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, Hungary Spain, 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.

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