Intercultural Studies - Comparative Studies of Ideas and Cultures graduate study programme

Study programme: Intercultural Studies Comparative Studies of Ideas and Cultures
Main fields of study: Humanities (Medical Anthropology, Philosophy, History, Slovene Studies)
Name of the qualification: Diploma
Qualification title: Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy
Qualification abbreviation: MSc or PhD
Final examination: no

Programme director: prof.dr. Jelica Šumič Riha
ECTS coordinator: prof.dr. Iztok Arčon

Programme description

The postgraduate programme Intercultural Studies Comparative Studies of Ideas and Cultures, provided by the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SRC-SASA, Ljubljana), is based on an intellectual exchange among Slovene and foreign university educators, researchers and students from fields in the humanities and social sciences. Researchers, university educators and students from the fields of philosophy, history, ethnology, folklore studies, anthropology, art history, linguistics, literary studies and sociology participate in the study.

The programme combines a good deal of traditional, classical knowledge and approaches, but it also goes beyond conventional disciplines and cultural boundaries by using interdisciplinary and comparative approaches, and by considering problems in their historical, social and political contexts. It further engages in critical analyses of current problems at the global level.

Students will become acquainted with the leading ideas, concepts and practices that continue to shape contemporary Europe as well as other parts of the world. Students will come to recognise the mutual dependence of bi- and multi-lateral processes of cultural exchanges, and confront the current dialectical relation between the superficially static nature of tradition and the constantly changing life-world, between sameness and diversity, between local characteristics and global trends.

The basic aim of the program Intercultural Studies. Comparative Studies of Cultures and Ideas is to ensure the highest quality acquisition of knowledge at the postgraduate level, based on exchange of ideas between domestic and foreign university lecturers, researchers and students active in the humanities.

Modules

The following modules are offered in the postgraduate study program at the Institute for the Study of Ideas and Cultures:

• Slovene studies - tradition and modernity (module coordinator: Dr Marjetka Golež Kaučič)
• National memory in historical perspective (module coordinator: Professor Oto Luthar)
• The transformation of modern thought - philosophy, psychoanalysis, culture (module coordinator: Professor Rado Riha)
• Anthropology of health, illness and treatment (module coordinator: Dr Borut Telban)

Admission requirements

Candidates may be admitted to the postgraduate study program if they are:

• graduates of a university study program in languages, anthropology, ethnology, history, philosophy, folklore, Slovenian language, comparative literature, musicology, painting or other social science or humanities course;
• graduates of other higher education or university study programs that undertake an appropriate examination determined in each case by a suitable body;
• graduates of equivalent study programs abroad;

and:

• have achieved the equivalent of the Slovene grade point average of 8,0 in their undergraduate studies (average of examination score of 60% and grade of 40% for their undergraduate dissertation) or who have achieved clear and documented success in applied research and development, innovative or professional work;
• show proof of fluency in at least one of the languages used commonly in international communication.

Educational and professional goals

The postgraduate program Intercultural Studies: Comparative Studies of Ideas and Cultures, provided by the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SRC-SASA, Ljubljana), is based on an intellectual exchange among Slovene and foreign university educators, researchers and students from fields in the humanities and social sciences. Researchers, university educators and students from the fields of philosophy, history, ethnology, folklore studies, anthropology, art history, linguistics, literary studies and sociology participate in the study.

The program combines a good deal of traditional, classical knowledge and approaches, but it also goes beyond conventional disciplines and cultural boundaries by using interdisciplinary and comparative approaches, and by considering problems in their historical, social and political contexts. It further engages in critical analyses of current problems at the global level.

Students will become acquainted with the leading ideas, concepts and practices that continue to shape contemporary Europe as well as other parts of the world. Students will come to recognise the mutual dependence of bi- and multi-lateral processes of cultural exchanges, and confront the current dialectical relation between the superficially static nature of tradition and the constantly changing life-world, between sameness and diversity, between local characteristics and global trends.

The basic aim of the program Intercultural Studies. Comparative Studies of Cultures and Ideas is to ensure the highest quality acquisition of knowledge at the postgraduate level, based on exchange of ideas between domestic and foreign university lecturers, researchers and students active in the humanities.

Access to further studies

• a) The MA program requires 2 years (4 semesters) and it comprises 120 credits, of which 90 are for elective courses and 30 for a research dissertation.
• b) The PhD program after completion of the MA degree requires 2 years (4 semesters) of individual research work and the preparation of a doctoral dissertation worth 120 credits.
• c) The combined MA/PhD program lasts 4 years (8 semesters) and is worth 240 credits, 90 for chosen courses and 150 for individual research work and the preparation of a doctoral dissertation. For conferral of a PhD through the combined study program it is necessary to earn 240 credits, 90 from the MA program (consisting of 6 courses) and 150 from individual research work under the guidance of a mentor, and to write a PhD dissertation that is usually the result of participating in a research project.
• d) The decision to enter into the combined MA/PhD program is taken by the student and his/her supervisor. Designated bodies, such as the committee for student affairs or the senate, may allow a change in the program on basis of the student's exceptional work results.

Examination and assessment regulations

Knowledge is assessed by written examinations, oral examinations, colloquiums and seminar papers. A prerequisite for taking an examination is successful completion of the subject requirements (i.e. the relevant exercises and seminar papers). Finally, the student successfully completes the study programme by defending the M.A. or PhD thesis in front of a three-person committee.

Course structure diagram

Module anthropology of health, illness and treatment

Module cultural history

Module slovene studies - tradition and modernity

Module the transformation of modern thought - philosophy, psychoanalysis, culture