Description
The Master’s programme in Development Studies with a subject pathway in ‘Interdisciplinary Studies of African Dynamics’ is a vocationally oriented pathway that brings together university learning and skills gained via experience in different socio-economic contexts.
This Master’s programme aims at students’ direct entry into employment, without the need for doctoral studies (although this option is by no means excluded).
The programme includes theory-based, methodology-based and applied course units. It is based in equal measure on research activity and experience of the professional context.
Objectives
This programme of study brings together Université Bordeaux Montaigne (Department of Geography) and Sciences Po Bordeaux (Institution of Political Studies). It offers an introduction to the academic field and a multidisciplinary understanding of the issues currently at play in Africa.
Students choose to enrol in one of two programmes (Geography or Political Sciences), which is then also their specialism. There is also a common programme of study comprising classes and seminar units as part of a common core curriculum. This guarantees a multidisciplinary approach and enables students to acquire the knowledge and investigative techniques that are specific to the African territory. According to the specialism selected, the final degree awarded will either be a Master’s in Geography or a Master’s in Political Sciences. In either case, the specialism mentioned on the degree will be ‘Interdisciplinary Studies of African Dynamics’.
This Master’s programme of study trains students to be specialists in the interpretation of African dynamics. It offers a programme of study that is unique in France, bringing together specialist knowledge of the discipline with multidisciplinary skills that are linked to this specific zone. The programme seeks to compare theoretical knowledge with the actual study of these African territories, and enables students to acquire the appropriate and fundamental methodologies to do so.
Training content
Two years of study: Master 1 (M1) and Master 2 (M2)
The programme takes place across two years and offers a choice between two specialisms: Geography or Political Sciences.
Master 1: First year of two-year Master’s programme
In Master 1, the two semesters are devoted entirely to interdisciplinary course units and to course units relative to the chosen specialism. In addition, students continue their study of a relevant language and also gain an introduction to the professional context. The final element of the programme of study in this first year is the off-site, tutor-led internship. This internship allows students to come into contact with the African territories under study and with key stakeholders in the field of development, the spheres in which they work, and their methods of intervention there. The internship may lead on to employment opportunities. Since 2012, visits have been led to Kenya, Cape Verde and Tanzania.
Master 2: Second year of this two-year Master’s programme
The first semester of Master 2 is given over to course units and multidisciplinary teaching. There is then an internship in a professional context. This internship lasts six months (from March to August) and is preferably (but not exclusively) carried out in Africa within an embassy, NGO or company. Upon completion of the internship students must produce a dissertation. The final degree is awarded once this dissertation has been defended in an oral examination.
Access condition
Find information regarding enrolment procedures and the supporting documents to be provided, according to your profile and your level of studies :
Validation of prior learning or activities (VPL-VAP)
La formation est accessible en VAE et en VAP (volontaires associations, salariés des organisations de développement, animateurs sociaux désireux de reconversion).
Career pathways
This Master’s produces experts, consultants and researchers who may go on to seek employment in the fields of expert assessment, consulting and coordination (e.g. French development project management); in institutional cooperation both nationally and internationally (e.g. decentralised cooperation manager); within NGOs (e.g. project manager); in research, teaching and documentation; in expertise/management in the private sector (e.g. product manager, head of fair trade).
