Master's Programme in Ageing and Social Change, 120 credits

Introduction

The Ageing and Social Change Studies master’s programme (60/120 credits) is a second cycle programme that leads to a Master’s degree with Ageing and Social Change as the main field of study. The programme educates a next generation of managers, advisors, policy makers, experts and researchers in Sweden, Europe and beyond, and it enables graduates to generate impact in various key fields of the society. It opens professional perspectives in research, policy, and practice for its graduates, and it emphasizes the increased internationalisation of scopes and competences. The programme graduates are prepared for professional careers working with various aspects from running policy programmes to scientific research.  

Ageing is one of the key issues in today’s changing societies, which requires more research-based understanding as well as knowledge for adequate policies. The Ageing and Social Change Studies master’s programme (60/120 credits) offer students the needed skills for both. Ageing and Social Change Studies relate individual and population ageing to overall social, economic, political, and cultural change, to new structures of inequality and policies addressing them. The specific focus on interdependencies of policies, welfare institutions, populations’ dynamics and individual lives is at the heart of this programme, which takes a broad and integrated social science perspective on contemporary changing ageing societies. This programme is momentous regarding its degree of internationalisation and multidisciplinarity, and sustainable in its hybrid structure based on digital and web-based learning, involving a fusion of onsite and distance learning.

The programme is characterised by progression in both knowledge and skills in Ageing and Social Change. The courses also provide a solid foundation for further studies and research towards a PhD and beyond. This includes conceptual, planning, management, and evaluative activities on a variety of levels; e.g., in governmental institutions and international public organisations like, intergovernmental agencies and departments of policy and planning at EU, state, and local levels, as well as in public institutions for social policy and policy consulting. In addition, also in specialist departments of national and international institutions and associations dealing with the programmes’ issues as well as in research institutes and universities in scientific policy-oriented research, and teaching. Finally, also in stakeholder organisations, NGOs, private think tanks and consultancies, companies and administrations.

Aim

Qualifications according to the Swedish Higher Education Act

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master of Science (60 hp) the student shall:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of Ageing and Social Change, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and  
• demonstrate specialised knowledge about data sources, statistical and policy analysis methods and interpretation of complex information in Ageing and Social Change.

For a Degree of Master of Science (120 hp) the student shall:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of Ageing and Social Change, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and  
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in Ageing and Social Change.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master of Science (60 hp) the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and analyse, assess, and deal with complex phenomena, issues, and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

For a Degree of Master of Science (120 hp) the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess, and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information,
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work,
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master of Science (60 hp) the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the field of Ageing and Social Change informed by relevant disciplinary, social, and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for ongoing learning.

For a Degree of Master of Science (120 hp) the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the field of Ageing and Social Change informed by relevant disciplinary, social, and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for ongoing learning.

Content

The master’s programme in Ageing and Social Change Studies (60/120 credits) is an integrated one- or two-year full-time study programme with opportunities for individual specialization. In the first two semesters of the two-year track, students follow mandatory courses of theoretical and conceptual, as well as analytical and methodological profiles in research and social policy themes. Students on the one-year track combine courses and a master’s thesis work (15 credits) during the two semesters. 

In the first and second semester, the courses contain an historical and theoretical introduction of the ageing societies, involving sociological, economic, health science, demographic, philosophical, technological, and psychological perspectives. Moreover, the course content provides insight into policy oriented ageing research between the micro, meso and macro levels of societies. Themes include welfare state, life course policies, pensions, health and care, family, intergenerational relations. The courses inform about increasing economic inequality and accelerated population ageing as key features of contemporary societies between regional and global perspectives by looking into intersections between gender, social class and ethnicity. Moreover, the policy perspective is further elaborated, and the courses address various policy areas. Courses introduce students to data and methods for policy oriented social science research on Ageing and Social Change. Moreover, they provide basic competences in policy analysis, impact and transferrable skills. 

Students, who study on a one-year track write a thesis in the second half of term 2 and attend regular colloquium meetings during this time. On the two-year track, the programme offers further competences in Scandinavian, European and global policies in the field of ageing, policy analysis, and transferrable skills. Additionally, courses provide knowledge in advanced policy analysis and skills. 

In the third semester, for students on the 2-year track, the programme leads to individual specialization through studies abroad, research or policy internship and elective courses. 

Students can choose to carry out their third semester while studying abroad. Students wishing to take advantage of this possibility must consult with the programme director in order to make sure credits will be transferred. Alternatively, students can choose a self-organised specialized internship during the first half of the third semester. The organization is selected by the student and the internship needs to be approved by the programme director.  Finally, students may include elective courses on advanced level (for a total of 15 credits). Selection of such courses is made in discussion with the programme director and should enable the acquisition of individual specialization.

The fourth semester is devoted to the writing of the master’s thesis and to the participation in regular thesis colloquium meetings. The master’s thesis regularly involves a small-scale research study.

The heading “Curriculum” contains a list of courses included in the programme. The course syllabuses for these describe in more detail the contents, teaching and working methods, and examination.

Teaching and working methods

The programme uses teaching models involving onsite and online group work, digital learning, participation in international webinars, production of blogs, online talks, and other types of audio-visual inputs into this hybrid education. The hybrid design of the programme implies that students must interact with their teachers and fellow students via a digital classroom and by way of electronic channels. Therefore, the students must have access to suitable electronic hardware and the internet, preferably via a broadband system, for the entire time of their studies. Consequently, students are expected to participate in instructions, both on campus and online according to the protocols described in the respective course plans. Participation in at least two full study weeks per semester at Linköping University is mandatory for all students. The pedagogical approach emphasizes the interactive teaching and communication with a value of variable teaching methods and examination types. Students are expected to actively participate and take responsibility for their studies in permanent exchange with staff on site as well as with international experts from education, research and policy networks. In addition to their thesis and course work, students follow a schedule of thematic seminars (ISAR seminar series). Students are also expected to participate in regular thesis colloquium meetings. Support structures such as continuous work in study groups as well as tutoring is offered. While work in study groups refers to students’ mutual exchange and support, tutoring involves academic support provided by teaching staff to support students in reaching the study goals.  

The above as well as other transferrable skills such as writing policy briefs are incorporated in course work.

The course syllabuses describe in more detail the contents, teaching and working methods, and examination.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
• At least 5 ECTS credits passed in Quantitative Methods or Statistics
• At least 5 ECTS credits passed in Social Sciences
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Threshold requirements

In order to be admitted to the one year master thesis students must have passed 22.5 ECTS credits within the master’s programme in Ageing and Social Change (F7MAG), with at least 15 credits from the Ageing and Social Change as interdisciplinary social science (7.5 credits) and Researching the ageing society I (7.5 credits).

In order to get access to the third semester, students must have successfully passed at least 37.5 credits from the first-year courses of which 15 credits has to be from Ageing and Social Change as Interdisciplinary Social Science, (7.5 credits) and Researching the Ageing Society I - Methods in Ageing and Social Change (7,5 credits). 

In order to get access to the fourth semester students must have successfully passed 75 credits from the first three semesters, 22,5 credits of which must be from the following courses: Ageing and Social Change Studies as interdisciplinary social science (7,5 credits), Researching the ageing society I (7,5 credits), Policies and policy consulting in the ageing society (7,5 credits). Detailed further information can be found in the course plan.

Degree requirements

The student will be awarded a Degree of Master of Science (120/60 hp) in Ageing and Social Change provided all course requirements are completed and that the student fulfils the general and specific eligibility requirements including proof of holding a Bachelor's (kandidat) or a corresponding degree. Completed courses will be listed in the degree certificate.  

A degree certificate will be issued by the faculty board on application by the student. A diploma supplement will be included as an appendix to the degree certificate.

Degree in Swedish

Filosofie master-/magisterexamen med huvudområdet åldrande och social förändring

Degree in English

Master of Science (60/120 credits) with a major in Ageing and Social Change

Specific information

Teaching language

The teaching language is English.
 

Technical requirements

The student must have access to email and the Internet. All courses are presented in a variety of hybrid formats. To ensure a hybrid learning with a combination of onsite and online activities and to actively participate in training and communicating with fellow students and teachers, students must have access to adequate hardware and software. Information about any special requirements that may be needed for a course can be found in the syllabus for each course.

Transferred credits

Decisions about transferring credit are taken by the faculty board, or by a person designated by the board, after application from the student.

Other information

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this programme syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.