Second cycle degree in

Cultural pluralism, social change and migrations

Class: LM-88 - Sociology and social research

2023 Sociology8
Class LM-88 - Sociology and social research
Duration 2 years
Branch Padova
Language Italian
Tuition fees and scholarships
Programme coordinator FRANCESCA SETIFFI
Access Open access with admission requirements

Next Calls for applications (international students) - A.Y. 2024/25:

  • 1st Call: 2 November 2023 - 2 February 2024
  • 2nd Call: 2 March - 2 May 2024
  • 3rd Call (ONLY EU and equated students): 2 June - 2 August 2024

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This course will train experts, prepared to operate in the management and control of social phenomena, in areas characterised by high cultural and social pluralism and in particular linked to the consequences of immigration. Students will develop a deep critical knowledge of changes related to human mobility and migration, cultural and religious pluralism, social dynamics caused by the multiplication of inequalities, the transformations of forms of social control and the ongoing reorganisation in the world of work and in institutions. Once graduated, you may work independently or as an employee, in associations, in NGOs or within organisations and institutions.

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Characteristics and objectives
The Master's Degree in Cultural pluralism, social change and migration aims at developing critical thinking about how social and cultural change affect human mobility, migration and other relevant topics, such as increasing cultural and religious pluralism, the relationship between social dynamics and inequalities and forms of power in the structure of the labor market.
All of these topics describe the conflicts of the contemporary historical era. They shed new light on how traditional categories should be re-framed to understand contemporary social change in depth. The course will give students the opportunity to develop the skills needed to understand the interconnections between social causes and to manage potential social conflicts due to the rapid transformation of society. The skillset provided by the Master's program will be extremely helpful for workers already employed in public and private institutions and for people who are interested in developing their careers in developing sectors, such as NGOs and cultural mediation.
The Master's program emphasizes social and cultural change. This perspective is based on a long sociological tradition that is characterized by many examples of excellent research and teaching activities at the University of Padova that have received recognition at the national and international levels (e.g., Master Programs, Research Centers, etc.).
The course is mostly meant for students with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology (L40). However, according to the admission criteria, it is open to students in Social Sciences and Humanities programs. The course provides students an overall introduction to main topics, such as globalization, migration, quantitative and qualitative research techniques and other mandatory courses related to social and cultural changes. Apart from mandatory courses, the Master's Degree gives the opportunity to students to choose from a list of free choice units on human mobility, family and gender, lifestyle, racism and other forms of conflicts, prisons and cultural and religious pluralism while paying particular attention to the sociology of Islam.
Students will have the opportunity to join a long list of laboratories in methodological themes and to develop their Master's Thesis with the course teacher and national stakeholders involved in the governance of cultural pluralism.

Occupational opportunities
The Master's Program provides the appropriate skills needed to become an expert in analysis and in the governance of social phenomena related to cultural pluralism as a consequence of migration processes.
Graduate students will acquire the skills needed to work in different sectors, such as NGOs, associations promoting specific projects related to schools, training, aid for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, health and labor, as well as cultural mediation, third party institutions, social services, local institutions, media and companies characterized by a strong emphasis on ethnic and cultural diversity. All these institutions and companies have a specific market in other European countries while operating in Italy as part of a potentially developing sector.
The Master's Program offers the opportunity to choose from a long list of courses. Some can be selected by students to acquire the number of credits needed to apply for teaching positions in public competitions in Social Sciences lyceums.