Name of programme                         APPLIED SOCIOLOGY

Qualification awarded                       Master of Sociology

Field of study                                    Social sciences

Study area                                        Social sciences

Length of the programme                 2 years (4 semesters)

Scope of programme (ECTS)           120 ECTS

Language of instruction                    English 

Location                                            Kaunas, Lithuania

Starting date                                     1st of September

Tuition fee for Non-EU students       TBC

Overview

Degree programme Applied Sociology was launched in September 1993 in Department of Sociology as an alternative to provide more complex theoretical and practical competences that would allow students to react to the demands of the rapidly changing Lithuanian society. Applied Sociology Programme is designed in line with major research interests of research in department (including gender and family, health and health care, politics, migration, religion studies). The important part of the curriculum is dedicated to social sciences methodology and conduction of empirical research by applying quantitative and qualitative methods. Since 2013 programme is taught entirely in English.

Feedback of lecturers and students

“Our main potential is based on the premise that research should serve community needs using the effective combination of sociological insight and methodological grounding. Our wish students would become effective practitioners in the field which requires complex understanding of social problems”.

Dr. Jurga Bučaitė-Vilkė, head of the programme

“Our students are encouraged to thoroughly examine and evaluate social processes and changes. This is a very challenging but promising task crucial for the betterment of our society”.

Prof. Artūras Tereškinas, teacher of the program, winner of National Science Award in 2015.

“Our students learn how individuals’ behave and interact in different size groups, starting from small tiny family groups and finishing with large groups like religious communities or organizations. My focus is to analyze how one’s position in the larger society shapes his or her life chances and daily practices”.

Dr. Milda Ališauskienė, teacher of the program, President of Lithuanian Sociological Association and a member of Executive Board of International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR.

Competencies acquired

Graduates of the programme obtain the following skills:

Competence to apply sociological theoretical models for the analysis of peculiarities of the functioning and development of society.
Competence to identify social problems within various social institutions – economics, politics, family, law, education, religion, medicine (i.e. macro level) and at the level of individual relations (i.e. micro level).
Competence to prepare and implement research projects on social problems and conduct empirical research by applying quantitative and qualitative methods of social research.
Competence to process research data with the data analysis software, analyse and interpret the data of sociological research.
Competence to define solutions for social problems and possibilities to implement these solutions.

Career opportunities

Graduates will be prepared to work in as analysts, advisors, or project managers in:

social research centres, public opinion and market research institutions, and public administration;
private and public institutions and non-governmental organizations;
science and education institutions;
advertising and public relations agencies and mass media;
international organizations for social development.