Master of Arts in Urban Cultures

Entidades parceiras: Universität Augsburg, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

General Objectives of the Course

1. To provide a high excellence training in the field of cultural and urban studies based on the dialogue between the social sciences and the humanities, highlighting the role of the latter in understanding urban complexity. 2. To offer a curriculum that incorporates theory and practice, emphasizing the importance of arts and culture for sustainable urban planning and management. 3. To offer a perspective that, taking into consideration the importance of public policies and urban governance, assumes the structuring role of imaginaries and aesthetics in shaping of urban identities; 4. To contribute to a transdisciplinary, transprofessional and transnational education of new generations of technicians, urban managers, and politicians for the cities; 5. To provide an internationally oriented training, based on the sharing of scientific knowledge, professional experiences and societal frameworks emerging from diverse urban contexts, namely from Europe and Latin America.

Admission Requirements

a) Holders of a degree or legal equivalent in the fields of geography, literature/cultural studies, ethnology, sociology, history, political science, urbanism, architecture or similar; b) Holders of foreign higher academic degree conferred following a 1st cycle of studies (CS), organized according to the principles of the Bologna Process by a State that adheres to this Process, in the referred areas c) Holders of a foreign higher academic degree that is recognized as meeting the objectives of the degree of licenciado by the scientific council (SC)) responsible for the CS of master in the areas mentioned; d) In duly justified cases, candidates may access the CS of master candidates who present a relevant scientific and professional curriculum and that, as such, is recognized by the SC responsible for the CS of master. All applicants must formally prove their proficiency in English (C1) and Portuguese (C1) or Spanish (C1).

Candidates should check the admission requirements available on this site, in addition to the information provided here.

Professional Goals

The international Master's programme in Urban Cultures is research-based and aims at the acquisition of interdisciplinary and trans-professional skills: 1) On the basis of their preliminary academic training, students are prepared for the management of transdisciplinary challenges that concern both the transfer of science to urban society and the inclusion of non-university knowledge and practices. 2) A special emphasis is placed not only on the European transnational horizon but also on the transatlantic horizon, enabling a transversal understanding of urban complexity that, beyond the local and the global, also encompasses the glocal dimension of urban cultures. 3) The content of the Master's programme focuses on the plurality of the meaning of culture, which transcends theatres, museums, concert halls, etc., critically including the reflective contribution on popular culture, the so-called subcultures and socio-ecological dynamics. 4) The interdisciplinary and international orientation of the programme gives students the opportunity to acquire intercultural and cross-disciplinary competencies. 5) By making their own foreign language experiences in other cities and cultural contexts, students can better identify and reflect on their own ethnocentric and logocentric models, becoming sensitive to the potential of inclusive urban cultures. This involves perceiving (aisthesis) urban "cultural heritage" in its holistic dimension.
Subsequent fields of activity for future Masters in Urban Cultures include integration as mediators and technical experts in Municipal, Intermunicipal, and Regional Cultural Offices; Government Ministries and Agencies; Cultural and heritage management offices and institutions; Companies in the cultural and creative fields; Cultural institutions (activity planning and community relations); Architectural, town planning, and urban planning offices; Public agencies in the field of sustainability; Public agencies responsible for equality, diversity and social inclusion policies; Municipal, inter-municipal and regional tourism agencies; Non-governmental organisations, third sector organisations, and civic movements.

Mode of Study

Face-to-face

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese; Spanish; English

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Since assessment is a pedagogical activity closely associated with teaching, it is intended to evaluate the skills and knowledge acquired by students; their ability to think critically, enunciate and solve problems; as well as their command of written and oral presentation. The teaching and learning philosophy of the course favours periodic assessment, under the terms defined in the Academic Regulations of the University of Coimbra (RAUC), article 109. In this sense, the following are possible elements of assessment: oral presentations in class; written or practical work, the completion of projects, individual or group, which may have to be defended orally, in a maximum of three elements. The classification of each student, for each curricular unit, is translated into a whole value between 0 and 20 points and those students that obtain a minimum final classification of 10 points are considered approved. Whenever the assessment of a curricular unit includes more than one element of assessment, the final mark is calculated from the marks obtained in each element of assessment, through a formula made public by the annual sheet of the curricular unit, according to article 109, paragraph 6, of the RAUC. The dissertation is assessed according to the Academic Regulations of the University of Coimbra. Classes may be held in Portuguese, Spanish or English. The written work and the dissertation may also be written and defended in one of three languages: English, Portuguese or Spanish. The language used in the evaluation is defined, case by case, by the student together with the coordinators of the master's programme and the teachers responsible for the curricular unit or the dissertation adviser. In the semesters taught at the University of Augsburg and at the University of Santiago de Compostela, the assessment regulations of the respective institutions are applied. The same is true for the assessment of the dissertation if the dissertation is carried out at one of these universities.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

At the end of the master, students will have acquired 1) skills of analysis, understanding and intervention on contemporary urban realities, based on the contributions of different subjects, in an innovative transdisciplinary approach; 2) knowledge in the field of urban studies that incorporate and relate sociological, geographic and humanities approaches on cities that allow them to capture not only the social and spatial dimensions of contemporary urban realities, but also the symbolic and aesthetic dimensions expressed in discourses and in cultural and creative urban dynamics; 3) skills to account for the intrinsic multidimensionality and plurality of urban phenomena, conceiving and mediating the action of different knowledges and professions associated with the intervention in cities and taking into consideration the diversity of urban contexts at the global scale.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra, under the terms set out in Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, in its current wording.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Decree-Law 74/2006 of 24 March, in its current wording

Graduation Requirements

The degree requires that the student has: i) completed the 120 ECTS foreseen in the study plan; ii) participated in the Summer School (to be held before the beginning of the third semester); iii) participated in the Student Colloquium (to be held at the end of the 4th quarter); defended his/her dissertation publicly.

Access to Further Studies

Access to PhD programmes in related scientific areas.

Study Programme

Urban Cultures

Academic year
2023-2024

Course Type
2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme

Qualification Awarded: Mestre

Duration: 2 Year(s)

ECTS Credits: 120.0

Category: Advanced specialization second cycle

Applications

Call for Applications

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2023-07-31 a 2029-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior