The Postgraduate Degree of Specialization

General information: The Postgraduate Degree of Specialization

In order to receive the postgraduate degree of specialization of the School of Political Sciences, students are required to successfully attend six (6) courses of the postgraduate studies program. In each course, assessment is based on written or oral examinations, the submission of essays or a combination of the aforementioned methods. In general, priority is given to the preparation of essays with the use of Greek and international bibliography and to the development of associated skills in fieldwork and/or the effective control of sources.

Eligible for applying are graduates of Greek or foreign universities who have majored in Political Science or relevant fields of study.

All eligible applicants for admission to the Postgraduate Programme are required to:

  • Submit proof of their proficiency in a foreign language (English, French or German) or Greek if they are not Greek citizens.
  • Take a written examination relevant to their chosen field of specialization.
  • Participate in an interview with the Graduate Board of the School.

All successful applicants are required to:

  • Attend the courses and fulfill the assignments of their chosen field of specialization for the first two semesters of study, and
  • Submit a dissertation by the end of the third semester.

Subject areas

The School of Political Sciences offers programs of study in four subject areas:

  • Political theory and philosophy
  • Political analysis
  • Political history
  • Governance

Political theory and philosophy: Covering the history of ideas from antiquity up until late modernity, this orientation focuses on modern and contemporary political theory and philosophy including the study of ideologies and political discourses. It endorses a multi-dimensional methodological perspective in order to encourage critical and independent thinking and to provide the necessary skills for a reflexive analysis of political ideas and projects.

Political analysis: This orientation purports to study political antagonism in its various dimensions. Emphasis is placed in the agency of individual and collective actors (including parties, movements, pressure groups, etc.), the effects of institutional settings and opportunity structures (electoral systems, participation, etc.) and political identification. Survey methods, content analysis and quantitative research form the methodological kernel of this subject area.

Political history: : In this orientation, the focus is on examining Greek and international political issues, issues from a predominantly historical perspective. The comparative aspect also plays a central role, while special emphasis is given to the place of Greece within broader historical, cultural and political frameworks

Governance: Students following the Governance subject area will be familiarised with the national and international framing of institutional systems, the different levels (local, regional, etc.) of state functioning, the various types of public administration models as well as issues of strategic design within state institutions. They will also be encouraged to interact – through participant observation – with the institutions under examination.

Learning outcomes

Upon graduating from the postgraduate program of the School of Political Sciences, graduates are equipped with:

  • The knowledge pertaining to their chosen specialization, allowing them to map and understand political phenomena with advanced analytical/theoretical competence.
  • The required tools and methods, originating from various analytical/ philosophical research traditions in political science and related disciplines, permitting them to arrive at consistent and innovative accounts of political life.
  • The intellectual/critical skills allowing them to act with scientific integrity, creativity and confidence in complex academic and professional contexts.
  • The practical skills necessary for the successful collection and evaluation of complex evidence, the systematic processing and synthesis of information from a variety of sources (conventional and electronic), the sustained scientific questioning and development of arguments in written and oral discourse in both Greek and a foreign language, the intelligent tackling of multiple challenges in a comprehensive way, the efficient completion of individual and group assignments, as well as for participating in the design and implementation of research and professional projects with an advanced feeling of social and democratic responsibility

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERESTED STUDENTS FROM ABROAD:

If or when you hold a first degree from a recognized university you can submit an application and take part in the entry examinations. For foreign students good knowledge of Greek is required – can you cover this requirement?

At any rate, information about learning Greek is accessible from here:

http://smg.web.auth.gr/wordpress/?lang=en