Are you interested in children’s everyday lives and in childhood as a social and cultural phenomenon? Would you like to know about children’s lives in different parts of the world? What about the changing conditions of childhood in the era of globalisation? If so, the international master’s programme in Childhood Studies might be perfect for you.
MPhil in Childhood Studies aims to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between childhood and culture as well as the dynamics between economic, social and political conditions and children’s livelihoods and welfare in different contexts (family-life, day-care and schools, local communities etc). The programme covers the state of childhood(s) in the western world and in countries in the South. The approach is multi-disciplinary, with particular emphasis on perspectives drawn from disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, geography, and history.
Norwegian Centre for Child Research (NOSEB) has a strong international orientation. The centre hosts national and international guest researchers and adjunct professors. NOSEB is a key institution within the international research network Childwatch International. The students on this programme will benefit from being a part of a strong international research milieu. NOSEB is collaborating with the Interdisciplinary Centre for Child and Youth Focused Research at Brunel University (UK), and there might be possibilities for student exchange.
Examples of topics for the Master’s thesis this year include:
Children’s experiences of joint custody
Rural children’s livelihoods
Childhood and community services
Children’s rights and citizenship
Family mediation
Child care and intergenerational relationships
Street children and health
Children, obesity and television advertisement
Children and education
Career prospects MPhil in Childhood Studies will be relevant for building a career related to children and childhood in different public sectors in governmental organizations. This may include policy and planning for children’s living conditions in ministries and institutions which concern children, both locally and internationally. Another important area is Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Save the Children and the Red Cross. In addition, the Master’s programme qualifies for work related to research, consultancy, teaching and supervision in the field of children, welfare and development.
