Semiotics

The master's programme in Semiotics provides a background in the history and theory of semiotics, specialisation in its branches, applications and interdisciplinary connections of semiotics. The core of studies includes basic courses in semiotics, specialisation and master's thesis research. Elective courses and international learning mobility can widen this core. Basic courses provide systematic knowledge and enable discussions about the history and main concepts of semiotics, introduction to Tartu traditions in semiotics and methodological skills for conducting semiotic research. 
Specialisation courses go deeper into three branches of semiotics: the semiotics of culture, sociosemiotics and biosemiotics. You can take all courses from each branch or focus more on one or two branches during your studies. Further, you can widen your studies with elective courses that often focus on particular topics or authors, are held by visiting professors or discuss emerging lines of research. Master School of humanities helps to make your study content and experience truly interdisciplinary by offering common elective courses in all humanities fields and bringing students together to the annual student conference.
Studies take place in small groups with supportive and intellectual interactions. Group size varies from 10 to 20 students; classes have face-to-face meetings, use many interactive methods and discussions and have solid digital support. Courses are scheduled for the first three semesters, leaving the last semester of the studies for more intensive work on the MA thesis.
The programme and courses are designed to encourage students to find their key interest in semiotics and apply it to understanding and changing the world. You can choose your topics and material for assigned analyses and apply your knowledge and skills in a practical working environment during an internship – and thus make a change by applying semiotics analytically or creatively. 
You can make your studies even more international and diverse by participating in study mobility for a semester or a year. The Department of Semiotics has mobility agreements with various universities in Europe, and the University of Tartu partner university agreements enable mobility beyond Europe. You can flexibly design your studies abroad using the elective mobility module in the curriculum.   
An essential part of semiotic studies is research. There are two options for the master’s research. It can be a traditional academic thesis solving a research problem either by theoretical argumentation based on previous studies or by empirical analysis. The other option is a more limited master’s project where creative and applied methods are used to study and solve a practical issue of meaning-making. For your research, you can design the topic out of your interests and rely on the teaching staff’s competencies in supervising international students and varied topics in the semiotics of culture, sociosemiotics and biosemiotics. From the very first day, there is a master’s seminar to support you in designing your research, finding the supervisor and orienting your studies.