Social studies encompass a wide array of disciplines, including political science, economics, sociology, geography, and history. Educational pathways in Malta offer various programmes in social studies to help students explore the social, political, and economic structures that shape societies both locally and globally. Given that Malta is an island rich in cultural heritage and steeped in political history, the respective universities offer a blend of European and Mediterranean perspectives for the study of social sciences, which is unique and idyllic. This article thus gives an overview of the main universities in Malta offering education in social studies and their respective specializations.
Universities Offering Social Studies in Malta:
A number of institutions in Malta provide quality education in social studies, among which the University of Malta is the most important. Following is an overview of the key universities and the social studies-related programs they offer.
1. University of Malta (UM)
The University of Malta is the oldest and most prestigious university in Malta, offering a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. UM puts great emphasis on research and practical applications, hence making it one of the most leading choices for students majoring in social studies. Various specializations are provided to cover everything within political science, economics, geography, and other disciplines in social sciences.
Social Studies Specializations at the University of Malta:
- Political Science: UM offers a BA in Political Science, whereby students are comprehensively taught about governance, public policy, and international relations for an internationally relevant understanding of political systems.
- Sociology: It provides an opportunity for students to study the structure of societies, social behaviors, and institutions in a manner that equips them with an understanding of social dynamics.
- International Relations:The study of international relations opens to students a wide array of topics such as global politics, diplomacy, international organizations, and the complexities of international cooperation.
- Economics: UM’s undergraduate study in economics focuses on the understanding of economic principles from microeconomics to macroeconomic levels and also provides a wider view into the world perspective concerning markets and trade.
- Geography: Students of geography at UM learn about human and physical geographies in order to understand how societies interact with their environments and the dynamics of space.
- Social Policy: Social Policy at UM focuses on welfare, employment, and social services aimed at training students for the analysis and application of policy to benefit communities.
- European Studies: The program provides insight into the social, political, and economic structures of Europe with particular emphasis on the European Union and Malta’s role within it.
- Anthropology: The focus of a Bachelor’s in Anthropology degree is meant to provide students with insight into a wide range of human cultures and societies, both past and present.
Criminology: The UM program in Criminology examines criminal behavior, legal systems, and societal responses to crime; it prepares students for careers in law enforcement, policy, and research.
2. Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST):
MCAST is an entity responsible for providing post-secondary and higher education and training in applied sciences and arts. The core business of the institute is technical education; however, MCAST also offers programs that have to do with public administration and social studies-related subjects, thereby equipping students with appropriate hands-on skills that are useful for social service and governance.
Social Studies Specializations at MCAST:
- Community Development:This program has an emphasis on community welfare and social services with the objective of providing students with the relevant competencies for a career in public and private sectors focused on social improvement.
- Public Administration: This course shall take the community welfare and social services approach with a view to employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors which would work for social improvement.
Youth and Social Work:Public Administration teaches the principles of governance, public policy, and organizational management that are ideal for careers in government or civil service. At MCAST, the diplomas offered focus on youth work and social services, which enable students to work directly within communities and provide certain crucial social support.
3. Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS):
The courses offered at the Institute for Tourism Studies have an interface with social studies, specially from the perspective of cultural and social tourism. Though basically anchored on hospitality, the ITS Course Outlines also deal with social issues concerning cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.
Social Studies Specializations at ITS:
- Cultural Tourism:The program brings together an exploration of how tourism impacts cultures, including investigations into the dynamics of local and global visitor interfaces and the social effects created by such interfaces.
Sustainable Tourism:This class will allow the student to find out how tourism can help provide social and environmental sustainability by offering a concentration on responsible tourism management that is socially beneficial.
4. Global College Malta (GCM):
Global College Malta is a private institution that offers studies in business and management, while there is considerable overlap in social studies areas; for example, governance and international relations. The programs here focused on leadership and management to social governance, integrating some social studies concepts within business education.
Social Studies Specializations at Global College Malta:
- International Business and Management: The international business studies program discloses how social and political environments shape international markets and brings together a mixture of business studies and social sciences.
- Leadership and Governance: It prepares students for organizational management with a focus on the social and political dimensions of leadership in understanding governance for both public and private sectors.
The Role of Social Studies in Maltese Education:
Social studies are considered one of the core disciplines that would enable the student to know their society, culture, and history. Students develop the ability to analyze and participate in the social and political processes of their country, from the programs in political science, economics, and geography among others. The case studies in political science, international relations, and social policy are very rich, as Malta is a crossroads of civilizations. Being in the Mediterranean makes Malta an indispensable stakeholder in European and African geopolitics.
A student of the social sciences in Malta is not informed just theoretically but practically involved in solving real-life situations, whether it is a locally relevant social issue or political happenings around the globe. Social studies programs in Malta thus provide an all-rounded and applied system of learning.
Specialization within the realm of social studies is quite diverse, with Maltese universities offering anything from political science and economics to community development and tourism. Thanks to Malta’s distinctive historical and geopolitical context, studying social studies provides one with Malta’s local relevance and global application.