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MA GEOGRAPHY: SPATIAL JUSTICE
- Qualification
- Master Of Arts Degree
- CAO/MU Apply code
- MHN66
- Award Type and NFQ level
- TAUGHT MASTERS (9)
- Study Mode
- Full time
- Closing Date
- 27 August 2027
Overview
The MA in Geography: Spatial Justice is designed for students who want to deepen their understanding of critical geographical ideas and themes and apply this knowledge to the most pressing societal and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Students will be encouraged to think geographically, develop strong critical thinking skills, undertake independent research in an area of specialist interest, and enhance their professional capabilities.
Through this programme, students will explore a range of geographical approaches to justice, including spatial, environmental, health, and place-based justice. Through cutting-edge research modules, they apply these approaches to specific problems and case studies such as decarbonisation, migration, mobility, and housing.
The Department’s long-standing, publicly engaged research has created an extensive network of civil society partners. The MA provides unique opportunities to work with these partners through innovative and immersive modules, where students collaborate on real-world projects. Our research-led and community-partnered teaching and learning model has been recognised nationally by the Irish Universities Association.
The MA in Spatial Justice can be taken either full time (1 year, MHN66) or part-time (2 years, MHN67). For the part time programme (MHN67) please go click here.
If you would like to receive updates about this programme, upcoming events, and postgraduate opportunities at Maynooth University, you can register your interest here.
Course structure
Duration: 1 year full-time
This MA is flexible in delivery, innovative in emphasis, and stresses experiential- and field-based learning opportunities for students to develop ethical research skills and other employability competencies. Teaching and learning takes the form of small-group seminars, collaborative and project-based learning, guest talks and workshops, and regular, immersive fieldwork.
Degree structure: 90 credits, taken over 1 year full-time (MHN66) or 2 years part-time (MHN67).
Students must take 70 compulsory credits, which develop competencies in field methods, spatial thinking, and theory and applied research methods in spatial justice. It also includes a 30-credit independent thesis focused on a topic of the student’s choosing as related to spatial justice.
Depending on the student's interests, s/he will take an additional 20 optional credits, with at least 10 credits in Geography and up to 10 credits of electives in Anthropology, Law, Media Studies and Sociology.
All modules are 100% continuous assessment, with a range of assessment types (academic essays, field research journals, applied research projects, mapping projects, blogs, vlogs and videos, field-based reports, individual and group presentations, other). Please see the list of possible classes in Course Finder.
Compulsory modules (70 credits)
GY607 Field School (10 credits)
GY608 Thinking Geographically (10 credits)
GY609 Thesis (30 credits)
GY619 Public Engagement (10 credits)
GY629 Spatial Justice: Geographies of Social & Environmental Change (10 credits)
Indicative Optional Modules in Geography (can select from 10 to 20 credits):
GY621 Dublin Urban Laboratory (10 credits)
GY626 Critical Ecologies (10 credits)
Indicative optional modules from other departments (can select up to 10 credits)
AN622G Winter School of Ethnography (5 credits, instructor approval required)
AN647 Foundations of Medical Anthropology (5 credits)
AN692 Anthropology and Development (10 credits)
AN693 Anthropology of Digital Media (10 credits)
AN694 Immigration and Diversity in Higher Education (5 credits)
LW634 Gender, Sexuality, Law (10 credits)
MD624 Irish Media History (10 credits)
MD632 Media Publics (10 credits)
SO617 Quantitative Analysis (10 credits)
SO620A Qualitative Analysis (10 credits)
Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually.
Important: The information on this page is for prospective students, MU current students and staff should use Programme Directory.
Careers after your Masters
Our graduates acquire valuable research, analytical and critical, spatial thinking, ethical and professional skills. This Masters programme provides students with a range of communication, research and other transferable skills that will be valuable in many careers including in administration, education, services, creative industries, and working with NGOs and local government authorities. A high proportion of our graduates go on to pursue fully-funded PhDs. This is what our former students thought:
“The Spatial Justice programme was a highly informative, pragmatic and rewarding experience which I would recommend to anyone interested in social and environmental issues at play both in Ireland and around the world. Despite coming from a media studies background the course structure provided a great base of theoretical knowledge applicable to both Irish and international contexts. With wide-ranging research directions found in the Geography department and the diligent support of staff there is great freedom to develop your personal academic interests across different methods and mediums. In this sense it also aligns with those coming from activist, journalistic or creative backgrounds who would like to extend their knowledge through a spatial lens. Pursuing a final research thesis was an incredibly rewarding experience. This has provided me with a solid springboard for funded PhD applications which I am currently pursuing. At the same time it has informed new directions for critical artistic practice I would like to explore.” Patrick Gifford, 2021-22
“Choosing to study the MA Spatial Justice was one of the best decisions I ever made! Having decided a career change was needed, I was looking for a course where I could explore a variety of interests from food systems to city planning to community development. The MA Spatial Justice delivered on this and more, covering a range of important and topical issues. I got to learn from passionate lecturers who are actively contributing to spatial justice causes and supported me greatly in my efforts to do the same. The skills and knowledge I gained from the course have led me to a job in community engagement and placemaking, where I can contribute to building a more equal and just society every day.” Nicola Whelan, 2021-22
Entry Requirements
Applicants must hold a minimum of a Bachelor Honours degree (NFQ Level 8) (or equivalent) with a minimum of a Second-Class Honours, Grade 1 (2:1) in Geography or a related discipline. such as Sociology, Architecture, Media Studies, Urban Planning, Anthropology, Political Sciences, Philosophy & English Literature. Applicants who hold a minimum of a Second-Class Honours, Grade 2 (2:2) in a cognate area may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you do not meet the standard entry requirements then you may be eligible to apply under the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Please click here for further information.
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here.
How to apply
Applications must be made via the MU Apply portal. Please click here to start your application.
When making your application, please ensure you prepare any documents listed below. You may be required to submit documents in two stages. You will be required to upload and submit the following documents with your application:
- Full academic transcripts for all semesters/ years completed to date
- Graduation Certificate if you have graduated
- A copy of your passport
- Up to date CV
You will be required to upload the following documents after you submit your application:
- Personal Statement (minimum 500 words on why you would like to study your chosen programme)
If English is not your first language, you may be required to upload evidence of English language proficiency. For information please click here.