Development Studies (Master)

Graduates of the master’s programme in Development Studies have special knowledge of global transformations, structures of inequalities and their historical and current development. They are able to analyse and present complex correlations and deal with development in a systematic, independent and critical manner.  They have gained theoretical, methodological and communicative competences required for a career in academia and practice.

Study Programme

The master’s programme has the following structure: compulsory modules on the fundamentals of development studies and the methods in development studies, as well as a group of elective modules, aimed at a specialisation in transdisciplinary development studies. Students have to select 3 out of 9 specialisation modules, covering the following subject areas: aspects of development studies from a political science perspective; aspects of development studies from a sociological perspective; aspects of development studies from a cultural studies perspective; historical aspects; geographical and regional aspects; fields of practice and applied development cooperation; and transdisciplinary specialisation (students have the opportunity to replace one of the modules mentioned above with a specialisation module that they define, comprising courses from other degree programmes at the University of Vienna, other Austrian universities or courses completed during a semester abroad. The directorate of studies has to approve in advance.). Furthermore, students have to complete a compulsory module on transdisciplinary research and a compulsory master’s module.