Immigration Management - MSc

Excellence Group: Political Science CHE EXCELLENCE RANKING 2009

Introduction

The aim of this master's degree is to consolidate high quality university studies using firm foundations of theoretical and applied knowledge and tools that are useful for professional work in public administration and private bodies, in institutional organisations and bodies, and within the wider social fabric which is contributing to the management of immigration societies.

The course is aimed mainly at:

• Experts and specialists, policy managers and public administrators in various government bodies.
• Social agents and members of organisations involved in immigration management.
• Young professionals and graduates wishing to specialise in immigration management.
• Specialists and university researchers wishing to work in immigration programmes.

Objectives

The master's degree is aimed at all those with a professional interest in immigration and diversity management with backgrounds in various social, political and administrative areas, who wish to professionalise their interest as experts in immigration. They will basically receive three types of tools: theoretical, instrumental and practical. The specialised teaching staff, whose research lines are immigration or the specialist field they will teach, are highly regarded in their field.

There will also be debates, seminars, workshops and round tables to encourage discussion and to provide a forum for fields relevant in decision-making.

The class structure will be based on the model for the new configuration of university teaching in the European Higher Education Area. The objective is for students to combine various skills: receiving information in theoretical classes, learning in order to interpret facts and the development of arguments for the design, planning, and assessment of policies.

The ultimate objective is to train professionals in the fields of planning and management of international migratory movements, and coexistence in an environment of increasing diversity. This entire approach is based on the guiding principles of the course: academic rationale, rigorous scientific standards and professionalised practical application.

By the end of the master's degree, students will be able to:

• Identify migratory phenomena and highlight their social impact based on a multidisciplinary outlook (law, economics, society and politics).
• Analyse, judge and contextualise the main dynamics of immigration societies.
• Recognise the social, political and public discourse on immigration management in Catalonia, Spain, Europe and other countries (the United States, Canada, Australia, etc.).
• Identify the main trends in the debate on immigration on the social and political agenda.
• Identify the main trends in the economic, legal, political and social debate on immigration.
• Identify the main areas related with multiculturalism, media communications, education, the foreign aspects of immigration policies, religious pluralism and approaches to immigration and racism.
• Design, implement and assess management policies, strategic programmes and action plans for immigration, providing theoretical foundations, based on a contextualised and comparative outlook.
• Identify and use the basic tools for management of flows of cultural diversity, in order to focus the studies towards a practical and professional dimension.
• Undertake a combined application of the quantitative and qualitative methodology in all the phases of a study of immigration.
• Identify the main areas related to conflicts linked to immigration, and relate these to a theoretical and practical analysis.
• Undertake a combined application of redistribution and recognition policies as applied to immigration management.
• Identify the political and institutional structures providing opportunities for immigrants.
• Define the public policies and sectorial policies related to immigration.
• Identify and compare the structure and organisation of public administration bodies in the areas of immigration and integration.
• Manage multi-level policies and intergovernmental relations.
• Identify the theoretical assumptions for inter-administrative relations in the areas of immigration and integration.
• Identify and apply the principles and tools of public management as applied to the integration of immigration.

Specialities

An interdisciplinary approach as a professional speciality is one of its basic characteristics, with firmly grounded instrumental and technical training, and three compulsory common modules: Theory and Methodology, Law and Economics, Politics and Society, and a variety of options from other departments of the UPF: Political and Administration Science, Humanities, Translation and Interpretation and Audiovisual Communication.

Contents [Teaching Plans ]

All students must take the three compulsory common modules (worth 10 ECTS credits each), one module of optional subjects (worth 9 ECTS credits, with 7 subjects worth 3 ECTS credits each available, from which the student must choose three), and undertake professional practical training (21 ECTS credits).

Module I. Theory and Methodology (10 ECTS credits)

• The Foundations of Immigration Policies (5 ECTS credits)
• Sources and Tools for the Analysis of Migrations (5 ECTS credits)

Module II. Law and Economics (10 ECTS credits)

• The Legal Framework for Migrations (5 ECTS credits)
• Economics of Migrations (5 ECTS credits)

Module III. Politics and Society (10 ECTS credits)

• Comparative Migrations Policy (5 ECTS credits)
• The Welfare State and Public Policies (5 ECTS credits)

Module IV. Optional (9 ECTS credits)

• Administration of Immigration in Spain and in Catalonia (3 ECTS credits)
• The Challenges of Multiculturalism (3 ECTS credits)
• Media Communication and Immigration (3 ECTS credits)
• Education and Immigration (3 ECTS credits)
• The Foreign Dimension of Immigration Policies
• Management of Religious Pluralism (3 ECTS credits)
• Discourse Analysis, Racism and Immigration (3 ECTS credits)

Practical training  

1. External practical training in prestigious public bodies or social, political or cultural institutions, including a report on the practical training at its conclusion: 12 ECTS credits.

2. An end of master's degree dissertation (9 ECTS credits), for which the student may choose from:

• A social/administrative project (as an option, the student could propose the project to the organisation/institution where he/she has undertaken external professional practical training).
• A conceptual study (the state of the issue based on a professional area of interest to the student, related, on a voluntary basis, with the external practical training).

Professional prospects

• Expert specialist in immigration management (all levels of government)
• Manager of immigration programmes for social non-profit making institutions
• Expert in immigration for political, economic and cultural institutions
• Specialist in immigration for foundations, consultancies and study and research institutions  

Master with the support of the Ministry of Employment and Immigration.