Location:

Colon, Costa Rica

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Media Studies

Program Overview

Program Description:

This MA programme is designed to enable students coming from diverse cultures and academic backgrounds to develop skills to manage the many complex ways in which media interact with conflict, peace and security. The new thinking about media coverage of conflict on international and local level is also studied and students can develop critical thinking around issues such as objectivity and ethics in news reporting and news gathering. In this programme students can also discuss how free, responsible media can help prevent conflict and build peaceful societies – and in so doing provide the international community and employers with informed individuals. Courses in this 42-credit MA programme are taught by UPEACE resident faculty and visiting professors who are prominent professionals and scholars in media affairs. Students who have completed the MA in Media, Conflict and Peace Studies will have acquired wide, systematic knowledge in the many ways media interact with peace, conflict and security. They will be able to go on to work in communication, post-conflict assistance or peace building through international organizations such as the UN or national governments, as well as in the media and academia. They will also have the skills to do media monitoring and content analysis with a media watchdog. The required courses are: PCS 6000 Foundation Course in Peace and Conflict Studies (3 Credits) MPS 6010 The Role of the Media in Conflict - Prevention and Peace Building - Introduction (3 Credits) MPS 6016 Research Methods (3 Credits) MPS 6022 Ethical Media Production and Peace (3 Credits) MPS 6027 Networks and New Media (3 Credits) ELECTIVES (3 Credits) Participants can choose an elective course offered by the UPEACE Institute MPS 6030 The Role of the Media in the Rwandan Genocide (2 Credits) MPS 6040 Media, Terrorism and Insurgency (3 Credits) MPS 6028 Media, Peace and Reconciliation (2 Credits) MPS 6026 Advanced New Media in the Arab World: the Jasmine Revolution and beyond (3 Credits) MPS 6014 Working in Conflict Areas – Field Training (3 Credits) MPS 6013 Practicum (3 Credits) MPS 7000 Graduation Project (8 Credits)

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

According to the UPEACE Charter, as approved by the General Assembly, "the University is established with a clear determination to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace". To this end, the University was authorized by the General Assembly, inter alia, "to grant master's degrees and doctorates" . This unique world-wide authorization to award academic degrees, recognized by all countries which are members of the General Assembly, has been the basis of UPEACE's work ever since. Building on the strength of this unique and universal international mandate, the University established an International Academic Council, composed of distinguished academics from around the world, to review, validate and ensure the highest academic standards of its programmes and courses. Since 2008 UPEACE has also been a full member of the National Accreditation System of Costa Rica (SINAES) and the Central American Higher Education Accreditation Council (ACAP).

Financial Aid:

No

Requirements:

Students enrolling in this programme are expected to have some professional experience in media and related matters, because the MA provides them with limited practical journalism training. The courses do provide the students with a focus on media and their role in the areas of peace, conflict and security; therefore, though a first degree in any discipline is acceptable, a degree in the social sciences or humanities is an advantage, especially in communications or journalism-related areas. All the courses are taught in English in which a high level of fluency is expected, but competence in a second language is also an advantage.