Masters Degrees (Environmental Economics)

About the MSc programme

Environmental economics is playing an increasingly central role in understanding the causes of, and designing policy solutions to, contemporary environmental and resource problems. It has been instrumental in informing policy across the world, for example in the creation of markets for pollutants such as carbon, or the design of new instruments for the conservation of ecosystem services.

Across a wide range of issues such as biodiversity loss and fisheries management, sustainable economic development and the formation of international environmental agreements the theory and applied tools of environmental economics are uniquely placed to inform and guide decision-makers in addressing environmental challenges. Climate change is the most formidable environmental concern facing the planet today and the lessons and tools of environmental economics are highly relevant for thinking about and providing solutions to this global economic problem.

The programme aims to deliver a well-developed understanding of environmental and resource economics, its conceptual foundations and practical tools of analysis, including state-of-the-art quantitative methods. You will also learn to apply economic concepts and quantitative methods to the analysis, appraisal and valuation of a wide range of environmental problems and policies. You will gain an awareness of the importance of context when applying the concepts and tools of environmental economics, and an in-depth understanding of climate change, including its scientific, economic and political dimensions.

Graduate destinations

Economics is frequently at the centre of environmental policy-making. The MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change provides state-of-the-art training in environmental, natural resource and climate change economics. Students will develop analytical tools applicable to the full range of environmental issues in the public, private, and other sectors. There are promising career opportunities for those who have trained as professional environmental economists: in government, international organisations, industry, NGOs, consultancy and research.

The MSc Environmental Economics and Climate Change will be invaluable if you wish to work, or are already working, in a specialised area relating to climate change economics but also more broadly to any aspect of environmental and resource economics.

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The MSc in Agri-Environmental Economics and Policy prepares you for a career as a professional economist dealing with national and international issues in the area of food, agriculture and the environment.

You gain a deep understanding of economic theory and policy, and their application to the environment at local, regional and global levels. The programnme develops your analytical ability to evaluate agri-environmental policy options that could be used to combat a wide range of issues including air and water pollution, bidiversity management, climate change, natural resources, and protection of rural areas.

All of our MSc degrees equip you with a range of quantitative and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate complex economic concepts in a clear and concise style. Our programmes not only offer a stimulating education in economic theory, but also develop your ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills to a range of national and international problems in the areas of finance, development, agriculture and the environment.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/191/agri-environmental-economics-and-policy

Course structure

The MSc in Agri-Environmental Economics and Policy is studied over one year full-time or two years part-time and is divided into two stages: eight taught modules (seven of which are compulsory) and a dissertation.

The compulsory modules provide a basis for you to acquire the basic skills for the programme, regardless of your first degree background, while the optional module enables you to acquire a broader understanding of the issues in growth and development, trade and development, or further your skills in econometrics. All MSc students take a module in Research Methods, which provides practical skills and knowledge for MSc-level research.

All of our MSc programmes require some mathematical analysis, and we recognise that students have widely differing backgrounds in mathematics. The first week of all our MSc programmes includes compulsory intensive teaching in mathematics, refreshing and improving your skills in order to equip you with the techniques you will need for the rest of the programme.

Students who successfully pass the taught element of the programme, proceed to the dissertation stage, where you undertake a supervised project of your choice on an applied issue in environmental economics. Advice on choice of dissertation topic and management is given during the taught stage of the programme. The dissertation stage develops students’ research skills and follows on from the Research Methods module. Student dissertations are supervised by academic staff.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.

EC802 - Advanced Microeconomics of Consumers, Marketsand Welfare (15 credits)
EC817 - Research Methods (15 credits)
EC821 - Econometric Methods (15 credits)
EC829 - Environmental Valuation (15 credits)
EC831 - Rural and Peasant Economies (15 credits)
EC832 - Political Economy of Public Policy (15 credits)
EC834 - Environmental and Resource Economics and Policy (15 credits)
EC825 - Applied Microeconometrics (15 credits)
EC803 - Trade and Development (15 credits)
EC815 - Growth and Development Theory (15 credits)

Assessment

Assessment is through a wide variety of methods including seminar presentations, extended essays, short projects, in-class tests, examinations, and the dissertation.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

- provide a stimulating education in the principles of agri-environmental economics and their application, in which high-quality teaching motivates you to achieve your full potential. The teaching is informed by the research and scholarship of teaching staff

- build on your existing knowledge, abilities and skills and develop a deeper understanding of economic theory, econometric and quantitative techniques, and policy and their applications to food, agriculture, environment and rural development

- provide options to enable you to study related subjects in the area of econometrics, trade and development

- develop your ability to apply economic knowledge, analytical tools and skills in a range of applied, national and international policy problems in the area of food agriculture and environment

- develop your independent research skills

- provide you with information and advice on future employment and further postgraduate study.

Research areas

Labour and education economics
Staff research includes work in the areas of wage distributions, skills and job quality, education, migration and trade.

Macroeconomics, money and finance
Staff research in this area includes: macroeconometric theory; monetary policy; financial markets and macroeconomic performance growth theory and international macroeconomics; theoretical models of business cycles, labour market search and financial sources of economic fluctuations; DSGE models; growth theory and empirics.

Microeconomic theory, games and behaviour
Research interests cover public economics especially tax policy; gambling and uncertainty; international trade and government procurement; health economics; public goods; leadership in co-ordination games; industrial organisation; theoretic modelling; economic history.

Development economics
Research interests include work on growth; trade; the balance of payments; different aspects of migration and remittances on growth; applied studies focusing on particular developing countries.

Agri-environmental economics
Research interests cover non-market valuation, food safety, information economics applied to environmental problems, design and evaluation of agri-environmental policies, biodiversity, agricultural productivity, European agricultural policy, agricultural trade policy.

Transport and regional economics
Research strengths are the regional impact of transport investments; the economic evaluation of infrastructure; regulation and alternative funding models; the economics of public-private partnerships.

Careers

Kent has an excellent record for postgraduate employment: over 96% of our postgraduate students who graduated in 2014 found a job or further study opportunity within six months.

A postgraduate degree in the area of economics is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Our graduates have gone on to work as economists in international organisations, the financial sector, business, UK and overseas governments, and to further postgraduate training and academic careers at Kent, UK and overseas universities. Recent MSc graduates have gone on to work for companies in the UK such as BNP Paribas, AXA, FactSet and PwC.

The School's employability officers and the University's Careers and Employability Service are available throughout the year to offer one-to-one advice and help on all aspects of employability at any stage in your postgraduate studies. We also offer online advice on employability skills, career choices, applications and interview skills.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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Explore sustainable solutions for environmental problems.

Overview

You'll develop the skills needed by today's environmental managers, policymakers and scientists to tackle environmental issues at local, regional and global levels. You'll be prepared for a wide range of careers across the public and private sectors. This Masters also provides a good basis for further study at PhD level.

The core modules will provide you with knowledge in Environmental Economics and a appreciation of the challenges to which economic analysis can be applied. You'll also be equipped to incorporate environmental feedback into economic decision making in a way that satisfies both ecological managers and economists.

This Masters is suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds, including economics, human geography, business, sociology, politics, environmental science and more. You'll be taught by a range of interdisciplinary staff with varied Environmental research interests.

Course Content

You'll learn about the economics and management of natural resources and develop your critical and analytical skills in these areas. You'll gain both theoretical and practical experience of issues in environmental economics and management. You will be trained in suitable research methods and relevant ethical and legal issues. You'll develop your research skills and experience through completing a large research project.

For the Masters you will need to take a 100 credits of taught modules. There are four core modules, which amount to 50 of your 100 required credits:
-Current Research in Environment, Economics and Ecology (10 credits)
-Applied Environmental Economics (10 credits)
-Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas (10 credits)
-Research Skills and Statistical Methods (20 credits)

You'll also choose 50 credits from a range of optional modules:
-Business and Environment (10 credits)
-Development Economics (20 credits)
-Economics for Natural Resources and Environmental Management (20 credits)
-Environmental Governance (10 credits)
-Environmental Impact Assessment (10 credits)
-Spatial Analysis (10 credits)

You'll also complete a 8,000 word dissertation, worth 80 credits, as part of the MSc. Staff will suggest a range of possible subjects and titles, but you can also devise your own dissertation title. You'll have a dissertation supervisor who will provide regular guidance and will be able to comment on your first draft of the dissertation.

Careers

You'll develop the skills and knowledge you will need to follow a career in an environmental organisation in both the public and private sectors. The Masters in Environmental Economics and Environmental Management also provides an ideal basis to progress to further study at PhD.

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-Do you want rigorous training and skills in economic and econometric analysis?
-Would you like to engage with cutting edge environmental economics research?
-Are you interested in high level employment in international organisations?

This course aims to provide a balanced and rigorous training in modern theories and techniques in environmental economics at the postgraduate level.

It provides training for those aiming to be environmental economists in national and international public (Defra, FSA, Environment Agency, OECD, etc) and private institutions including environmental consultancies. The course also serves as a sound foundation from which to embark on a PhD Programme in environmental economics.

Students are introduced to key concepts, ideas, tools and techniques via core and optional course units, and have the opportunity to combine and develop their skills in writing a dissertation.

By the end of the course, you should be able to critically engage with the current theory and practice in environmental economics. You will be able to develop approaches and models of your own, based on the environmental problem at hand, from which to derive original results and offer a critique of existing theories and practice.

The bulk of the teaching and supervision for students on this Programme is done by members of the Environmental & Resource Economics group.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over two years. There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme.

You must first check the schedule of the compulsory modules and then select your optional modules to suit your requirements.

Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your module choices during induction week with your Course Director.

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Sustainable Development and Environmental Economics MSc

The MSc in Sustainable Development and Environmental Economics is a one-year, full-time taught postgraduate programme run by the Department of Geography and Sustainable Development. Sharing teaching elements from the MSc in Sustainable Development, this programme takes an interdisciplinary approach and draws on economic analysis and thinking to understand the links between people and their environment, resulting in a programme of study which is both intellectually stimulating and highly relevant to today’s job market.

During the taught portion of the programme, students take six modules which are taught via lectures, tutorials, seminar presentations, student-led workshops, as well as field trips and away days. Modules are assessed through written examinations and coursework including class tests, presentations and review essays.

Over the course of the programme, but with particular focus during the summer months, students will research and write a 12,000-word dissertation, and present their research at a dissertation conference.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Modules

The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2015-2016 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for entry to the 2016-2017 academic year.

Compulsory modules
•Development and the Environment
•Interrogating Sustainable Development: provides an introduction to sustainable development.
•Master Class in Sustainable Development: trains students to critically reflect on the potential and limitations of sustainable development.
•Economics for the Environment: introduces the contributions that environmental economics can make to helping us understand and manage a wide range of environmental problems.
•Public Policy and the Environment: introduces advanced debates in development and environmental economics.

Optional modules

Students choose two optional modules. Alternative MSc-level modules may be taken from Schools across the University, with approval of the Head of School.

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered (see the University’s position on curriculum development), but currently recommended modules include:
•Quantitative Research in Social Science: a user-friendly introduction to the fundamental concepts of quantitative analysis.
•Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Management: introduces students to the basic principles, including the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and an introduction to the use of remotely sensed data for spatial analysis.
•Responsibility, Sustainability and Accountability in Organisations: an introduction and analysis of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, the meaning, tensions and conflicts that these concepts entail and the role that accountability can play in their achievement.
•Advanced Geographic Research Methods: allows students to specialise in a research area using a research method or technique that most interests them.
•Qualitative Methods in Social Research: offers both a theoretical and practical introduction to the collection, analysis and writing of qualitative social science research.
•Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences: introduces the basic theoretical approaches in the social sciences, encouraging you to make connections between the methodological and epistemological issues involved in conducting social scientific research.

Dissertation

The dissertation gives students the chance to fully engage with the area of sustainable development about which you are most passionate, by researching and writing a 12,000-word dissertation which is the culmination of your degree. Advised by a member of academic staff, you will work across the summer months on your individual dissertation.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.

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Environmental issues at local, national and global levels are among the foremost challenges facing society today, and the result of complex interactions of natural processes with economic forces and policies. It is widely recognised that most environmental problems, whether small-scale or global, are the result of a complex interaction of natural processes with economic forces and decisions. This programme provides graduates with a sound theoretical base and practical appreciation of the concepts and methods of environmental and natural resource economics relevant to policy decisions and research. It is designed to suit students with a primary interest in issues and policies concerning the rural environment.

Visit the website https://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep/programmes/appenveco/msc/

Structure

For the MSc in Environmental Economics students will take:

- 4 core modules
- 3 elective modules*
- 2 research modules

* including one free choice from across all programmes (subject to approval on the Programme Convenor)

Core Modules:

- Economic Principles [this module must be taken in the first year]
- Economics of Environmental Policy
- Environmental Valuation: Theory, Techniques and Application
- Natural Resource Economics

Elective Modules:

- Applied Econometrics
- Climate Change and Development
- Project Planning and Management
- Environmental Science and Management
- Environmental Assessment
- Environmental Auditing and Environmental Management Systems
- International Environmental Law
- Ethics for Environment and Development
- either Water Resources Management or Sustainable Land Management or Biodiversity, Conservation and Development or Energy and Development
- One module selected from another programme, with the approval of the Programme Convenor

Research Modules:

- Research Methods
- Dissertation

Strengthening quantitative skills:
Some modules in this programme make use of applied mathematics, including use of calculus. If your basic quantitative analysis skills are weak, it is recommended that you should also study the non-examined module: Quantitative Methods (CF04), at or near the start of your studies. Study materials for this module are available to registered students only, and are obtainable through the online learning environment, Moodle, in the Study Skills section.

Teaching & Learning

1. Academic level

All CeDEP programmes are taught to Master’s (Second Cycle) level, which involves building upon existing knowledge and understanding typically associated with the Bachelor’s (First Cycle) level or its equivalent. Study at Master’s level requires:

- originality in developing and/or applying ideas, and extending or enhancing previous learning

- application of knowledge and understanding, including problem solving in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts

- integration of knowledge and handling of complexity

- formulating judgements with incomplete or limited information, including reflection on social and ethical responsibilities

- clear and unambiguous communication of conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences

- learning skills to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous

Prospective students should note that distance education of this kind demands a high degree of commitment, determination and self-discipline. Whilst CeDEP provides significant support through the tutorial system and by other means, students taking on programmes of this nature should possess a strong measure of self-reliance.

2. Study Expectations

- How long will it take?
For students in full time employment, the MSc and Postgraduate Diploma, usually take three or four years to complete and the Certificate 2 years.

- When can I study?
You can begin your studies in either February or June. The examinations for all students are in October. The study periods are 30 weeks for students starting in February and 15 weeks for those starting in June.

- How many hours a week?
For the 30 week study period starting in February, you will need to allocate 5–6 hours of study time per module, per week. For students starting their studies in June with the shorter 15 week session, 10–12 hours per module, per week is recommended.

- How many modules can I take per study year?
We strongly recommend that students should take only one or two modules in their first year, so that they can adjust to studying at a distance, whilst combining this with work and family life.

Students wishing to complete an MSc in two years they will need to enrol/pay for four core modules and both Research Methods and the Dissertation in the first year although the Dissertation is written and submitted in the second year. Please contact your programme convenor by email.

3. Assessment

- How you will be assessed
For each module you will sit a two-hour unseen examination held on a specific date in October, worth 80% of your total module mark. There is also an Examined Assignment (worth 20% of the total module mark) which is submitted during the study year and marked by your tutor.

- Examination arrangements
Examinations are held in students’ countries of residence, using the University of London’s network of approved Overseas Examination Authorities. Fees for taking examinations at all examination centres other than London are the responsibility of the student.

Assignments are submitted to CeDEP electronically via the online learning environment.

- Assessment of the Research Component
The Research Methods module (P506) and the Dissertation (P541) are not assessed through final written examinations. These two modules constitute the Research Component of an MSc and are assessed entirely by submitted coursework.

4. Research Component

In order to qualify for an MSc, it is mandatory for CeDEP students to pass the Research Component.

The Research Component comprises two of the nine modules necessary for completion of an MSc. These are a Research Methods module (P506) and the Dissertation (P541). The modules are assessed as follows:

- P506 through two examined assignments submitted during the study year
- P541 through a 10,000 word dissertation

The Research Component is studied over two consecutive years. The Research Methods module (P506) must be studied and successfully passed before the Dissertation module (P541). This is because it provides skills and techniques which will assist with the subsequent development and conduct of your research and preparation of your dissertation. Students are required to enrol and pay for P506 and P541 at the same time.

The dissertation is usually carried out during the final year of registration with CeDEP. Students conduct desk- or field-based research in a relevant topic of their choice. All research topics are subject to approval and each student is assigned a personal supervisor. Background reading and preparation of the proposal take place between the October exams and commencement of the final study year in February.

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section (http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/scholarships/)

Career prospects for graduates

Graduates of this programme will typically find work as environmental economists and advisers in the following fields:

- government ministries undertaking environmental planning and policy analysis work

- public and private sector companies conducting analyses of the environmental effects of economic activity

- international and non-governmental organisations concerned with the environmental implications of economic change and the economic implications of global environmental change

- consultancy work within the broad arena of environmental economics and policy

- applied research and teaching in institutions of research and higher education

Find out how to apply here - http://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep/applying/

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This new programme combines key international, business-focused accounting courses, with courses which examine the economic issues involved in environmental economic development.

It will provide students with a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts related to accounting and environmental economics and detailed knowledge of one or more specialisms related to these subjects.

It will also develop critical awareness of current issues in research and knowledge creation within international accounting and environmental economics and develop the ability to apply a range of quantitative techniques to different types of data, as well as to evaluate a range of theories appropriate to research in these fields.

Students taking the programme are likely to find jobs in banks, non-govenmental organisations and government institutions, in both developed economies and emerging/ developing economies.

PROGRAMME CONTENT

Five core modules are taken:

International Accounting Standards
International Management Accounting
Climate Change: Causes and Impacts
Environmental and Energy Economics
Research Methods

Three optional modules from a wide range including Corporate Social Responsibility, Maritime Business, Development Economics and Financial Analysis are also taken.

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This programme will develop a solid understanding of the finance and economic issues involved in environmental economic development and will improve students’ expertise and transferable skills in finance and environmental economics.

It will provide students with a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts related to finance and environmental economics and detailed knowledge of one or more specialisms related to these subjects.

PROGRAMME CONTENT

Five core modules are taken over semester 1 and semester 2:

International Finance
Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation
Environmental Energy and Economics
Climate Change: Causes and Impacts
Research Methods

Three further modules from a wide range of finance, accounting and economic options are also taken. The MSc dissertation is completed between May and August.

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Rated second in the UK and 17th in the world for the impact of our research, the Environment department at the University of York offers an outstanding, dynamic and multidisciplinary environment in which to carry out PhD research. Our current PhD students come from many countries around the world and are funded via research councils, charities, industry, government grants, and private resources.

To find a PhD supervisor you can search for people with expertise in a particular area using our find a supervisor tool or you can access individuals’ research interests via our staff profiles. We particularly welcome applications that connect with our research themes and groups.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors early on. They will be happy to give you advice on the feasibility of your research ideas and offer feedback on a draft proposal. For each academic year, we also offer a number of funded studentships to exceptional applicants. Please see the funding section and vacancies section for more information.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), a leading global environmental policy institute, has one of its largest centres embedded within the Environment Department. This unique arrangement allows postgraduate researchers to gain a research degree from the department, whilst simultaneously benefiting from SEI’s strong links to global policy makers such as UNEP and the World Health Organisation, and international connections with other SEI centres in Stockholm, Boston, Bangkok, Dar es Salaam and Oxford.

Programme structure

As a research student in the Environment department, you can expect:
-One or more supervisors to oversee your research and training.
-Potential collaboration with staff at SEI-York or in other departments such as Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Politics or Social Policy.
-A Thesis Advisory Committee of three staff including your supervisors to guide progress and offer support.
-Opportunities to attend seminars by leading scientists from around the world, and to present your own work through posters and talks at departmental conferences.
-A varied, comprehensive and tailored programme of training in both core research methods and broader research-related skills that enhances your career prospects.
-A variety of training and development programmes to assist you in your studies and your career, including an accredited introductory teaching programme for researchers who intend to pursue an academic career.
-Opportunities to enrol in any taught modules offered by the department and other departments in related fields of enquiry.

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Change the world with the Master of Environmental Studies program
The Master of Environmental Studies (MES) program at the University of Pennsylvania helps you translate your passion for the environment into a fulfilling career. The program offers you a rigorous academic grounding in environmental science and exceptional opportunities to conduct research in the field. In addition, you gain the professional networks and individualized professional development you need to excel in your work, whether as a researcher, policy advocate, teacher or business executive.

The Master of Environmental Studies program provides an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to the study of the environment. Built with flexibility in mind, you can choose from a variety of concentrations or create your own path to suit your interests, experience and goals, all with the guidance of our world-class faculty and built upon the foundation of Ivy League science courses. You will gain the breadth of knowledge necessary to address complex issues in the environment, while also developing the depth of expertise required to become a successful environmental professional.

Where theory meets practice
Our students don’t wait until they leave the program to start making a difference. The heart of the Master of Environmental Studies program is the passion of our students and faculty to create change in the world, from helping to conserve endangered species to implementing energy-efficient policies at the local and national levels. Many of our distinguished professors also influence professional practice outside the University, bringing their experience and broad networks from the worlds of policy, business and consulting into the classroom.

From the beginning of the program, your education occurs both in the classroom and in the field. Our faculty and staff work one-on-one with you to connect you with relevant, engaging internships and fieldwork opportunities that give you hands-on experience in the field of your choice.

Designed for practicing and aspiring environmental professionals
The Master of Environmental Studies program is designed to encourage your ongoing professional contributions and career development while you earn your degree. Many of our students find meaningful ways to blend their academic and current professional experiences throughout the program, by partnering with faculty to design projects and research experiences that tackle real-world challenges from their workplace.

We provide you with a rigorous, elite educational experience that you can access part time and in the evenings while you continue to work. Full-time students can earn the 12-course degree in two years, while part-time students finish in between two and four years, depending on their course load each semester.

Connect with us today
The Penn Master of Environmental Studies program is built upon the strong personal connections between students, teachers and program staff. We welcome you to give us a call with any questions you may have, or meet with us in person on campus.

Courses and Curriculum

Tailor your curriculum to your interests
The Master of Environmental Studies program provides you with the knowledge base you need to understand complex environmental issues — and allows you the flexibility to develop unique expertise and professional experience in the field of your choice. Penn’s degree is exceptional among environmental studies programs for the breadth of options it offers. With the help of a dedicated academic advisor, you create a curriculum suited precisely to your interests.

At the beginning of your studies, you will be assigned an academic advisor to help you through the course selection process. Together, you’ll determine which skills you hope to develop and which academic and internship experiences match your goals. Not only will you sample a broad range of courses in your first year to aid you in narrowing your focus, but we also provide resources — such as professional development retreats, alumni talks and more — to help you find the path that’s best for you.

As a Master of Environmental Studies student, you’ll complete 12 course units (c.u.)* that reflect our balance between core learning and individual exploration. Your course of study includes the following elements (you can read about each curricular element in further depth below):

The Proseminar: Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies (1 c.u)
Research Methods course (1 c.u.)
Foundation courses (4 c.u.)
Professional concentration courses (5 c.u.)
Capstone project (1 c.u.)
The Proseminar: Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies (1 c.u.)

This course reviews the key sciences fundamental to an interdisciplinary study of the environment: biology, geology, chemistry and physics. It takes a systems approach to the environment with a look at the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere and the intersection of humans with each. This required course also acquaints students with issues, debates and current opinions in the study of the environment. Different styles of writing, from white papers to blogs, will be assigned throughout the semester.

Research Methods course (1 c.u.)
Designing research is a key building block of the Master of Environmental Studies program. The research methods course prepares students to ask, and confidently answer, the innovative questions they will pose in their capstone projects. The requirement can be fulfilled by taking a methodology course that provides students with the data gathering and analysis skills they’ll use to begin their research projects.

Foundation courses (4 c.u.)
At both the local and international scale, issues such as climate change, diminishing natural resources, water access, energy security, low-level toxins and habitat destruction all require not only the best science available, but the ability to integrate this knowledge to make decisions even when considerable uncertainties exist.

Environmental challenges are complex, and their solutions never come from just one sector of society. We believe that in order to become a leading problem-solver in the environmental arena, you need to be able to draw connections between many disciplines.

Foundation courses help broaden your knowledge in areas outside of your chosen concentration, and complement your chosen field. For example, if you are studying sustainability, your foundation course credits are an opportunity to learn about environmental law and policy, or become versed in business, which will be necessary while working in the sustainability sector. Foundation courses allow you to speak the language of many different sectors, and offer the opportunity to discover unexpected synergies and resonances in fields beyond your own. Your academic advisor will consult with you as you choose your courses from areas such as:

Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Biology
Environmental Geology
Environmental Law
Environmental Policy
Environmental Business
Professional concentration courses (5 c.u.)
While foundation courses give you a broad understanding of environmental issues, your professional concentration courses let you develop the expertise you need to pursue a career in your chosen field.

Concentration courses may be taken in any of the 12 graduate Schools at the University (School of Engineering and Applied Science, Graduate School of Education, School of Design, School of Social Policy & Practice, The Wharton School of Business, Penn Law, etc.). Your advisor will help you select courses that best fit your goals and skills gaps.

You may choose from the following concentrations:

Environmental Advocacy & Education
Environmental Biology
Environmental Policy
Environmental Sustainability
Resource Management
Urban Environment
If your professional aspirations are not reflected in one of the above concentrations, you can develop an Individualized concentration in conjunction with your faculty advisor and with the approval of the Faculty Advisory Committee.

Capstone project (1 c.u.)

The capstone project is a distinguishing feature of the Master of Environmental Studies program, blending academic and professional experiences and serving as the culmination of your work in the program. You will design a project drawing from your learning in and outside the classroom to demonstrate mastery of your concentration area.

During your first year, your academic advisor will help you choose a topic for your capstone project. Once you’ve done so, you’ll seek out two readers for your capstone. These can be faculty members or professionals in a relevant field. The readers serve as advisors and mentors, and our students frequently find their first jobs after graduation as a result of the connections they make during the capstone process.

The capstone projects themselves vary widely, from research papers to videos, business plans, photojournals and websites. However, all projects demonstrate students’ ability to:

Define a research question
Design a protocol to address this question
Acquire the data necessary to clarify, if not resolve, the question
Critically assess the quality of the data acquired
Draw defensible conclusions from those data
Communicate this process and conclusions to professional colleagues with clarity and precision
Time frame

Master of Environmental Studies students may enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis. Your time to graduation will vary depending on how many classes you take each semester and whether you take summer classes. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, taking three or four classes per semester. Part-time students typically complete their work in four years, taking one or two classes per semester. Individuals working full time are advised to take no more than two courses per term.

Transferring graduate credits

Incoming students may petition to transfer up to two graduate-level credits from classes completed prior to their admission at Penn. Students seeking transfer credit should fill out a form after they matriculate into the program, along with an official transcript, to the Program Director before the end of their first semester at Penn. A transfer credit form is available on the program’s Blackboard site, which is accessible to current students only. Transfer credit is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the faculty advisory committee.

*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). Generally, a 1 c.u. course at Penn is equivalent to a three or four semester hour course elsewhere. In general, the average course offered at Penn is listed as being worth 1 c.u.; courses that include a lecture and a lab are often worth 1.5 c.u.

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Discover the real-world career opportunities in the energy sector with this MSc in Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics.

Who is it for?

Wherever you are, energy has an implication. This course is for students who want to engage with different types of settings to research and establish the energy, environmental and technological implications that exist within them. Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics students will care for the environment as a sustainable system and ultimately have a desire to improve conditions for the wider population.

Students come from a range of backgrounds including engineering, finance and economics – and from within the energy industry itself.

Objectives

This Masters degree has been designed to give you a wide perspective when it comes to analysing and forecasting the future for energy, environmental technology and economics. We engage with the industry so you gain a real-world understanding of the problems that exist, and we consider our own ethical responsibilities in relation to energy use.

Imagine a Grade 1-listed building such as the Guildhall in London. As an energy consultant your task is to analyse the site to make it more efficient. But there is a caveat: you cannot make any structural changes to the walls or the windows. The MSc Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics course gives you the tools to examine and address these kinds of challenges.

The MSc Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics course is not about learning academic theories. Instead we focus on the breadth of the subject in the real world. By engaging with practising businesses and trade associations we identify a range of perspectives, and look at the influence of a myriad of other forces at play, from regulation and government funding, to behavioural psychology and emerging technologies. Here are some of the questions the course poses:
-Does this new form of technology operate as it should?
-How does the UK relate to other European countries when it comes to energy efficiency?
-How does organisational psychology affect energy use within a company?
-How do you decide which energy contract to choose?
-What is the impact of a consumer society on personal energy use?

Placements

There is no formal requirement to do an industry-based placement as part of the programme. However, some students arrange to undertake their dissertation research within a company or within their part of the world. A recent student investigated the future of coal-fired generation in Turkey, and another student is combining a work placement at The World Energy Council with their dissertation.

Academic facilities

As part of the University of London you can become a member of Senate House Library for free with your student ID card.

Teaching and learning

Teaching is organised into modules comprising four consecutive day courses taken at a rate of one a month or so. This format makes the programme accessible for students who want to study part time while working.

Full-time students are also welcome. Whether you choose to take the course as a part-time or full-time student, we will offer a great deal of support when it comes to helping you prepare for the modules and project work. You will be expected to devote a significant part of your non-taught hours to project work as well as private study.

Our course is led by an exceptional group of experts in energy, supply, demand management and policies. As an example, one of our module leaders leads the UK contribution to writing international energy management standards and informing policy through the European Sector Forum for Energy Management. This forum looks at methodologies across the continent. There is also input to global standards development through the International Standards Organisation (ISO). At City we bring on board people with well-established academic careers as well as leaders from the energy industry. The programme has strong links with industry and commerce and involves many visiting lecturers who hold senior positions in their fields.

The Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics MSc gives you the opportunity to consider the role of International Energy Management Standards. You will explore the opportunities these standards provide for global service users and providers in relation to reducing energy costs and the environmental impact of energy use.

You will discover the range of current European and International Standards, explore why they are needed and how they are developed, and examine the benefits they deliver through case studies.

The UK has had a leading role in developing these standards in terms of both their writing and implementation. For example the Energy Audit standard, which forms part of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, Article 8, mandates audits for private sector, non-SME organisations. In the UK this has been implemented as the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS).

Modules

Each course module is taught over four consecutive days of teaching with one module each month. Alongside the teaching you will have coursework to complete for each module. The modules run from October to April, and in the remaining time, you will concentrate on your dissertation, which forms a significant part of the programme.

The dissertation gives you the opportunity to create your own questions and to decide on your own area of interest. It should be a detailed investigation into a subject on energy supply and/or demand, with your own analysis and conclusions outlining the way forward. You may see the focus of your dissertation as a future career path, but whatever your area of study, these final few months of the degree should embody your vision of the future.

You will take four core modules and have six elective modules from which you can choose four topics from diverse subjects relating to energy supply and demand. These include energy in industry and the built environment, renewables, energy markets from the purchaser’s perspective and water supply and management. The latter has close parallels, and directly engages, with energy. You start the course with an introduction to energy and environmental issues and energy policies and economic dimensions in the first term, but you do not need to follow the course in any particular order from this point onwards.

If you are interested in sustainability, you have the option of taking up to two elective modules from the MSc in Environmental Strategy offered by the University of Surrey.

Completing eight modules and four examinations and four modular assessments will lead to a Postgraduate Diploma. Completing four core and four elective modules and a dissertation will lead to a Masters degree. If you are interested in this course may also be interested in the MSc Renewable Energy and Power Systems Management.

Core modules
-Introduction to energy and environmental issues (15 credits)
-Energy policies and economic dimensions (15 credits)
-The energy market from the purchaser's perspective (15 credits)
-Corporate energy management (15 credits)

Elective modules
-Energy, consumer goods and the home (15 credits)
-Transport energy and emissions (15 credits)
-Energy in industry and the built environment (15 credits)
-Renewable energy and sustainability (15 credits)
-Risk management (15 credits)
-Water supply and management (15 credits)

Career prospects

The story of energy is now part of public debate and climate change drives the international agenda. In the UK, there are additional energy supply issues, through the decline of existing nuclear capacity, growing imports of fossil fuels and challenging medium-term targets for renewables and low carbon supply.

Our priority is to make you employable in a range of sectors in which effective energy supply and demand side management has become an important consideration.

You will graduate with economic and market-based skills relevant to complying with relevant legislation and technical and engineering skills related to energy generation and management.

With strong industry links and working level experience from our exceptional team of expert lecturers, as well as the diverse modules on offer, you will be equipped to become a leader and entrepreneur in your chosen area of specialisation within the realm of energy management, supply or policy making.

Our graduates have gone on to hold high-ranking positions as energy consultants, data analysts and directors of corporate sustainability working within organisations including:
-AK Home Energy
-Enelco Environmental Technology
-Energy Institute
-Equinoxe Services Ltd
-Log Tech Consultancy
-Ofgem
-Peckham Power
-RWE NPower Renewables
-SCFG

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This programme gives you a solid grounding in issues key to the sustainable development debate. The views of stakeholders such as business groups, environmentalists, government agencies and development institutions will be considered.

You will acquire the necessary skills to evaluate existing frameworks, inquire into environmental issues in organisations and industries, and develop sensitive business practices.

The programme provides excellent preparation for any corporate-focused environmental career. It provides a route to graduate membership of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment. We encourage you to read about the past and present student experiences of our environment and sustainability programmes.

Programme structure

This programme is studied full-time over 12 months and part-time for up to 60 months. It consists of eight taught modules and a dissertation.

Example module listing

The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.

• Environmental Law
• Foundations of Sustainable Development
• Environmental Auditing and Management Systems
• Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility
• Life Cycle Thinking
• Ecological Economics
• Environmental Science and Society
• Industrial Placement
• Integrated Assessment
• Sustainable Development Applications
• Transitions to a Low Carbon Economy
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Psychology of Sustainable Development
• Energy Policies and Economic Dimensions
• Corporate Energy Management
• The Energy Market from the Purchaser’s Perspective
• Energy in Industry and the Built Environment
• Renewable Energy and Sustainability
• Transport Energy and Emissions
• Emissions Trading
• Risk Management Optional
• Dissertation
• Energy Economics and Finance

Educational aims of the programme

• Provide participants with a solid grounding in the sustainable development debate from the wide-range of perspectives, i.e. business groups, environmentalists, government agencies, development institutions, etc.
• Equip participants to evaluate existing political, socio-economic, ethical, cultural and regulatory frameworks to inform decisions regarding environmental practice
• Equip participants to develop a sensitive business practice towards environmental and social issues
• To equip students with the necessary skills for critical inquiry related to environmental issues in organisations and industries

Programme learning outcomes

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

• Intra and inter-organisational contexts in which corporate environmental strategies are developed
• Concepts of sustainable development and their usefulness to business ethics
• Evolving regulatory and policy framework as part of engendering an anticipatory view of environmental management
• Knowledge of a range of corporate environmental management strategies and control mechanisms
• Accessing and using environmental data

Intellectual / cognitive skills

• Absorb complex environmental information and communicate them effectively through logically constructed argumentsCreatively formulate new ideas (MSc, PGDip and PGCert)
• Learn the value of teamwork to solve problems that require multi-disciplinary engagement
• Independent learning and study through self-directed assignments and dissertation
• Critical reading and analysis of environmental policy and regulation
• Inductive reasoning: using specific examples/observations and forming a more general principal
• Deductive reasoning: use stated general premise to reason about specific examples

Professional practical skills

• Comprehend how corporations build, implement and maintain an Environmental Management System (EMS)
• To perform an EMS Audit according to the ISO standards
• Give coherent presentations
• Lead discussions on complex subject areas
• See the other side of the argument given that there are varying and often conflicting perspectives in the environment field
• Competently handle environment information
• Self-motivation, self-regulation and self-assurance

Key / transferable skills

• Acquire knowledge and skills to prepare and deliver a structured and successful presentation
• Write effectively as a means of communicating important ideas
• Communication of findings and presentation of research to a non-specialist audience
• Lead discussion of small/large groups
• Organise and manage a research project
• Basic to advanced IT skills, depending on type of electives and dissertation topic
• Willingness to learn

Academics

Several high-profile guest lecturers have assisted with the delivery of some of the modules. CES modules make maximum use of guest lecturers, drawing on the practical skills and experience of key experts from government and industry to complement the theoretical components of the modules offered.

For example, Jonathon Porritt, former chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, gives a guest lecture on the Sustainable Development Applications module, analysing the standing of sustainable development in business and policy making.

The extensive expertise of CES academics and researchers is also drawn upon in modules. Professor Tim Jackson, advisor to the government and international bodies and author of the seminal book, Prosperity without Growth – economics for a finite planet–also lectures on some CES modules.

Industrial placement

Full-time students are able to undertake an industrial placement module which enables them to spend six to twelve weeks working for a company or NGO, doing the type of work they will aim to find on graduation.

Examples of organisations at which recent industrial placements have taken place include:

• Minimise Solutions
• Portsmouth City Council
• GAP
• Diocese of London
• The Radisson
• LC Energy
• AECOM
• Solar Aid
• NUS

Careers

Graduates go on to a diverse range of careers implementing sustainable development and dealing with the real environmental challenges facing humanity.

Recent examples include working as an energy efficiency officer for a local government, an environmental officer in multi-national chemical company, a sustainability advisor for a national television / radio station, an environmental consultant for an engineering consultancy, and a programme officer with a sustainability charity.

Other graduates use the research skills they developed to go on and do PhDs.

Global opportunities

We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.

In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.

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Our MSc Economics allows you to apply economics to practical questions and problems in a multidisciplinary learning environment.

Based in Leeds University Business School, this programme centres on advanced economics and econometrics, engaging with cutting-edge research within the discipline.

You’ll combine current mainstream theoretical and applied techniques with a range of alternative critical perspectives, equipping you to meet the growing demand for economics in an era of global challenges such as climate change.

You’ll gain unique insight into pressing economic issues, from the microeconomics of firms and markets to the macroeconomics of the global economy. Optional modules will also allow you to tailor your learning to your interests or career plans, from comparative modules in global economics and development economics to the economics of regulation, and principles of health economics, environmental economics or corporate finance.

Academic excellence

Our Economics department stands for a distinctive type of economics, which is realistic, interdisciplinary and policy relevant. We take an open-minded approach to economic problems, and draw on expertise from one of the major hubs of heterodox economics research in the UK.

Recent commentary and coverage in the media has highlighted the need for more philosophical discussion about how best to approach economics. Leeds University Business School has been recognised in The Economist as one of the few universities in the UK offering a 'model' for this approach.

Our research activities in economics are many and varied. Several members of the teaching team are involved in multi-million pound research projects, which are at the cutting-edge of knowledge creation in several areas. The University of Leeds also hosts the Applied Institute of Research in Economics (AIRE), giving you access to even more world-leading research and expertise.

Course content

Throughout the year core modules will develop your fundamental knowledge and skills. As well as macroeconomics and microeconomics, you’ll study econometrics and the ways in which it is applied to real-life situations.

From this foundation you’ll choose optional modules that allow you to specialise in particular areas of economics. You’ll be able to expand your knowledge in areas such as the global economy, finance, globalisation, regulation, health or environmental economics.

You’ll develop your understanding of research methods and practices throughout the year. In your dissertation, you’ll apply these skills to produce an independent research project on a topic of your choice, to be submitted by the end of the course.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You’ll take five compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• Macroeconomics 15 credits
• Microeconomics 15 credits
• Applied Econometrics 15 credits
• Econometrics 15 credits
• Economics Dissertation 45 credits

Optional modules

You'll also choose five extra optional modules from the list below.

• Principles of Health Economics 15 credits
• Economic Evaluations for Health Technology Assessment 15 credits
• Corporate Finance 15 credits
• International Business Finance 15 credits
• Economics of Globalisation and the International Economy 15 credits
• Distributional Analysis in Economic Development 15 credits
• Understanding the Global Economy 15 credits
• Environmental Economics and Policy 15 credits
• Tools and Techniques in Ecological Economics 15 credits
• Principles of Transport Economics 15 credits
• Welfare Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis 15 credits
• Economics of Regulation 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Economics MSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials.

Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

Assessment

We use assessment methods such as exams, research reports, written assignments, essays and project work, depending on the modules you choose.

Career opportunities

Our Economics graduates are in great demand owing to their unique range of skills and awareness of different perspectives. You will have essential research skills required for work as a professional economist in government, business, universities and international organisations.

Graduates of our MSc Economics have gone on to highly successful careers as government advisors, think-tank researchers and quantitative analysts.

As its ESRC recognition shows, the programme is also excellent preparation for PhD study.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

You will be able to access careers and professional development support, which will help you develop key skills including networking and negotiating, and put you in touch with potential employers.

The Careers Centre provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

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IN BRIEF:

• Recognised by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as having cognate degree status
• Site visits, residential courses and field work offer practical experience ensuring that you are prepared for industry practice
• All students undertake project work with private, public and third sector organisations
• Part-time study option
• Work/industrial placement opportunity
• International students can apply

COURSE SUMMARY

This course offers a broad curriculum studying the relationships between human and natural components of the environment alongside developing the capacity to implement measures for analysing and managing environmental impacts of organisations.

Designed to produce graduates sufficiently equipped to play a leading role in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of environmental policy initiatives within the environmental industries, this course will enable you to develop essential knowledge and skills to progress into a professional  career  in environmental management, regulation or consultancy.

COURSE DETAILS

You will be engaged with a number of ideas drawn from law, economics and the social and physical sciences which are of relevance to the theory and practice of environmental assessment and management. Modules address existing and emerging challenges and explore contemporary management, technological and regulatory systems designed to reduce environmental risks.

A key feature of this course is applied learning and an emphasis on authentic, experimental problem based learning ensuring that you will benefit from experience as well as being supported in reviewing your own progress towards career goals.

For the MSc, the full-time and part-time routes comprise three 14-week trimesters or five 14-week trimesters, which you can take within one or three years respectively. There are two intakes per year allowing flexibility in regards to the time you wish to begin your study (September or January).

Within the full-time course, you will study four taught modules as well as completing a dissertation. Three modules are compulsory with two studied in trimester 1 and the remaining one in trimester 2. For the remaining module in trimester 2 you have an optional choice, see below for available choices.

For part-time students the taught components span two academic years each consisting of two trimesters between September and May. Year 1 involves the study of two core modules. Year 2 involves the study of one core and one optional module. During your third year of the course you will complete a dissertation.

TEACHING

Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, case studies and workshops. Simulated business projects are utilised to develop practical, observational and analytical skills. In addition, you will take part in field work and site visits and will have many opportunities to discuss and exchange your own professional experiences with the course team and invited specialist speakers. You will work with an organisation and/or relevant stakeholder on a real project as part of a team thereby enhancing your network with external clients and developing your real world experience of environmental assessment and management, engaging with a range of research methods relevant to your field.

ASSESSMENT

Research & Professional Practice (30 credits) - Project & Learning portfolio (100%)  

Risk: Perception & Management (30 credits) - Literature review (30%); Case study portfolio (70%)  

Techniques for Environmental Assessment and Management (30 credits) - Case study analysis (50%); Environmental Management Project (50%)  

Environmental Investigation and Remediation (optional) (30 credits) - Coursework 1 (40%); Coursework 2 (60%) 

Energy, Resources & Sustainability (30 credits) - Poster presentation (30%); Case Study Report (70%)  

Dissertation (60 credits) - Research protocol (15%); dissertation (85%)

CAREER PROSPECTS

Many employment opportunities exist in this field including positions as environmental managers, environmental regulators and environmental consultants working in fields as diverse as contaminated land, planning and environmental impact assessment, environmental management in organisations, and waste, water and energy management.

Previous graduates of this course are working in energy companies at the forefront of environmental innovation (e.g. Uniper and EDF Energy), national and local environmental regulators (e.g. the Environment Agency and local authorities), environmental consultancies with an international dimension (e.g. Royal Haskoning, Scott Wilson, WS Atkins, Mouchel) and utilities companies (e.g. United Utilities, Viridor-Laing).

LINKS WITH INDUSTRY

The course emphasises the development of professional skills and capabilities supplemented by practice-based learning opportunities. Your employability is developed through project work with external clients and through opportunities to work on a specific business problem for your dissertation. You will work in a team on a project with an external client organisation to develop your research and analytical skills and to enhance your employability profile. Recent projects include an analysis of the air quality benefits of trees in urban areas (City of Trees), evaluation and enhancement of environmental management procedures for a large multinational manufacturing company, analysis of energy management measures implemented in schools for a local authority and the assessment of environmental management options for a large national charitable organisation.

You are encouraged to undertake voluntary work for which assistance is provided. The programme has links with a range of volunteering organisations including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Groundwork organisations and the Bolton Community Development Partnership.

Full-time students also have the opportunity to work with a business on an environmental management project of relevance to the organisation as part of their dissertation. Past projects include work with E.ON UK, United Utilities, Groundwork and Manchester City Council on a range of projects including contaminated land investigation, feasibility studies of sustainable technologies for business and stakeholder perceptions of sustainable environmental practices.

FURTHER STUDY

After completion of this course, you may wish to specialise in a chosen subject area in one of the School’s two main research centres: Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre (EER) or Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

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Learn how to solve complex economic problems and find yourself in demand by employers in public and private sectors.

Environmental management is a specialist area of economics that focusses on the key links between economics and the environment.
Studying issues such as environmental sustainability and the management of protected environments on the back of a strong economics fundament, this major prepares students for a career in any area relating to natural resource and/or environmental management – either within the private or public sector, or with an international non-government organisation (NGO).
Theories studied in this major will be applied within the context of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, two World Heritage Areas at JCU’s doorstep.

Comprehensive learning

As well as Environemental management, this program provides training in the key areas of economics. The skills acquired will help you to manage problems associated with:
*The labour market
*human resource management
*exchange rates
*profitability
*politics
*social welfare
*financial fragility
*the environment.

These acquired skills will help you to secure jobs in the government sector, the financial sector and in large private firms.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for those who:
*Hold jobs that require a solid understanding of economics
*aspire to be promoted to a job whole a solid understanding of economics is expected
*and/or are considering moving into sectors in which economics expertise is vital.

Course learning outcomes

JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics.
On successful completion of the Master of Economics, JCU graduates will be able to:
*Critically analyse economic theory from both historical and recent perspectives
*Evaluate contexts within which different economic methodologies should be applied
*Evaluate sustainable economic, social and environmental practices and value systems from different perspectives within a discipline and between disciplines
*Critically analyse contemporary economic policy issues using appropriate models and make reasoned recommendations based on an intra- and interdisciplinary synthesis of theory and evidence
*Apply creative thinking effectively to economic analysis and model building
*Present complex economic analyses and information appropriately to differing audiences using effective oral presentation skills
*Present complex economic analyses and information appropriately to differing audiences using clear and fluent written communication
*Work effectively towards completing an independent, substantial research-based project, demonstrating personal autonomy in conducting research
*Exercise independent ethical judgment and initiative in solving different economic policy problems
*Explain characteristics specific to the tropics which are relevant to economic decision making.

Award title

MASTER OF ECONOMICS (MEc)

Entry requirements (Additional)

English band level 1 - the minimum English Language test scores you need are:
*Academic IELTS – 6.0 (no component lower than 5.5), OR
*TOEFL – 550 (plus minimum Test of Written English score of 4.0), OR
*TOEFL (internet based) – 79 (minimum writing score of 19), OR
*Pearson (PTE Academic) - 57

If you meet the academic requirements for a course, but not the minimum English requirements, you will be given the opportunity to take an English program to improve your skills in addition to an offer to study a degree at JCU. The JCU degree offer will be conditional upon the student gaining a certain grade in their English program. This combination of courses is called a packaged offer.
JCU’s English language provider is Union Institute of Languages (UIL). UIL have teaching centres on both the Townsville and Cairns campuses.

Minimum English language proficiency Requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Why JCU?

James Cook University’s professional programs are internationally recognised and teaching staff are often research leaders in their fields.
James Cook University provides a productive research environment with academic staff and support readily available.

Application deadlines

*1st February for commencement in semester one (February)
*1st July for commencement in semester two (mid-year/July)

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