Third Study Cycle
Social and Political Science (SPS) Ph.D. program, at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) offers a comprehensive and integrated doctoral degree that emphasizes socio-political knowledge, research and policy analysis. The program provides a sound knowledge, analytical tools and methodological training and offers rich specialization possibilities, especially by the completion of the dissertation. The program aims to educate, train and produce high quality social and political sciences researchers, analysts and policy makers. With a thematic concentration on Europe and the Balkans, the program stands out in South East Europe.
In spite of its young age, IUS strives to attract prospective graduate students. With this fact and the demand in mind, the SPS doctoral program is designed for international as well as local students who plan to receive a high quality education in Sarajevo, one of the most beautiful cities of the Balkans. The Ph.D. program aims to provide an integrated education in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary environments. The program favors a multi-faceted approach to research projects and dissertation many of which cut across traditional academic boundaries. The program provides an opportunity for candidates to work closely with professors in a particular field and to furthermore make narrow specialization by the completion of research projects, policy papers, scientific activities and the dissertation.
Doctoral courses are concerned with the current issues and how international political, legal and social institutions ought to respond to them by considering globalization and rapid social change. Moreover, the teaching staff at the Social and Political Sciences Department comprises of a motivated and dynamic professors that emphasize teaching, learning, theory, practice and research. The teaching staff is renowned nationally and internationally for its scholarly contributions to the various fields of study. Teaching staff use interactive and holistic teaching methodologies and allocate a considerable amount of time and effort to the well-being, upbringing and education of students.
SPS Ph.D. program provides an opportunity for candidates, primarily for master’s graduates in social and political sciences, to continue with their doctoral studies. The program is also open to qualified graduates from other programs whose masters theses are written in different but related fields. After successful completion of 60/120 ECTS (4+1 or 3+2) respectively at master’s level, students could register their Ph.D. program that requires the completion of altogether 180 ECTS.
The main objective of SPS doctoral program is to produce experts in the field of social and political sciences. Therefore the curriculum places significant importance on the research and methodological courses such as research methodology, policy analysis and doctoral dissertation preparation. Such courses provide the students with a solid theoretical understanding of research processes and practical knowledge of various research methods such as content analysis, historical analysis, observational field research, experimental research, comparative research methods and evaluation research.
The program also offers selective number of courses within the area of social and political sciences. Such courses are purposefully offered to provide students with key knowledge in social and political theory, comparative politics with an emphasis on Europe and the Balkans, political theory, governance, public policy, demography, civic society and foreign policy. Once doctoral candidates are equipped with research methods and policy analysis skills and socio-political knowledge, upon the completion of the coursework they can specialize furthermore by the dissertation. Therefore, upon the completion of this doctoral program candidates will become research experts and policy analysts who will be able to research and analyze various social and political topics. They will possess excellent critical and analytical abilities especially in relating theory with contemporary issues and case studies.
Objectives of the study program are:
· To educate, train and produce high quality social and political sciences researchers, analysts and policy makers;
· To produce area specialists who possess knowledge, skills and research abilities by both course work and the dissertation;
· To focus on current issue research and policy analysis related to political sciences, sociology and history;
· To offer interdisciplinary curriculum and supervision to meet students demands in terms of knowledge, research and policy skills;
· To emphasize on student’s abilities to critically assess gained knowledge and the research data in the process of writing research projects, policy papers and the dissertation;
· To advance student’s knowledge of sociological and political theories about social change, civil society, democratization and various social movements;
· To enhance students’ socio-political knowledge in the European Union and the Balkans.
At the completion of the Ph.D. program the students will be able:
· To apply knowledge, skills and research abilities in social and political sciences, especially in the area of narrow specialization by the dissertation;
· To initiate, plan, design and implement research and policy papers in social and political sciences;
· To analyze, assess, evaluate and synthesize complex ideas related to social and political sciences;
· To communicate effectively in presenting research and academic ideas of expertise in the class and to the wider circles of the academic community;
· To identify and resolve both theoretical and methodological problems;
· To critically analyze and evaluate various socio-political issues related to the European Union and the Balkans;
· To make an original contribution to the field through the completion of an original dissertation.
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Diploma and Degree Awarded |
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Profile |
Degree in Social and Political Sciences |
Degree in Bosnian Language |
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· Social and Political Sciences
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· Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
· Doktor društvenih nauka
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Program Curricula
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SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE (SPS)
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Course Group |
ECTS
Credits |
Course Code and Name |
ECTS
Credits |
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Required Courses
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24
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SPS601 |
Research Methodology in Social and Political Sciences |
6 |
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SPS602 |
Advanced Methods of Policy Analysis and Research |
6 |
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SPS603 |
Advanced Studies in Social and Political Theory |
6 |
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SPS604 |
Dissertation Preparation Seminar |
6 |
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Area Elective Courses
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24 |
SPS605 |
Ethnicity and Nationalism |
6 |
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SPS606 |
Governance and Democracy |
6 |
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SPS607 |
Society and Politics |
6 |
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SPS608 |
Advanced Studies of European Union |
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SPS609 |
Conflict Resolution and Foreign Policy |
6 |
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SPS610 |
Demographic Changes and Social Dynamism |
6 |
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SPS611 |
Democratization and New Social Movements |
6 |
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With the approval of an Academic Advisor students can take any other 4 elective courses from the related graduate programs |
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PhD Dissertation POLS 791 |
120 |
Must be completed during the last two years of the study |
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Scientific Activity |
12 |
Scientific Activity could be replaced by the completion of two journal articles, conference papers, policy papers or book chapters |
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Total |
180 |
180 ECTS credits are needed to graduate |
Employability and Transferable Skills
Interdisciplinary design of this graduate program has been influenced by the appreciation of a fact that interdisciplinary knowledge and skills lead to significant employment opportunities and the continuation of education. Therefore, with such diverse expertise, SPS Ph.D. graduates will be ready to seek a career in both public and private sectors. In the public sector, Doctors of Philosophy in Social and Political Sciences with their analytical skills, administrative competence and communication abilities are enabled to seek careers in federal, state and local government institutions, especially in public universities. The private sector also opens up a wide spectrum of potential career areas for the graduates of social and political sciences such as law, business, international organizations, nonprofit associations and organizations, management, journalism, research and teaching. Also, by completion of Ph.D. Program, graduates will be able to peruse the academic careers in both private and public academic institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and internationally. In addition, doctoral graduates will be able to work in international environments, run the independent research projects and analyze the key political ideas, organizations and public policies by using generic and subject specific skills. |