Courses / Course

Students should normally have earned a 2.1 or above in Geography (either subject degree in Geography or overall) or related disciplines. A personal statement is required so the Director can give consideration to applicants with relevant academic, work or professional experience if coming from a different background than the social sciences and/or if earned a 2.2 mark.

Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level.

Minimum English language requirements:
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. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.

Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

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)

Duration: 1 year full-time

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. Please check periodically for updates.

Year 1

GEOGRAPHY: SPATIAL JUSTICE The MA in Geography: Spatial Justice is designed for students who wish 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 empowered to think geographically, to develop their critical thinking skills, undertake independent research in an area of specialist interest, and significantly enhance their professional skills.  Through this programme, students will become familiar with a range of geographical perspectives on justice, including spatial, environmental, health and place-based justice. Through cutting-edge research modules, they will apply these perspectives to specific problems and case studies, including decarbonisation, migration, mobility and housing.  Through its publicly engaged research, the department has developed an extensive network of public engagement partners. The MA provides unique public engagement opportunities with these civil society partners through its innovative and immersive modules. Students will work together with these partners to collaborate and develop real-world projects. Our research-led and community-partnered teaching and learning approach has been recognised nationally by the Irish University 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.   GYSJF6 - GEOGRAPHY: SPATIAL JUSTICE Credits: 90 Not compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT AN692 10 2 ANTHROPOLOGY OF DIGITAL MEDIA AN693 10 2 DUBLIN URBAN LABORATORY GY621 10 2 FIELD SCHOOL GY607 10 1 GENDER, SEXUALITY AND LAW: COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES LW634 10 1 IRISH MEDIA HISTORY MD624 10 1 MEDIA PUBLICS: DIGITAL MEDIA, PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND POLITICAL FORMATIONS MD632 10 2 MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY AN698 10 1 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND SPATIAL JUSTICE GY619 10 2 SPATIAL JUSTICE: GEOGRAPHIES OF SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE GY629 10 2 THEORISING TRANSITIONS SO694 10 1 THEORY IN ANTHROPOLOGY AN675A 10 1 THESIS GY609 30 Year-Long THINKING GEOGRAPHICALLY GY608 10 1 UNDERSTANDING DIGITAL SOCIETY GY625A 10 1

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

For further information on Postgraduate options please go to the Graduate Studies site