COURSE CURRICULUM

The Space and Society MA offers a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between outer space and human society through a combination of core and optional modules. In the first semester, students engage with foundational topics including international space law, planetary exploration, science fiction as a lens to examine space and time, and media research methods, providing both practical and theoretical insights. These modules introduce the legal, scientific, cultural, and communicative dimensions of space, establishing the analytical tools necessary to study its impact on society. In the second semester, students select four optional modules to tailor their learning, which may include astrobiology and the origins of life, creative writing with a focus on space, space journalism, commercialisation of space, and the business of the space economy. These options allow students to investigate the social, economic, and cultural implications of space exploration and technology, and to develop specialised knowledge in areas aligned with their interests and career goals. Together, the curriculum combines interdisciplinary approaches from the arts, humanities, and social sciences, encouraging critical analysis of both historical and contemporary developments in space. The course equips students to examine how space shapes global cooperation, innovation, governance, and cultural expression, and to consider the ethical and practical challenges of humanity’s future beyond Earth.