitz was a nice touch don't you thinkn?)