Skip to main content

Master of Arts (MA) in Social Policy Studies

intro

Master of Arts (MA) in Social Policy Studies

With the introduction of the MA Social Policy Studies programme in 2008, CSPS signalled a shift from a purely research-focused organization to also building the capacity of social policy practitioners and academics. Graduates of this programme are equipped with skills for critical analysis of social policy and to design relevant social development interventions.

APPLY NOW for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Visit the website of the School of Graduate Studies for admission requirements, and application instructions.

APPLY through the online portal

The submission DEADLINE for online applications is Friday, June 28th 2024.

Start date

September 2024

Application deadline

Friday 28th June 2024

Duration

Two semesters

Past intake

2021/2022 - 5 students

2023/2024 - 

Minimum entry requirement

Second-class lower or better in any discipline

Location and format

University of Ghana, Legon Campus (in-person classes)

The minimum entry requirements for MA Social Policy is a lower second-class degree or equivalent in any discipline. 

Competition for places at CSPS is high. Meeting the minimum entry requirement does not guarantee you an offer of admission; candidates must also pass an entrance examination and interview.

Find out more about post-graduate admissions here.

The MA in Social Policy is a fee-paying programme. 

Find out more about fees at the College of Humanities here.

The MA Social Policy Studies is a two-semester programme that offers a maximum of five (5) courses, both core and elective, each semester.

Lectures for all courses are delivered through slide presentations, interactive discussions and group work.

Courses

Semester 1 Core Electives
Seminar Social Mobilization and Volunteerism
Research Methods  Special Issues in Vulnerability
Human Rights and Human Development  
Public Policy Analysis  
Theoretical Perspectives in Social Policy  
Semester 2 Economics of Social Policy Child Rights and Protection
Managing Social Conflicts and Consensus Building  Decentralization and Social Policy
Social Protection in Practice  
Gender and other Social Diversity Issues  
Practical Training  
Dissertation  

Fieldwork

Each year, MA Social Policy students undertake a practical fieldwork exercise after selecting a relevant policy issue of interest. Students visit some districts in Ghana for data collection and analysis. The findings of the week-long fieldwork are submitted as a report for grading.

The field exercise gives students practical training in social policy-related work and prepares them to write their individual dissertations at the end of the twelve-month programme.

Interested? Contact us for more details at csps@ug.edu.gh