International Sociology
Source: https://english.spbu.ru/admission/programms/graduate/international-sociology Parent: https://english.spbu.ru/admission/programms/graduate
39.04.01 In English
Level of education Master
Type of instruction Full-time
Duration 2 years
With additional qualification 'Specialist in National and Religious Relations'
Programme description
- The Master's degree programme 'International Sociology' (with the additional qualification 'Specialist in National and Religious Relations'), offered by St. Petersburg State University, is designed to train competent specialists capable of analysing pressing issues in contemporary society. These include the pressures of globalisation processes, the economic and political interdependence of nations on the international stage, emerging economic, social, and environmental challenges and risks, issues related to European integration, and rapidly increasing migration flows
- The University's robust research infrastructure for empirical sociological studies – encompassing a sociological clinic, a laboratory for public opinion survey, and a resource centre for sociological and internet research – is complemented by a large body of experts in all sociological sub-fields. Along with a wide number of initiative-driven educational and research centres, ties with leading universities, research and educational institutions, and public and commercial organisations, all this unique environment provides students with exceptional opportunities for professional placements and subsequent career advancement
- The programme aims to train competent researchers, analysts, and specialists with expert knowledge of complex social, political, economic and cultural processes in today's globalising societies
The programme ensures:
- A creative approach to learning, underpinned by modern educational technologies
- The development of skills for designing and implementing highly productive human resource management systems
- Proficiency in applying research methods and techniques to the study of contemporary societies
- Preparation for a successful professional career
Programme graduates are equipped to address pressing social issues at regional, national, and transnational levels, which are linked to the functioning of diverse economic and societal reproduction models, the challenges of globalisation across European states, European integration processes, the exacerbation of social inequalities from a global perspective, increasing cultural diversity, and the emergence of socio-economic, ethnic, and religious tensions worldwide.
Main courses
- Transnational Migration and Policies of Exclusion/Integration
- Regimes of Production and Consumption in the Global Economy
- Functioning of International Labour Markets and Employment Policy
- Cultural Diversity, Public Communication, and Multiculturalism Policy: A Global Perspective
- Methodology and Methods of Sociological Research
- Social Differentiation and Global Social Inequalities
- Comparative Sociology
Elective courses:
- Russian as a Foreign Language
- Chinese Language (online course)
- Intellectual Property Law in the Digital Age (online course)
- University Adaptation and Study Skills (distance learning course)
- University Life: Fundamentals of Professional Ethics (online course)
Our Advantages
- The English-language master’s programme ’International Sociology’ (with the additional qualification of ’Specialist in National and Religious Relations’) will be of particular interest to researchers focusing on contemporary European development, encompassing the Europeanisation of politics, the transformation of the European market system, shifts in social structures, cultural differentiation within Europe, and its global perception
- Students of the programme regularly participate in research projects at SPbU and other research centres, where they gain practical experience in applying sociological research methodologies
- The programme’s core disciplines are delivered by leading Russian teachers and researchers. Graduate students participate in winter and summer schools organised by educational and research institutions, undertake placements at major research centres and international organisations, and have the opportunity to complete semester-long practical training at top-tier universities
- Graduates acquire knowledge of a standard that meets international standards for sociology master’s degrees
- The programme provides specific preparation and formal recommendations for master’s graduates aiming to continue their studies at doctoral programmes in Russia’s leading universities
- Upon successful defence of their final qualifying work, authors of the most outstanding graduation projects are offered the opportunity to publish their research outcomes in prominent Russian and international scholarly journals
Teaching staff
- V. Ilyin — Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Professor at the Department of Sociology of Culture and Communication and a renowned scholar specialising in social research methodology, sociology of culture, sociology of everyday life, youth sociology in Russian metropolises, and consumption sociology. He has led numerous research projects and is the author of extensive scholarly publications, including works published abroad
- D. Ivanov — Doctor of Sociology, Professor, Head of the Department of Theory and History of Sociology. He represents a new generation of Russian sociologists specialising in cutting-edge trends of societal development. He is author of original concepts of society’s virtualisation and glam-capitalism which evoked a wide response in academic community
- A. Khokhlova — Candidate of Sciences in Sociology. Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology of Culture and Communication. She is recognised as one of Russia’s leading specialists in urban space studies
- P. Lisitsyn — Candidate of Sciences in Sociology, Acting Head of the Department of Comparative Sociology. He is a prominent Russian researcher specialising in the analysis of migration processes and transnationalism
- N. Tregubova — Candidate of Sciences in Sociology, Associate Professor at the Department of Comparative Sociology. She is a leading Russian researcher in the field of social analytics of human communication, the author of the ’artificial sociality’ concept, and a specialist in comparative analysis methodology for the social sciences
Career opportunities
The educational programme is designed to train highly qualified professional sociologists for careers within Russian and international foundations, companies, and organisations engaged in analytical, consultancy, research, and educational activities. Graduates pursue roles in public authorities and government bodies, information-analytical departments of manufacturing enterprises, marketing and recruitment agencies, the tourism sector, mass media, non-governmental organisations, research institutes, monitoring and analytical centres, and business structures. They can also work as sociologists, marketing specialists, PR professionals, social analysts, researchers, experts, consultants, human resources managers, specialists in social consultancy and social audit, and social sciences teachers at higher education institutions.
Organisations where our graduates work:
- OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe)
- PJSC Gazprom Neft
- Federal Telecommunications Institute (Mexico)
- Economic Development Agency for the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia
- PJSC Bank ’Vozrozhdenie’
- NTV-PLUS LLC
- Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Rus LLC
- Philip Morris Sales & Marketing Limited LLC
- Rossotrudnichestvo (Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation)
- Centre for International Cooperation in Educational Development (Moscow)
The programme enables students to undertake placements both within the SPbU Sociological Clinic and at external organisations, the full list of which is available on the Faculty of Sociology’s website. The availability of its own dedicated research infrastructure for conducting empirical sociological studies — including the sociological clinic a laboratory for public opinion survey — coupled with a number of initiative-driven educational and research centres and extensive collaborations with leading universities, research institutes and centres, as well as public and business structures, provides exceptional opportunities for successful work placements and subsequent career employment.
Graduates of the programme are awarded with two additional qualifications of a ’Sociologist’ and a ’Specialist in National and Religious Relations’, enabling them to pursue careers involving sociological and market research, data analysis, and analytical work focused on harmonising interethnic and international relations in public, commercial, and non-profit organisations.