Outline
The international research-based and transfer-oriented Master of Arts (MA) “Urban Cultures” (URC) is addressed to students with an interest in urban cultural studies, striving to acquire transdisciplinary competencies regarding European and Latin American cities and urban regions. In addition to the study of respective urban theories and practices, the master’s curriculum concentrates on the importance of culture, creativity, and the arts for sustainable and inclusive urban planning and management, taking into consideration not only urban governance and policy measures but also the constituent role of urban imaginaries and aesthetics for urban identities and creation processes.

Setup
Established at Augsburg (UNIA), one of the eldest cities of Germany, and situated in two further European World Heritage cities, namely Santiago de Compostela (USC) and Coimbra (UC), counting with two multicultural Latin American metropolises, i.e. Buenos Aires (USAL) and São Paulo (USP), the URC Consortium includes a transatlantic perspective on the cross-cultural study of urban cultures, their legacies, and multi-layered dynamics.

Curriculum
All students start in October their first URC semester in Augsburg/Germany (Humanities), then continue in the second semester in Santiago de Compostela/Spain (Geography), and in the third semester in Coimbra/Portugal (Sociology) their Urban Cultural Studies.
For the last semester there are several options, where students can decide whether they want to accomplish their master’s thesis in Europe with placement in one of the 40 international program’s partner institutions; or combine it with a study activity in Buenos Aires or São Paulo between the third and fourth semester.

Horizon
By considering structural and socio-cultural aspects of urbanism in a strong international setting and by analyzing transdisciplinarily urban discourses and diversities in Europe and Latin America, the students are able to reflect the cultural dimensions of local, regional, and (inter)national urban dynamics, in order to (inter)act as interculturally competent mediators and agents of urban cultures and urbanities and their potentials for advanced urban planning, policies, resilience, and change management.

En bref
Degree: Master of Arts (MA)
Study Period: 4 Semesters (Full-Time)
Study Start: Winter Semester (Oct.)
Online Admission Portal: VIBS (U Augsburg)
Workload:120 ECTS
Requirements:

• Language Skills: Spanish or Portuguese: C1; English C1
• Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) above average in Literary/Cultural Studies, Applied Linguistics, Geography, Sociology, Ethnology, Global & Area Studies, History, Political Science, Urbanism, Space & Urban Planning, Architecture, Design or similar
  Contact: culturb@philhist.uni-augsburg.de