UMH - Master's in Research in New Anthropology Trends: Risk Scenarios and Postdevelopment Alternatives

The Master's in Research in New Anthropology Trends: Risk Scenarios and Postdevelopment Alternatives program theoretically and epistemologically prepares for the production of knowledge that is critical of and alternative to hegemonic development models. It considers the problematization of society from one of the consequences of globalization: the globalization of risk. It combines the teaching and learning from classic methodologies for transformative social action (PAR, popular education) with new techniques of social research, with special emphasis on audiovisual and virtual production. It also bets on the potentiality of knowledge for the transformation of knowledge itself and the society that generates it.

Career opportunities

Regulated profession: No

This master's program is research oriented and entitles access to PhD programs.

Notwithstanding, it also trains professionals who work in the fields of development cooperation, communications, social economics, social intervention.

Curriculum

ECTS credits: 60

Core	Required	Electives	External internships	Final Master's Project
0	42	0	0	18

Design

The curriculum is structured throughout a single 60-ECTS credit academic year, taught over two semesters. Its credits are distributed in 3 modules, 5 types of subject matter, and 12 courses. All of its subject matter is required.

The Theoretical Module is divided into two types of subject matter. The first, Risk Scenarios, lies theoretically in the most recent debate where anthropology deals with situations of risk in contemporary society and proposes the applicability of this perspective to research in the empirical contexts of uncertainty, vulnerability, illness, or crisis. The second, Postdevelopment Alternatives, introduces the theoretical debate brought up in anthropology to review the west centrist development model and incorporates into the analysis the discussion and practices that social movements are proposing as alternatives to the neoliberal economic model.

The Methodological Module provides methodological and technical resources necessary for conducting the research and completing the Final Master's Project by articulation between the theory, research, and praxis. This is organized around two types of subject matter. Interactive Anthropology introduces the student to ethnographic research and inter- and proactive research. New Tendencies in Social Anthropology presents some of the research methods and techniques that are innovating most in the registry, analysis, and interpretation of the information in risk scenarios in globalization (cyberanthropology, audiovisual anthropology, and hypertextuality).

The Research Module is concentrated in the second semester and is focused on completion of the Final Master's Project. The student's research work is complemented by research seminars.

Courses

Subject matter	Course	ECTS credits	Type	Year/Semester
				1
				F	S
FINAL MASTER'S PROJECT
	FINAL MASTER'S PROJECT
		FINAL MASTER'S PROJECT	18	Final Master's Proj.		■
METHODOLOGICAL
	AUDIOVISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY
		AUDIOVISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY	4.5	Required		■
	CYBERANTHROPOLOGY: NEW ETHNOGRAPHIES AND CYBERSPACE
		CYBERANTHROPOLOGY: NEW ETHNOGRAPHIES AND CYBERSPACE	3	Required	■
	HYPERTEXTUALITY AND NEW DIALOGIC METHODS
		HYPERTEXTUALITY AND NEW DIALOGIC METHODS	4.5	Required		■
	METHODOLOGY FOR ACTION
		METHODOLOGY FOR ACTION	4.5	Required	■
	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS AND ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
		QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS AND ADVANCED TECHNIQUES	3	Required	■
	SEARCH FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES
		SEARCH FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES	3	Required		■
THEORETICAL
	ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES AND SOLIDARITY STRATEGIES IN TIMES OF CRISIS
		ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES AND SOLIDARITY STRATEGIES IN TIMES OF CRISIS	4.5	Required	■
	EQUALITY, GENDER, VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
		EQUALITY, GENDER, VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION	3	Required	■
	GLOBALIZATION RISKS
		GLOBALIZATION RISKS	3	Required	■
	POST-DEVELOPMENT AND COUNTER-DEVELOPMENT
		POST-DEVELOPMENT AND COUNTER-DEVELOPMENT	3	Required	■
	POST-ORIENTALISM, NEW AGE AND NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
		POST-ORIENTALISM, NEW AGE AND NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS	3	Required	■
	VULNERABILITY FROM THE SOCIAL THEORY OF THE BODY
		VULNERABILITY FROM THE SOCIAL THEORY OF THE BODY	3	Required	■

Competencies

General competencies

Analytical and critical capacity to define any problems in scenarios as contemporary as those of the risk in globalization.
Ability for designing alternatives for social transformation from post- and counter-development approaches.
Mastery of theoretical, analytical, and methodological knowledge necessary for detecting the potential and limits of different alternatives in social transformation processes.
Skills for applying the most appropriate research techniques for the practice of inter- and proactive anthropology.
Ability to analyze, evaluate, and assess different scenarios of risk, identify problems, interpret data, and formulate solutions applying action methodologies that privilege the point of view of the actor.
Ability to communicate findings in the field of risk and development - and the latest knowledge and rationale that sustain them - to specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
Ability to update, consolidate, and integrate new knowledge to improve professional practice using continuous self-learning techniques and improvements and critical analysis.
Critical capacity for social analysis of the causes and consequences of discrimination, respecting diversity between persons and, especially, equality between men and women.

Specific competencies

Mastery of methodological approaches, analysis and interpretation of social and cultural phenomena that occur around risk.
Mastery of the approaches critical to the concept of west centrist development, from post-development and counter-development.
Ability to recognize different constructions of the body in different contexts and how situations of risk and vulnerability develop from them.
Academic mastery of the perspective of gender as an epistemological field and its application as analysis methodology and transformation of the discriminatory social reality.
Mastery of the analysis of economic institutions within broader cultural configurations, as well as logical and practical economic alternatives and their possible applications.
Ability to assess causes and consequences occurring in cultural change, as well as the factors that motivate the emergence of socio-cultural movements.
Ability to research about the technological platform of the Internet, the everyday nature of cybernaut subjects, and social uses of new technologies within diverse contexts.
Expertise of audiovisual media as a tool for social research in anthropological research work and in compilation, presentation, and analysis projects.
Application of participatory and interactive methodologies developed in the field of applied anthropology.
Skills for obtaining and organizing information, carrying out bibliographic searches, and states of the matter.
Assessment and application of ethnomethodology and digital contents in social and cultural analysis.
Ability to develop and apply network studies and discourse analysis on vulnerability, risk, and post-development.
Development and implementation of post-development strategies in contexts of social change.
Ability to write a scientific text from data compiled in ethnographic fieldwork.

Access and Admissions

Access

For access to official master's education, applicants must hold either an official Spanish university degree or one conferred by a higher education institution in a country belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) that entitles access to master's education in such country.

Access may also be granted to those possessing a degree from an educational system outside the EHEA, without requiring its homologation, but following verification by the UMH that the degree represents an educational level that is equivalent to the corresponding official Spanish university degree and that it entitles access to graduate education within the issuing country.

Access this way does not mean, under any circumstance, homologation of the degree the interested party holds, or its recognition for anything besides acceptance into a master's program.

Admissions

The program's 40 places are distributed in the following manner:
Classroom: 15-20 places
Distance: 20-25 places

This program has an interdisciplinary vocation and so although it is preferably directed at anthropology graduates, it is open to other graduates within the field of social sciences and the humanities, to experts in development, and to experts in fields related to social intervention.
Selection criteria for program applicants:
- Academic transcript (50%)
- Application essay (20%)
- Experience in fields related to those in the master's program (20%)
- Knowledge of English (10%)

Schedule

Classroom instruction takes place:
Monday thru Friday from 17:00 to 20:00
(On Fridays beginning in January classes will end at 21:00)

This schedule is illustrative and may be subject to change.

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Faculty: Master's in Research in New Anthropology Trends: Risk Scenarios and Postdevelopment Alternatives

Doctorates providing access:

ECTS credits: 60

ECTS credits