GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
Master’s Program in Social Sciences - Description
The objective of the Free University of Tbilisi Master's Program in Social Sciences (MSS) is to provide students with the opportunity to conduct problem-oriented, interdisciplinary research aligned with international standards. Both the content and structure of the program are designed to facilitate this goal, placing great emphasis on the systematic exploration of research problems chosen by students based on their interests, with active support from tutors and advisors.
In addition to the wide disciplinary scope and thematic diversity offered by the program's curriculum, the Master's Program in Social Sciences provides specific thematic orientations. Within these orientations, students can develop focused research projects with narrow thematic specialization. These thematic orientations encompass the analysis of regional and international policy issues, along with discussions on regional cultural studies concepts such as nationalism, identity, politics of memory, religion and politics, ethnic conflicts, social conflicts, socio-cultural transformation, and others.
The program aims to advance this type of research through the utilization of a synthetic interdisciplinary research methodology grounded in the epistemological traditions of sociology, anthropology, international relations, and political science.
To fully pursue their research interests and enhance their career prospects, students are provided with the opportunity to pursue extracurricular education beyond the main curriculum and choose to study one of the following foreign languages: Arabic, Persian, Chinese, Turkish, Japanese, German, French, or Spanish.
Upon successful completion of the 2-year program, the graduate is awarded the qualification - Master of Social Sciences.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Master's Program in Social Sciences is designed to fulfill the program's objectives and consists of 125 credits distributed across following components:
- Common Mandatory Component - through the courses of the common mandatory component, students will acquire proficiency in academic and scientific writing. They will gain both theoretical and practical experience essential for conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Furthermore, they will develop the ability to formulate research questions using fundamental and contemporary conceptual approaches in social and political sciences. Finally, they will study the methodology required for preparing a master's thesis.
- Field of Study Mandatory Component - this component comprises three mandatory modules. A module entails a multi-component, complex undertaking and consists of two essential parts:
- a) Tutorial, which is the main and principal component of the module. Within the framework of the module tutorial, the student engages in group and individual sessions with the head of the module (tutor).
- b) Elective subject, which offers students an opportunity, under the guidance of the tutor and/or advisor, to acquire knowledge that aligns with their interests and is relevant to their research topic.
- Research Component - given the program's emphasis on fostering individual research, a significant portion of the curriculum is dedicated to independent work conducted by students under the guidance of their academic advisors and with the support of other faculty members involved in the program.
- Master's Thesis - the thesis is completed at the final stage of the program, in which the student synthesizes acquired theoretical knowledge, analytical skills and academic/field research and techniques and presents the results of their independent research.
HOW TO APPLY TO THE MASTER'S PROGRAM IN SOCIAL SCIENCES?
Applicants with a background in any field of study are welcome to apply. To complete the application candidates must:
- Overcome the minimum competence threshold in the Unified Masters Examination
- Have at least B2 level English language competence
- Fill out the Free University Master’s Program Application
- Interview at the Free University of Tbilisi
Advice to the applicants:
Your motivation letter is the most important part of the application. Based on this part of the application the admissions committee will select applicants for the interview. Try to formulate your interests and motivations with coherence and clarity; outline your research interests, scientific questions you want to pursue and professional goals that this program helps you to accomplish. The word limit for the motivation letter is 700-1500 words. Your letter will be evaluated on clarity, argumentative logic, motivation, language and style
SELECTION CRITERIA
The admissions committee will assess applications according to the following criteria:
- Clarity and Logic
- Motivation
- Articulation / Expression
- Conviction
TUITION FEE
The semester fee of the master's program is 987.5*3 (variable) = 2962.5 GEL.
Tuition fees are paid per semester - in four equal payments.
ABOUT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
The Free University Graduate School of Social and Natural Sciences is a key structural element where scientific-research activities are integrated into the educational process.
The Graduate School combines the theory-heavy Master's and PhD programs of the Free University of Tbilisi, which are focused on the development of research and the creation of new scientific knowledge. These programs are:
- Master’s Program in Social Sciences
- PhD Program in Social Sciences
- Joint Master's Program in Natural Sciences with the Agricultural University of Georgia
- Joint PhD Program in Biology with the Agricultural University of Georgia
- Joint PhD Program in Chemistry with the Agricultural University of Georgia
- Joint PhD Program in Physics with the Agricultural University of Georgia
As the Master's Program in Natural Sciences, PhD Program in Chemistry, PhD Program in Biology and PhD Program in Physics are implemented by the Free University of Tbilisi and the Agricultural University of Georgia, the academic staff of both universities are involved in the management of the programs:
- Professor Giorgi Jorjadze of the Free University of Tbilisi is head of the physics component of the Master's Program in Natural Sciences and the PhD Program in Physics.
- Professor Nina Kulikova of the Agricultural University of Georgia is head of the biology component of the Master's Program in Natural Sciences.
- Professor Giorgi Muskhelishvili of the Agricultural University of Georgia is head of the PhD Program in Biology.
- Professor Revaz Korashvili of the Agricultural University of Georgia is head of the chemistry component of the Master's Program in Natural Sciences and the PhD Program in Chemistry.
The Graduate School's concept is inspired by the Anglo-Saxon model, a departure from the typical approach applied in Georgia. Its operations strongly embody the Free University of Tbilisi's research mission, adhering to three core principles of interdisciplinarity, applicability and internationality, both structurally and in terms of content.
The curricula of the programs are designed in such a way as to facilitate the creation of new scientific knowledge within the framework of individual research endeavors. This aspiration implies:
- An individualized approach to research
- An emphasis on interdisciplinarity and cross-discipline methodological frameworks
- The creation of valuable and original knowledge that meets international academic standards (as opposed to simply adapting existing paradigms to local contexts)
The structure of the PhD programs is particularly conducive to interdisciplinary as well as multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research. It achieves this goal through several institutionalized mechanisms:
- Committee compositions based on the principle of interdisciplinarity
- International collaborations
- Methodological concept of the curricula
The aspiration to generate interdisciplinary and original knowledge is evident at various stages of the operation of PhD programs:
- During the admission process for PhD programs, where candidates are required to submit research proposals demonstrating originality. Admission decisions are based on evaluations by members of the Dissertation Council.
- Throughout the implementation of the research component of the curriculum, during which PhD students present their work to a committee for evaluation at each stage of research (on average twice per semester). The committee assesses the research work/activities based on international scientific standards.
- Dissertation Committees may consist of Dissertation Council members and invited specialists. The committees created for admissions to PhD programs and for the evaluation of the research component are always assembled taking into account the principle of interdisciplinarity.
Dean
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