Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MACR) is for anyone who wants to work in the field of children's rights. The program allows you to bring a children's rights approach to the workplace and opens up new ways of working with, for, and about children – theoretically and practically. MACR is offered both fully online and in a blended learning format with face-to-face meetings in Potsdam.
Degree:
Master of Arts
Type:
Full time
Advanced Master's program
Course language:
English
Standard study period:
3 semesters
Start of study:
Winter semester
Application deadline:
01.02. – 30.04.
Admission requirements:
first university degree, 12 months of professional work experience after finishing your bachelor’s degree
The Study at a Glance
International and Interdisciplinary Degree Program
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to study childhood and children's rights in an international environment with students from all over the world and from different academic backgrounds.
The study program will enable you to bring a child rights approach to the world of work and open up new ways of working with, for and about children – theoretically and practically. All seminars, tutorials, and lectures in the Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MACR) program are offered in English.
Goals:
- To provide the necessary competencies for child, youth, and children's rights work
- Earning competencies for the application of scientific methods and skills as well as professional competencies in numerous fields of work relevant to children's rights (e. g. social work, social pedagogy, law, politics, media)
- Development of good research methods
- Increasing the theoretical basis for the work of professionals
- Improving your academic writing skills
- Promote the rights of migrant and refugee children and children's rights in medical treatment and urban planning, which have been marginalized in childhood and children's rights studies
- Collaborate closely with the professional community at the national and international levels. Especially international organizations (NGOs) contribute to the implementation through guest lectures and seminars. In addition, many representatives of major organizations are members of the MACR Advisory Board
Online or Blended Learning?
The MACR is offered both fully online and in a blended-learning-format with face-to-face meetings in Potsdam, Germany. We accept a maximum of 30 students in total, who can choose to study online or in Potsdam. Students who choose to come to Potsdam have regular face-to-face meetings with our teachers and learn in a group setting in a personal environment. Students who study MACR fully online also meet our instructors, but in virtual classrooms and at shorter intervals. Please make sure your PC has an internet connection with a download speed of at least 50 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 10 Mbps, as well as a microphone and webcam.
Both the online students and the Potsdam students will form a group that will be provided with the same materials and content and will do group work as well as individual instruction. Because students from both tracks form one student group, several sessions of the program will be organized to provide shared group assignments and asynchronous learning for all participants. There are several benefits to both tracks. From last year's experience, we have learned that online learning and study has become very attractive, especially given the global pandemic situation. In addition, access to MACR is easier when travel is not required.
On the other hand, the traditional form of learning in a face-to-face environment creates an atmosphere of trust and learning much more easily than online. As we plan an introductory week in Potsdam for all students at the beginning of the program, there will be a group finding process that can be referred back to during the master's program. We are also planning a face-to-face meeting after the second semester, after all modules have been studied, to reflect on our learning process and to exchange ideas about the planned research for the master's thesis.
.
Netzwerk
These degree programs might also interest you
More courses| Study program | Teaching language | Start of study | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. A: Childhood Studies and Children's Rights | English | Winter semester | 01.02. – 30.04.
|
Career Prospects
Career Prospects
Traditional work areas
- Children and youth welfare
- Social services
- Public services
- Welfare and youth associations (NGOs)
International Organizations
- UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR
- internationally active organizations of development cooperation, especially those working for children, youth and families, e. g. Save the Children, terre des hommes, World Vision, Plan international etc.
Conflict Management
Social work, childhood education, and educator training graduates can expand and sharpen their profile, especially with regard to:
- Conflict management and conflict resolution
- Mediation
- Violence prevention
- Promotion of migrant and refugee children
Social Work
- in schools
- school psychology
- In the context of all-day care: this is particularly the case with the increasing number of all-day schools in Germany
Verfahrensbeistand
In Germany (and Austria) there is the possibility to work as a Verfahrensbeistandes (child advocate). For law graduates, the M. A. Childhood Studies and Children's Rights provides qualifications and competencies in the field of juvenile and family justice.
Ombudsperson for Children
By anchoring children's rights in different and diverse environments and areas, new professions and fields of work are opening up. First and foremost, the position of children's ombudsperson should be mentioned here. Children's ombudspersons are very rare in Germany – only a few municipalities and one federal state (Saxony-Anhalt) have such a position. The Master Childhood Studies and Children's Rights contributes to the establishment of child ombudspersons in all municipalities and regions in Germany (other countries are already better positioned in this area, but not only the positions, but also the equipment of the ombudspersons is the goal of MACR.
These degree programs might also interest you
More courses| Study program | Teaching language | Start of study | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. A: Childhood Studies and Children's Rights | English | Winter semester | 01.02. – 30.04.
|
Study Contents
Course of Studies
The standard period of study for the fee-based master's program Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MACR) is three semesters and concludes with a master's thesis. The exact procedure can be found you in the course schedule.
| 1st – 2nd semester | 3rd semester |
| Compulsory modules | Compulsory elective modules, master thesis, colloquium |
Study Contents
Teaching Formats
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Colloquia
- Guest lectures
All teaching and learning formats are generally held on Mondays and Fridays.
Mandatory Modules
- Childhood Studies
- Understanding Children's Rights
- Methods and Techniques of Childhood and Children's Rights Research
- Work and Education of Children in an International and Intercultural Comparison
- Children Out of Place and Child Rights Oriented Practice
- Children and Media
Elective Modules
- Internship
- Research
- Practical Project
Guest Lectures
Our seminar program is enriched by expert guest lectures. For this purpose, we regularly invite international researchers and practitioners to give lectures at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.
Academic writing
To improve academic writing skills, we offer an academic writing course each winter semester.
Practice Day
To open up various opportunities for internships and employment after graduation, each spring we organize an internship day with NGOs in the field of childhood studies and children's rights.
Thesis
- Master's thesis
- Oral presentation on the master's thesis
Module Manuals & Regulations
For a detailed description of the course content, study plans and descriptions of individual modules in the Childhood Studies and Children's Rights program, please refer to the module handbook and the subject-specific study and examination regulations.
Nr.
324
Modulhandbuch für den Weiterbildungsmasterstudiengang Childhood Studies and Children’s Rights (PDF, 261.33 KB)
gültig
zur Studien- und Prüfungsordnung ABK Nr. 323 vom 25.07.2018
Lecturers
Lecturers
Application & Enrollment
Application & Enrollment
Required Documents
The following application documents are to be sent in a PDF document by April 30 by e-mail (macr_application@fh-potsdam.de) to the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam:
- Completed application form (english or deutsch)
- Resume (tabular)
- Letter of motivation (700-900 words), please write in English
- University degree (single copy)
- Proof of ECTS/Credit Points
- Inclusive transcript of records
- Proof of qualified professional practical activity after completion of the first university degree (one year)
- Proof of English language skills (level C1, verifiable by certificates - or informally by, for example former teachers*, confirmation of study or work abroad in an English-speaking country)
Admission Criteria
- First academic degree (Bachelor)
- Professional experience after completion of first university degree (twelve months)
- Knowledge of English (level C1)
Important note:If you obtained your first university degree at a university outside of Germany, you must apply to uni-assist at the same time as you apply to the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.
For further questions, please contact uni.assist.
Admission and Enrollment
The following aspects of your application will be considered in the selection process:
- Grade of the first university degree (60 %)
- Letter of motivation (40 %)
After admission, the admission letter and enrollment certificate will be sent to you by email.
Costs
For the Childhood Studies and Children's Rights degree program, a semester contribution as well as fees amounting to 7.600 Euros (total). The fees can be paid in three installments
.
General Information on Application and Enrollment Procedures
There are various application procedures at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. General information on application and enrollment procedures as well as information on part-time studies, guest auditorships, and second degree studies can be found on the general application pages.
International Applicants
You would like to apply for studies from the first or a apply for a higher semester and have obtained your school and/or university degree abroad? If so, you can have degrees and achievements obtained abroad recognized and study with us.
Contact
MACR-Team
Program Director
Prof. Dr. Friederike Lorenz-Sinai
Professur für Methoden der Sozialen Arbeit und Sozialarbeitsforschung
Program Coordinator
Korinna McRobert, M. A.
Akademische Koordination M. A. Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MACR)
Administrative Coordination
Nicol Tobar Salazar, Bachelor of Laws
Administrative Koordination M. A. Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MACR)
Founder and Patron
Prof. Dr. Manfred Liebel
Schirmherr des Studiengangs Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (M. A.)
Lehrbeauftragter
Student Assistant
Lara Schaper
Academic Advising
Services
Studien- und Prüfungs-Service
Raum
014
Studien-Info-Service
studien-info-service@fh-potsdam.de
bewerbungs-service@fh-potsdam.de
campuskarte@fh-potsdam.de
Studien-Service
studien-service@fh-potsdam.de
Prüfungs-Service
pruefungs-service@fh-potsdam.de