Structure and content

The scope of the Master's Programme in MAREEES is 120 ECTS credits and is designed to lead to a Master of Art (MA) degree in two years with full-time studies. We aim to tailor individual paths to strengthen our students’ knowledge and skills and help you to complete your studies systematically. Our academic staff supports you in preparing a personal study plan (PSP) and following it.
Content

The MAREEES as an area studies programme relies on interdisciplinary approach combining various fields of humanities and social sciences. This approach enables the students to gain a broad view of the cultural, political and societal changes in this area. In addition to the regional focus, the programme investigates the evolution of conceptual and theoretical approaches, as well as, institutional, political and cultural changes in a temporal context.

The MAREES program incorporates the global perspective with the regional phenomena and puts emphasis on direct and indirect challenges for societal, cultural and political sustainability. The program is structured around the various aspects of social, political, environmental, cultural resilience – in line with international definition of sustainability.

In addition to thematic studies, the MAREEES curriculum also covers major theoretical paradigms and methodologies within the humanities and social sciences. These theories are applied in practicum workshops.

Structure

The Master’s Programme in Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European Studies is taught fully in English. The programme approaches political and societal phenomena from a multidisciplinary perspective. Topics covered in the MAREEES curriculum include:

  • Regional conflicts and sources of insecurity
  • Global challenges and policy responses
  • Inequality, social tensions and welfare provision
  • Global migration, ideas and practices
  • Relations between states, civil societies and religions
  • Identities, nationalism and colonialism
  • Governance, the rule of law and the transformations of political systems
  • Environmental concerns, climate and energy politics.

Core studies (15 credits)

Core studies focuses on multi/interdisciplinary approaches within humanities, social sciences and area studies. Studies consists of introduction, major theories, methodologies as well as social, cultural and political processes. Courses that have been offered in this module:

  • Introduction to Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies, REE-301
  • Theories and Methods, REE-305

Global Processes and regional dynamics  (15 credits)

Global Processes and regional dynamics is to gain an understanding of REEES in a wider context utilising both process and phenomena approaches such as Norms and Ethics; Processes and flows and Reactions and Responses. Courses that have been offered in this module:

  • Public Administration and Governance in Post-Socialist Eurasia, REE-302
  • Global migration in Russia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, REE-303
  • Diversity and Governance: Civil Society, Religion and Nationalism, REE-304

Optional studies (15 credits)

Optional studies are based on student’s personal study plan created jointly with the personal study plan teacher. There is possibility to strengthen student’s disciplinary, theoretical and methodological and/or language skills.

Career Orientation (20 credits)

Career orientation consists of three courses focusing on working life skills. Module includes possibility of internship/traineeship and intensive course in REEE area or Finland.

Global Challenges  (20 credits)

Module focuses on global challenges connected to the REEE area. The themes in the module are society and resilience; security and power; environment and climate and contexts and identities. Courses that have been offered in this module:

  • Society and Resilience, REE-308
  • Security and Power, REE-309
  • How Europe got Russia wrong. Energy, violence, and the environment, REE-310
  • Methodological Approaches to Studying Identity, REE-311

MA Thesis seminar and Master’s thesis (5 credits+30 credits)

In the seminar students draws thesis plan, thesis supervisors are assigned during the seminar. Part of the seminar, students present their research plan as a poster in the international Aleksanteri Conference in second year autumn. In the master’s thesis students demonstrate that they can formulate relevant and interesting research question(s), create a coherent research design, analyze and produce research materials, and write a scientific research report.