The master’s degree course includes modules from the Berlin SLE programme that have been adapted to Mozambican conditions and “classic” topics of rural sociology:
Rural institutions, local politics and development interventions
Module 4
Research methods in social sciences
Module 5
Basics of sociology
Module 6
Development sociology
Module 7
Environment, resource management and disaster prevention
Module 8
Planification and project management
Module 9
Dezentralized regional development planning
Module 10
Organization consultancy
Module 11
Community development
Module 12
Food and nutrition security
Module 13
Action and decision-oriented research
Module 14
Field research
Modules 15-16
Master thesis and colloquium
Teaching is oriented to experience-based learning. This means that students acquire content, methods and tools that they can verify – where possible – in practice (e.g., in organization consultancy, team work). The modular design of the course is new at the university. The groups (now three) are stable learning units, allowing for communication skills to be tested continuously and developed further. Research has an application focus and is conducted in cooperation with programmes and projects in rural areas. Apart from attending lectures by university lecturers, students are also taught by experienced specialists (e.g., the director for rural development in the Ministry of Planning).
