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Master of Liberal Arts (1-PRK-MLA-S.M.2)

(in Polish: Master of Liberal Arts)
Master's degree studies
full time, 2 years
Language: English

  STUDY MASTER OF LIBERAL ARTS

Our interdisciplinary MA graduate programme of Master of Liberal Arts offers an opportunity to grow and interact in a challenging academic environment. The graduates will have achieved an in-depth knowledge of communication, language, culture, and society. They will have explored selected dimensions of linguistics, communication studies, arts and social sciences in the context of the history of human ideas and the functioning of contemporary societies, including their legal and economic perspectives. They will have critically considered the main challenges to global well-being, such as cultural hegemony, gender inequality and media manipulation. They will have pursued an original interdisciplinary curriculum that culminated in a Master’s thesis exploring a chosen problem from a variety of perspectives. 

The main difference between the classic Anglo-Saxon MLS and our approach is that we can give you an opportunity to choose a major that will be best suited for you: 

Since 2024-2025 participation in this study programme will be FREE OF CHARGE for Polish citizens.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – In this major students explore selected areas of public communication in order to identify their strategies and linguistic characteristics. Students become familiar with the organization of public spheres and culture industries, the main research orientations in discourse studies and methods of text analysis. They discuss exemplary case studies in the field of public communication. As their MA, students pursue individual research that draws on their knowledge of theories and practices of public communication. They choose a specific topic related to mediated communication and analyse a sample of freely available texts/visuals trying to answer a research question related to the properties of those materials. They evaluate the effectiveness of communication in the context of a given theory of communication/culture. The conclusions from their projects may include practical implications.

PHILOSOPHY, CULTURE, POLITICS The aim of PCP major is to provide students with the knowledge about the main research orientations, research methods and skills that are needed to identify and articulate ideas at the intersection of philosophy, culture and politics. In their MA, students are expected to conduct an academic project within the area of their interest that can be connected, for example, to the relations between religion and politics, the social and political implications of multiculturalism, the consequences of cultural relativism, or the role of culture criticism. The basic approaches to apply in the projects can be drawn from socio-political philosophy, political theory, feminist criticism and pragmatism.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONS - The aim of EO major is to provide the students with the knowledge about the main research orientations and with research methods and skills that are needed to identify and articulate ideas at the intersection of entrepreneurship, organizations and innovations as social processes. As their MA, students pursue individual research that draws on their knowledge of theoretical paradigms and concepts regarding the sub-discipline of economic sociology (especially entrepreneurship and organizations) as well as knowledge concerning communication processes in organizations and the economic and social factors in entrepreneurship. In their research they may analyze different organizational processes, such as organizational culture, leadership styles and communication in organization or implement selected models and practices related to innovations for entrepreneurship in practice (both at institutional and individual behavioral level)

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - In this graduate seminar students explore the main research orientations within the subject of Intercultural Communication and get the main guidelines for framing MA research projects. They are introduced to theoretical models and research paradigms, discuss applicable linguistic methodologies, research procedures and possibilities in order to choose their own research topics, plan and draft their projects. Students are encouraged to read selected relevant monographs, readers, journal articles, online materials within the scope of this major. Furthermore, students are exposed to specialized and extended materials on the selected subjects and are expected to acquire specialist knowledge connected with intercultural communication and their particular topics, share and discuss their individual research interests. Suggested topics for research could include different aspects of intercultural communication, humorous subjects in different cultures, language and gender relations, Western vs Eastern cultural values. Suggested methodology of research could follow comparative studies, discourse analysis, General Theory of Verbal Humor.

The classes on full time studies are held from Monday through Friday. Some courses are conducted online, others are held in classrooms on the university site. All lecturers are available to students during their office hours to discuss academic issues relating to the courses. 

Master of Arts graduate studies finish with an MA defense and an MA degree. Graduate studies also prepare candidates for doctoral studies in a similar field.

WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AT OPOLE UNIVERSITY?

  • International student teams facilitate intercultural communication, comparative perspectives and dynamic co-operation;
  • General courses on philosophical, legal, historical, political and economic processes of contemporary public spheres foster reflectivity and critical stance;
  • Tailored courses in public communication, sociolinguistics, media and visual arts, entrepreneurship and organizations offer elements of practice;
  • Access to cultural, literary and artistic projects enhances aesthetic competences;
  • Elective courses and tutorials enable self-exploration, academic independence, and pursuit of advanced content;
  • Master’s research projects can be oriented towards assessing the properties and effectiveness of various forms of socially situated communication practices or addressing social problems through interventions;

  STUDENT MOBILITY PERSPECTIVES

Our students can enroll in an exchange programme Erasmus+ offered by the University of Opole, which allows for studying abroad for a semester or two, developing foreign language communication skills, learning about culture of a foreign country and gaining professional knowledge via a foreign language. Our partners are, among others, in Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, HungarySpain, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Italy. Students can also participate in study visits connected with the study program and do their internship abroad (more information available at www.erasmus.uni.opole.pl).

  FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS

Master of Liberal Arts offers students a transdisciplinary programme with knowledge, practical language skills and communicative, intercultural and social competences to make them well prepared to face challenges of a highly competitive job market in an increasingly global society. The graduates are expected to have useful skills and attitudes to help them to accommodate flexibly to the changing requirements of the professional world. Depending on their major, they will be prepared for a career in:

·Public communication, public relations and advertising

·Creative writing and journalism

·Visual and media optimization

·Culture-related industries and institutions

·Human resources and anti-discrimination

·Corporate and organizational communication

·Project management and entrepreneurial sphere

·Community building projects and interventions

·International co-operation requiring specific legal, communicative or management skills

The study programme is fully accessible to people with special needs.

  TUITION FEE

No tuition fee for Polish Citizens since 2024-2025.

FOREIGN CANDIDATES

More information for foreign candidates is available at hello.uni.opole.pl

E-mail for questions about the recruitment of foreigners: hello@uni.opole.pl

tel. +48 77 452 7496,      +48 77 452 7292

Foreign candidates submit their documets to International Students Office (can also be sent by mail)

address: Grunwaldzka 31, Opole 45-054, room 1,8,9 

  ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

The admission will be based on the results of the BA diploma grade.

The candidates need to provide a certificate confirming their command of English at B2 level of CEFR for languages.

Qualification awarded:

(in Polish) Magisterium z Master of Liberal Arts

Access to further studies:

Graduate studies prepare candidates for doctoral studies in a similar field.

Professional status:

A graduate of the Master of Liberal Arts majoring in Entrepreneurship and Organizations has general knowledge of humanities and interdisciplinary preparation, has in-depth knowledge of entrepreneurship, organization and innovation as social processes, knows the dominant paradigms and concepts related to the subdiscipline of economic sociology, knows the main challenges regarding communication processes in organizations and economic and social factors in entrepreneurship. A graduate can use spoken and written English at C1 level of CEFL.

Learning outcomes

Full qualification at the seventh level of the Polish Qualification Framework.
Graduate of Master of Liberal Arts knows and understands:
• scientific facts pertaining to the complexity of phenomena related to language in (mediated) communication,
• relations between language and society and its institutions in an integrated system of dependencies and influence,
• differences in medial, stylistic and generic conventions of linguistic communication and various rhetorical traditions (across cultures, times and institutions),
• complex theoretical models as well as their implications for the advancement of interdisciplinary studies of key issues within the areas of humanistic and social sciences,
• the (role of) historical tradition and its influence on the human condition,
• applications of research results in solving social problems through regulation,
• specificity of the subject and range of methodology of humanistic sciences, notably within linguistics and communication, cultural studies and arts,
• specificity of the subject and range of methodology of social sciences, notably social structures and media systems,
• specialist terminology and advanced reasoning and presentation techniques characteristic of academic exposition in the selected discipline,
• advanced sampling and data processing techniques characteristic of academic activity in the selected discipline,
• advanced methods of analysis and interpretation of texts, discourses, and cultural products/practices,
• advanced methods of analysis of human beings as social agents within larger social structures and of rules according to which they function,
• how to articulate dilemmas of modern interdisciplinary research practices and their applications for solving social problems,
• political and ethical, economic, and regulatory challenges connected with interdisciplinary research paradigms and their applications,
• rules of the protection of intellectual and industrial copyright, information, and intellectual property management,
• principles of operation and discourses of organizations relevant to professional activity in such fields as education, culture, media, arts, professional communication, entrepreneurship).

Graduate of Master of Liberal Arts can:
• recognise and replicate typical genres, styles, and rhetorical conventions characteristic of (academic) communication,
• select information from various sources and evaluate its relevance and credibility,
• understand and process information and reconstruct underlying meaning and argumentation given specific cultural context,
• formulate original research questions and design research to address unusual interdisciplinary problems,
• use appropriate methods and tools, including advanced information and communication technologies (ICT),
• formulate and test hypotheses related to appropriate language uses as well as simple research problems, particularly with interdisciplinary approaches,
• analyse textual, graphic, and visual data, compare and contrast ideas and beliefs,
• analyse case studies and problems, model and predict complex social phenomena,
• carry out an in -depth critical interpretation of selected texts and works of culture in order to evaluate their effectiveness and impact in the historical and cultural context,
• apply a normative social paradigm in order to explain and solve a selected problem within social science and relate the solution to a particular category of social relations or social norms,
• communicate research results and other specialist topics with different groups of recipients,
• conduct a debate according to a particular rhetorical format, respond in writing to offer alternative viewpoint or reasoned critique,
• use English at least at the level of C1 of the Common European Framework for Languages and in the scope of specialist terminology in the humanities and social sciences and another language at B2+,
• work in a team, assume various roles in a project, including that of a leader, plan and manage the work of others in the team,
• work with other teams and stakeholders on a project, manage and coordinate the work of other teams,
• individually plan and carry out one’s own complex learning assignment (including life - long learning tasks), adjust learning techniques to changing circumstances and available sources and tools, direct and mentor others,
• use a different second language at B2+ level.

Graduate of Master of Liberal Arts is ready to:
• critically self-assess one’s own linguistic knowledge and communicative skills and strive to self-improve,
• critically assess incoming information, acknowledge merits and limitations of various viewpoints, theories, methods and research results,
• reach out to sources for corroboration and experts for advice using different media and communication technologies,
• recognise the role of interdisciplinarity and cooperation in solving practical problems,
• think and act resourcefully and creatively,
• fulfil social obligations by organising interventions or actions for the community,
• express opinions based on reasonable premises and deliberate on the issues for public interest with the use of available media technologies,
• assume attitudes and motivations that allow freedom of expression and self -fulfilment through high academic achievement,
• take account of and respect cultural differences and diverging opinions in the professional, academic and public sphere,
• actively participate in cultural life making use of various forms of artistic intervention,
• responsibly exercise professional roles, taking into account the changing needs of the society, respect the rules regulating professional activities, and maintain the ethos of the profession,
• recognize and apply in practice the ethical norms (e.g., prevent discrimination and conflict of interests) in organizations of employment (including the academia),
• enhance one’s opportunities in the labour market and for entrepreneurship through striving for language proficiency, cultural sensitivity and by taking advanced professional courses.

Admission procedures:

Visit the following page for details on admission procedures: https://rekrutacja.uni.opole.pl