Masters Degrees (Environmental Education)

Now more than ever, we need to invite everyone in society, of all ages, to be part of the solution. The Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication program will empower you, and give you the depth and insight to lead and motivate others in developing a sustainable, environmentally sound society.

Who It’s For

The MA in Environmental Education and Communication is for those interested in how education and communication can help develop environmentally sustainable social and economic systems. Learning how we can educate and communicate to engage those in our workplaces, communities and nations towards such a goal involves all sectors of society– agriculture, health, governance, media, business, architecture, community development, science, education, recreation and more.

Students likely already know about the complexities of our current unsustainability and the challenges faced by environmental educators and communicators trying to address this problem. Our program is designed for those who wish to widen their perspective on environmental and related social issues, deepen their understanding of those areas essential to a skilled educator and/or communicator, explore different ways of understanding the causes of our current unsustainable society, and develop attributes essential to effective leadership.

Participants seek opportunities to learn with others from diverse backgrounds, to engage in core classes, co-operative projects, team planning, and group discussions to reach a better understanding of the language, expertise, and concerns of a wide range of education and communication professionals.

Students are typically professionals with bachelor's degrees and at least two years' experience working or interest in environmental education and communication.

Graduates of the program have gone on to advance in a variety of fields, from creating schools within the public and private education systems, to leading communications sections within major national and international non-profit organizations, to advising senior government ministers and Premiers, to gaining their PhD degrees with one alumni recently taking on a professorial position in a North American university.

Financial Awards

Royal Roads University has a variety of awards, scholarships, and bursaries available to help offset your tuition fees. The MA in Environmental Education and Communication program has a comparatively high success rate in Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant competitions and many of the program’s students win significant financial awards. The SSHRC award at the MA level often aids the competitiveness of students for future grants, and grant writing is a marketable skill The unique advising structure and ability to gain one-to-one aid in grant writing are important features of RRU that help account for this success.

Outcomes

Graduates will return to their career with a range of theoretical knowledge and analytical and communications skills and competencies. Graduates have the skills and knowledge to develop and implement innovative programs to provide students, clients and other audiences with science-based information, psychologically-sound strategies, and culturally-appropriate, philosophically-nuanced and educationally-sophisticated approaches to current environmental issues.

Graduates will be able to:
-Develop and implement programs to provide students, clients and other audiences with up-to-date, reputable scientific and technological information, as well as traditional knowledge, about current environmental issues and opportunities
-Apply the best current knowledge of learning and cognition to the design, development, and implementation of programs about environmental education and communication
-Design, develop and implement environmental communications and education programs using a range of formats and incorporating relevant current technologies and media
-Evaluate the status of public information and prior knowledge concerning environmental values, issues and opportunities
-Possess a sophisticated awareness of the range of perspectives (e.g., attitudes, beliefs, values) towards the environment and human activity in the environment
-Evaluate environmental information and education programs
-Develop and implement strategies to foster conflict resolution, constructive dialogue and community knowledge construction concerning environmental issues
-Develop approaches to nurture effective and responsible environmental actions on the part of corporations, governmental and non-governmental organizations and citizens' coalitions
-Provide up to date information about innovations in environmental communication and education
-Possess a sophisticated awareness of the nature of contemporary human-environment issues and their implications for education and communications programs
-Develop a systems perspective on problems in environmental education and communications
-Develop an understanding of environmental education and communication functions within organizational contexts

Delivery Method

Combining the best of short residencies and innovative web-based instruction, the MA in Environmental Education and Communication program allows both busy working professionals and those just beginning their careers to get the most out of their academic experience. This combination of learning experiences allows students to benefit from the intensity of the program while still being able to meet the demands of family and workplace.

Participants in the MA program take 11 courses (41 credits) including the thesis course. Six courses are taken on-campus, and five are delivered at a distance through Internet-based technologies.

Certificate students take the first three courses in the schedule for a total of 9 credits. Diploma students take the first nine courses for a total of 24 credits.

We will utilize a range of educational methodologies, including case studies, field studies, cultural studies, team projects, lectures and seminar discussions, and online modules. RRU has become a leader in the delivery of web-based interactive distance education courses, and these will be of great value during non-residential periods.

Residency
Over two years, MA students attend two separate three-week residencies and one final two-week residency. The first residency introduces the cohort of students to each other, the faculty, and the RRU style of education as they participate in their first two courses. The middle residency incorporates two courses, may have a more directed field-based orientation, and helps prepare students for their thesis research. The final residency allows completing students to present their thesis findings to the larger environmental education and RRU community and incorporates their final courses, preparing them to be leaders in the field.

Students should expect to be fully occupied during the residency period. The regular classroom schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with homework, readings, and team meetings done outside of these hours. There are activities during the regular workday and in the evenings. In addition to educational activities, there are a number of planned field trips and recreational events.

Online Courses
Online courses are delivered through the innovative use of internet technologies. Students draw on a range of learning resources, while using online discussion groups and drop boxes to develop and complete the electronic submission of both individual and team assignments.

Students take one nine-week distance course at a time. Each distance course requires an average time commitment of 10 - 20 hours per week.

Program Laddering
The structure of the program is laddered so that individuals are able to complete a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or full Master's degree.

-The Graduate Certificate program was designed to be taken on its own, or to ladder into the Diploma or Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication. The Certificate would be awarded upon successful completion of a residency and one distance-based semester (approximately five months). Students may apply for transfer to the Diploma or MA stream during the Graduate Certificate program, or apply to the Diploma or MA program once they have completed the Certificate
-The Graduate Diploma program was designed to be taken on its own, or to ladder into the MA in Environmental Education and Communication. The Diploma would be awarded upon successful completion of two residencies and one distance-based semester (approximately 12 months). Students may apply for transfer to the MA stream during the Graduate Diploma program, or apply to the MA program once they have completed the Diploma
-The full two-year program leading to the MA is delivered through a combination of three residential periods, three distance-based semesters, and a thesis

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Now more than ever, we need to invite everyone in society, of all ages, to be part of the solution. The Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication program will empower you, and give you the depth and insight to lead and motivate others in developing a sustainable, environmentally sound society.

Who It’s For

The MA in Environmental Education and Communication is for those interested in how education and communication can help develop environmentally sustainable social and economic systems. Learning how we can educate and communicate to engage those in our workplaces, communities and nations towards such a goal involves all sectors of society– agriculture, health, governance, media, business, architecture, community development, science, education, recreation and more.

Students likely already know about the complexities of our current unsustainability and the challenges faced by environmental educators and communicators trying to address this problem. Our program is designed for those who wish to widen their perspective on environmental and related social issues, deepen their understanding of those areas essential to a skilled educator and/or communicator, explore different ways of understanding the causes of our current unsustainable society, and develop attributes essential to effective leadership.

Participants seek opportunities to learn with others from diverse backgrounds, to engage in core classes, co-operative projects, team planning, and group discussions to reach a better understanding of the language, expertise, and concerns of a wide range of education and communication professionals.

Students are typically professionals with bachelor's degrees and at least two years' experience working or interest in environmental education and communication.

Applicants who do not have the formal academic education to qualify for admission may be assessed on the basis of both their formal education and their informal learning, in accordance with the Flexible Admission Process.

Graduates of the program have gone on to advance in a variety of fields, from creating schools within the public and private education systems, to leading communications sections within major national and international non-profit organizations, to advising senior government ministers and Premiers, to gaining their PhD degrees with one alumni recently taking on a professorial position in a North American university.

Financial Awards

Royal Roads University has a variety of awards, scholarships, and bursaries available to help offset your tuition fees. The MA in Environmental Education and Communication program has a comparatively high success rate in Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant competitions and many of the program’s students win significant financial awards. The SSHRC award at the MA level often aids the competitiveness of students for future grants, and grant writing is a marketable skill The unique advising structure and ability to gain one-to-one aid in grant writing are important features of RRU that help account for this success.

Outcomes

Graduates will return to their career with a range of theoretical knowledge and analytical and communications skills and competencies. Graduates have the skills and knowledge to develop and implement innovative programs to provide students, clients and other audiences with science-based information, psychologically-sound strategies, and culturally-appropriate, philosophically-nuanced and educationally-sophisticated approaches to current environmental issues.

Graduates will be able to:
-Develop and implement programs to provide students, clients and other audiences with up-to-date, reputable scientific and technological information, as well as traditional knowledge, about current environmental issues and opportunities
-Apply the best current knowledge of learning and cognition to the design, development, and implementation of programs about environmental education and communication
-Design, develop and implement environmental communications and education programs using a range of formats and incorporating relevant current technologies and media
-Evaluate the status of public information and prior knowledge concerning environmental values, issues and opportunities
-Possess a sophisticated awareness of the range of perspectives (e.g., attitudes, beliefs, values) towards the environment and human activity in the environment
-Evaluate environmental information and education programs
-Develop and implement strategies to foster conflict resolution, constructive dialogue and community knowledge construction concerning environmental issues
-Develop approaches to nurture effective and responsible environmental actions on the part of corporations, governmental and non-governmental organizations and citizens' coalitions
-Provide up to date information about innovations in environmental communication and education
-Possess a sophisticated awareness of the nature of contemporary human-environment issues and their implications for education and communications programs
-Develop a systems perspective on problems in environmental education and communications
-Develop an understanding of environmental education and communication functions within organizational contexts

Delivery Model

Combining the best of short residencies and innovative web-based instruction, the MA in Environmental Education and Communication program allows both busy working professionals and those just beginning their careers to get the most out of their academic experience. This combination of learning experiences allows students to benefit from the intensity of the program while still being able to meet the demands of family and workplace.

Participants in the MA program take 11 courses (41 credits) including the thesis course. Six courses are taken on-campus, and five are delivered at a distance through Internet-based technologies.

Certificate students take the first three courses in the schedule for a total of 9 credits. Diploma students take the first nine courses for a total of 24 credits.

We will utilize a range of educational methodologies, including case studies, field studies, cultural studies, team projects, lectures and seminar discussions, and online modules. RRU has become a leader in the delivery of web-based interactive distance education courses, and these will be of great value during non-residential periods.

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Now more than ever, we need to invite everyone in society, of all ages, to be part of the solution. The Graduate Diploma in Environmental Education and Communication program will empower you, and give you the depth and insight to begin to lead and motivate others in developing a sustainable, environmentally sound society.

Who It’s For

The Graduate Diploma in Environmental Education and Communication program is for those interested in how education and communication can help develop environmentally sustainable social and economic systems. Learning how we can educate and communicate to engage those in our workplaces, communities and nations towards such a goal involves all sectors of society– agriculture, health, governance, media, business, architecture, community development, science, education, recreation and more.

Students likely already know about the complexities of our current unsustainability and the challenges faced by environmental educators and communicators trying to address this problem. Our program is designed for those who wish to widen their perspective on environmental and related social issues, deepen their understanding of those areas essential to a skilled educator and/or communicator, explore different ways of understanding the causes of our current unsustainable society, and develop attributes essential to effective leadership.

Participants seek opportunities to learn with others from diverse backgrounds, to engage in core classes, co-operative projects, team planning, and group discussions to reach a better understanding of the language, expertise, and concerns of a wide range of education and communication professionals.

Students are typically professionals with bachelor's degrees and at least two years' experience working or interest in environmental education and communication.

Outcomes

Graduates will return to their career with a range of theoretical knowledge and analytical and communications skills and competencies. Graduates have the skills and knowledge to develop and implement innovative programs to provide students, clients and other audiences with science-based information, psychologically-sound strategies, and culturally-appropriate, philosophically-nuanced and educationally-sophisticated approaches to current environmental issues.

Delivery Model

The Environmental Education and Communication program combines the best of short residencies and innovative web-based instruction to allow both busy mid-career professionals and those just beginning their careers to get the most out of their academic experience. This combination of learning experiences gives students a beneficial on-campus experience while still being able to meet the demands of family and workplace.

The first residency introduces the cohort of students to each other, the faculty, and the Royal Roads University style of education. The second residency diploma may have a more directed field-based orientation.

Participants in the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Education and Communication program take nine courses.

A range of educational methodologies are utilized including case studies, field studies, cultural studies, team projects, lectures and seminar discussions, and online modules.

Online Learning
Distance courses are delivered through the innovative use of Internet technologies. Participants draw upon web resources as well as more traditional print media, while using online discussion groups and drop boxes to work towards the electronic submission of assignments. Normally, students take one distance course at a time, for a period of 10 - 12 weeks. Each distance course requires an average time commitment of 10 - 20 hours per week.

Residency
Students should expect to work hard during the residency period. The normal classroom schedule is Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Homework, readings, and team meetings are done outside these hours. There are some activities in the evenings, as well as during the normal workday. In addition to the educational activities, there are a number of planned recreational events.

Advanced Standing
Students may apply for transfer to the MA in Environmental Education and Communication during the Graduate Diploma program, or apply to the MA program once they have completed the Diploma. The Diploma is awarded upon successful completion of two residencies and one distance-based semester (approximately 12 months). Academic credit earned through the completion of one credential (e.g. certificate or diploma) accepted towards the completion of another credential (e.g. diploma or degree) within the same program area. Laddering agreements must be approved by Academic Council. Laddering agreements enable students to build upon previously earned credentials hence the content must be identical (e.g. course completed in a certificate program must contain the same content as those in the degree program). Students who are only registered in a degree program do not receive multiple credentials (e.g. certificate and degree). Students registered in a degree program must apply to the Dean should they wish to transfer to a certificate or diploma program. Similarly, students registered in a certificate or diploma program eligible for laddering must apply and be accepted into the higher level program.

Sponsors
In general, students have secured the necessary approvals to enter the program from their employer. Many employers will therefore be the sponsor and will, through the creation of a Learning Agreement, provide the student with the support and mentorship necessary to complete the program. However, a sponsor is not mandatory.

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Degree: Master of Arts and Social Science (60 credits) with a major in Education (with emphasis Outdoor Didactics).

Teaching language: English

This programme will clarify how outdoor environmental education and outdoor life can contribute to sustainable development, environmental health and citizenship.

The programme focuses on experiential learning based on nature, culture and society. Teaching includes outdoor field-related experiences and learning in and via natural and cultural landscapes. Students must be prepared to pay for the trips, food and lodging that are included in the programme.

Students will:

further their understanding and knowledge of how outdoor environmental education and outdoor life can contribute to environmental understanding, cyclic thinking and increased responsibility for health, citizenship and sustainability.
develop a thematic perspective on how the urban and rural landscape can be used as a resource for learning.
increase their knowledge of children and young people’s understanding and learning processes in the extended classroom.
develop their skills in describing, interpreting and explaining cultural and environmental experiences through field work in real environments.
This is a one year course but further studies are possible, resulting in a two-year master’s degree

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Whether you are a graduate looking for a career in environmental management or an experienced environmental professional, our Environmental Management MSc enables you to develop the knowledge and skills required to implement environmentally sustainable solutions within businesses and organisations around the world.

About the course

Environmental Management is of increasing importance to all types of organisations both within the UK and worldwide; there is a growing need for qualified and trained environmental managers and, as environmental challenges become ever more apparent, this demand shows no signs of abating.

Our MSc in Environmental Management provides a flexible and broad approach to study and provides a firm grounding in the essentials of environmental management, including environmental auditing, the choice, design and use of a range of environmental tools and methods including EIA, ERA, Lifecycle Assessment and knowledge of environmental policy and legislation. Studying on this accredited Environmental Management MSc is the first step to becoming a Chartered Environmentalist.

Three modules are accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). Successful completion allows you to apply for IEMA Graduate or Practitioner membership, with exemption from selected IEMA membership examinations. All modules are accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) for Graduate membership.

Five core modules are taken and students then choose three optional modules. Students will begin their studies, both full-time and part time, with a core module in Sustainability and Environmental Systems.

To obtain a Master's degree you need to carry out a supervised research project comprising of another taught module, Research methods and a 10,000-15,000 word research project. The project can be based on an environmental management issue that interests you or is relevant to your organisation.

Why choose this course?

-Over 20 years’ experience of teaching Environmental Management and delivering highly employable graduates to the sector
-Flexible modes of study: full-time, part-time, September start, January start
-MSc programmes and key modules accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA)
-Teaching centred on 2-3 day ‘short courses’ to allow study while managing external commitments
-Selected key textbooks provided within fees, together with catering on short courses

Professional Accreditations

Three modules are accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) for Associate membership (giving exemption from the Associate Entry Examination). All modules are accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) for graduate membership.

Careers

Environmental Management is of increasing importance to all types of organisations both within the UK and worldwide; there is a growing need for qualified and trained environmental managers and, as environmental challenges become ever more apparent, this demand shows no signs of abating. Graduates from our Environmental Management MSc programmes have embarked on careers with a wide variety of employers within the environmental management sector, including environmental consultancy, the water supply industry and Government agencies such as the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs. Graduates have also commenced doctoral level studies and developed careers in research and education.

Teaching methods

The programme approach integrates blended learning, combining face-to-face teaching and tutorials with online learning materials, easy contact with tutors and online submission of assignments.

All modules are delivered as intensive two or three day short courses that run Fridays and Saturday or Thursday to Saturday.
Full-time students attend tutorials in the weeks following a short course, receiving face-to-face support.

Part-time students attend courses at the University for approximately six working days a year and complete assignments through use of our outstanding virtual learning environment, Studynet. Most part time students complete this course within two years but you are given a maximum of five to complete.

Assessment can include reports, essays, seminars and online tests. Assignments are often directly related to environmental management in the workplace or field.

You have access to excellent University facilities including a field station, state-of-the-art Learning Resource Centre and a brand new Science Building.

Structure

Core Modules
-Environmental Management Tools and Methods
-Environmental Policy and Governance
-Foundation in Environmental Auditing
-Management Skills for Environmental Management

Optional
-Crop Pathogens, Pests and Weeds
-Crop Protection; Principles & Practice
-Ecology and Conservation
-Environmental Management Individual Research Project
-Environmental Management Systems Implementation
-Environmental Management Tools and Methods
-Foundation in Environmental Auditing
-Integrated Waste and Pollution Management
-Research Methods
-Sustainability and Environmental Systems
-Sustainable Energy
-Transport Policy & Travel Planning
-Water Pollution Control
-Water Resources

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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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MSc Environmental Sciences

Are you up to the challenge of finding innovative methods and sustainable solutions to the threats facing the environment? The Environmental Sciences Master programme at Wageningen University has its roots in the natural, technological and social sciences.

Students will gain insight into the socio-economic causes and the characteristics of pollution and degradation of the natural environment, including the effects on human beings, the atmosphere, ecosystems and other organisms. This two-year programme is based on an interdisciplinary approach. Students learn to develop analytical tools and models, as well as technologies, socio-political arrangements and economic instruments to prevent and control environmental and sustainability issues.

Programme summary

We are facing a future with an increased demand for food, water, energy and other resources, which will have an enormous impact on our already heavily burdened environment. Environmental challenges for the future include using our resources efficiently, minimising our impact on nature, and creating and changing people’s awareness and behaviour towards their environment.

The MSc Environmental Sciences programme is designed for students who want to take up this challenge in finding innovative and sustainable approaches to secure and improve the state of the environment. This programme provides insight into the socioeconomic causes, the characteristics of pollution and degradation of the natural environment, and their effects on human beings and ecosystems. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, students learn to develop analytical tools and models, environmental technologies, socio-political arrangements and economic instruments to prevent and control environmental problems.

To allow you maximum flexibility in your individual course of study, there are no formal specialisations and compulsory elements are kept at a minimum. This allows you to tailor the programme to your individual needs. Major thesis research can be conducted in one of the ten thesis tracks (major) and each major can be combined with a minor in Environmental Communication or Education.

Thesis tracks

The ten thesis tracks are clustered in 4 groups.

Environmental Quality
Investigates the physical, chemical and biological processes that influence the quality of the environmental compartments: Soil, Water and Air; and the effects of pollutants on humans and ecosystems. Students can choose the thesis tracks Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry, Soil Biology and Biological Soil Quality, Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality, or Environmental Toxicology.

Environmental Systems Analysis
Studies the natural and social processes involved in environmental issues. It aims to develop integrative tools and methodologies and to apply these in strategic research. Students can choose to develop such an integrated approach via the thesis track Environmental Systems Analysis.

Environmental Policy and Economics
Covers the contribution of the social sciences to environmental research. The focus is on the social, political, legal and economic aspects of environmental issues and the goal is to provide students with the skills for studying, formulating and designing innovative forms of national and international environmental governance. You can choose a thesis track in the disciplines of Environmental Policy, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources, or Integrated Water Management.

Environmental Technology
Concentrates on biological, chemical and physical processes for water reuse and the recovery of nutrients, minerals and energy. The aim is to fully understand these processes in order to design and optimise innovative technologies for renewable energy, closing nutrient cycles and solving environmental issues. You can choose any of these topics via the thesis track Environmental Technology.

Your future career

Graduates from this programme are well-equipped to continue their scientific training in a PhD programme or to begin - or continue - a professional career requiring independent scientific performance. Students are taught the knowledge and skills needed to communicate with experts from different disciplines allowing them to play a key role in complex environmental and sustainability issues. Most graduates enter careers in environmental consultancy, research and management, while others are involved in policy development and higher education.

Alumna Charlotte Van Erp Taalman Kip.
Upon graduation, Charlotte started working as environmental consultant at MWH Global. Two years later, she continued her career at the water board Hollandse Delta as innovation engineer. She works together with different parties for implementing innovative and sustainable ideas. One project she is involved in is an initiative of all water boards that focuses on the recovery of valuable compounds in sewage. “It’s time to see our sewage not as a dirty waste stream, but as a valuable resource. We should not destroy this potential of sewage. On the contrary, it is our duty to recover and reuse all its valuable components.”

Related programmes:
MSc Climate Studies
MSc Urban Environmental Management
MSc Earth and Environment
MSc Forest and Nature Conservation
MSc Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management.

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The global challenge of environmental sustainability highlights the need for holistic design and management of complex environmental and technological systems. This interdisciplinary Master's programme presents environmental issues and technologies within a systems engineering context. Graduates will understand interactions between the natural environment, people, processes and technologies to develop sustainable solutions.

Degree information

Students will develop an understanding of systems engineering and environmental engineering. Environmental engineering is a multidisciplinary branch of engineering concerned with devising, implementing and managing solutions to protect and restore the environment within an overall framework of sustainable development. Systems engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the development and management of large complex systems.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), a collaborative environmental systems project (30 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and an individual environmental systems dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) is offered.

Core modules
-Collaborative Environmental Systems Project
-Environmental Systems
-Systems Engineering and Management
-Systems Society and Sustainability
-Environmental Modelling

Optional modules - options may include the following:
-Urban Flooding and Drainage
-Coastal Engineering
-Water and Wastewater Treatment
-Natural Environmental Disasters
-The Control of Noise
-Industrial Symbiosis
-Environmental Masterplanning
-Energy Systems Modelling
-Smart Energy Systems
-Low Carbon Energy Supply System Design for Buildings and Neighbourhoods
-Energy Systems & Sustainability
-Politics of Climate Change
-Natural Environmental Disasters
-Engineering and International Development
-Waste and Resource Efficiency
-Project Management for Engineers

Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project addressing a problem of systems research, design or analysis, which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes and projects. The individual and group projects in the synthesis element involve interaction with industrial partners, giving students real-life experience and contacts for the future. Assessment is through written examination, coursework, presentations, and group and individual projects.

Careers

Career paths for environmental systems engineers are diverse, expanding and challenging, with the pressures of increasing population, desire for improved standards of living and the need to protect the environmental systems. There are local UK and international opportunities in all areas of industry: in government planning and regulation, with regional and municipal authorities, consultants and contracting engineers, research and development organisations, and in education and technology transfer. Example of recent career destinations include Ford, KPMG, EDF Energy, Brookfield Multiplex, and the Thames Tideway Tunnel Project.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Environmental Specialist, BHP Billiton
-Project Engineer, Alberta WaterSMART
-Project Manager, Veolia Environmental Services
-MSc Business Management, Imperial College Business School, Imperial College
-PhD Environmental Research, Imperial College London

Employability
The discipline of environmental systems engineering is growing rapidly with international demand for multi-skilled, solutions-focussed professionals who can take an integrated approach to complex problems.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The discipline of environmental systems engineering is growing rapidly with an international demand for multi-skilled professionals who can take an integrated approach to solving complex environmental problems (e.g. urban water systems, technologies to minimise industrial pollution). Environmental engineers work closely with a range of other environmental professionals, and the community.

Skills may be used to:
-Design, construct and operate urban water systems.
-Develop and implement cleaner production technologies to minimise industrial pollution.
-Recycle waste materials into new products and generate energy.
-Evaluate and minimise the environmental impact of engineering projects.
-Develop and implement sound environmental management strategies and procedures.

UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering is an energetic and exciting environment in which to explore environmental systems engineering. Students have the advantages of studying in a multi-faculty institution with a long tradition of excellence in teaching and research, situated at the heart of one of the world's greatest cities.

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The MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management (EAM) examines the principles, procedures and methods of EAM against the background of current UK, European and international environmental policy.

The course covers the complementary roles of natural resource management and planning within core areas of EAM such as Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), as well as new and evolving fields such as mitigation banking, climate change adaptation, environmental inequality, ecosystem services, and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and sustainability appraisal.

The course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). On completing the course, students are ideally placed to undertake the exams for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Associate Membership.

Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

See the website http://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/environmental-assessment-and-management/

Why choose this course?

- Staff that teach on the MSc have published widely, including authoring the leading textbooks in Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment

- Our teaching is always informed by the latest developments in theory and in practice. The teaching team regularly undertake related applied research and consultancy work with respected environmental consultancies such as ERM, WSP, and Land Use Consultants, as well as the European Union, UK public sector bodies and NGOs.

- The course has excellent links with the professional practitioner community. Our contacts from industry provide valuable inputs via guest lecture sessions that serve to bring real-world experience to the programme, in addition to providing the opportunity for you to meet with potential employers.

- Potential employers are familiar with the programme content and delivery and regularly approach the course team in search of our graduates

- There are regular opportunities to gain real world experience, ranging from dissertation research placements with the RSPB, TVERC and consultancies, and applied coursework with Grundon, to voluntary work with the Environmental Information Exchange.

- Excellent feedback from employers, "Both our environmental and planning teams have recruited graduates from the Oxford Brookes MSc courses. We find that the graduates from these courses have a wide range of interests and are well rounded candidates in terms of their environmental and planning knowledge." - URS

Professional accreditation

The MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This means that on graduation, students can progress to complete the Assessment of Professional Competence programme of RICS in order to become full members.

The course is also accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a specialist Master's programme. Students who wish to progress to Chartered Membership of the RTPI with the MSc EAM must also complete an accredited PG Diploma qualification in spatial planning - please refer to http://www.rtpi.org.uk for further information regarding accreditation.

Teaching and learning

The teaching and learning methods used in the programme reflect the wide variety of topics and techniques associated with EAM. Lectures provide the essential background and knowledge base for each module and workshops, seminars and project work provide opportunities for analysis and synthesis of this information.

The programme will also offer site visits, where appropriate, to provide direct experience of the important issues in environmental assessment and management.

A wide range of staff are involved in teaching on the programme. Most are from the Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment and the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Our contacts from industry provide valuable inputs via guest lecture sessions including speakers from the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Management, regulatory bodies such as the Environment Agency and the Planning Inspectorate, and leading environmental consultancies such as ERM, URS, WSP and PBA.

These sessions serve to bring real-world experience to the programme, in addition to providing the opportunity for students to meet with potential employers.

A variety of materials and resources, including student experience, is used to provide a varied educational experience and a teaching and learning environment appropriate for graduate students.

The early parts of the programme focus on the background to EAM, particularly on establishing a solid grounding in planning, resource management, and principles of EAM.

Over time, increasing emphasis is placed on the skills required for environmental impact assessment and environmental management, culminating in the preparation of a major environmental impact statement (EIS) project.

Approximately two-thirds of the core-module element of the programme is devoted to environmental assessment, and one-third to environmental management. However, additional training in environmental management can be obtained by the selection of appropriate options.

Advice will be given at Induction on making appropriate choices in relation to students’ interests and intended career paths. The dissertation gives students the opportunity to explore a subject related to EAM in depth, and to integrate the various elements of the programme.

How this course helps you develop

The course develops the skills and knowledge that are in demand in practice and it has an impressive employment record. Potential employers are familiar with the programme content and delivery and regularly approach the course team in search of our graduates.

Careers

The course has been running for 25 years and has an extensive network of nearly 500 alumni, some of whom have achieved partner- and technical director-level appointments in leading consultancies such as ERM, EDP, WSP Environment & Energy, Hyder Consulting, and URS, while others have secured high-level environmental positions within organisations such as the European Commission and the World Bank.

Career destinations include:
- Environmental consultancy, including leading IEMA EIA Quality Mark companies such as ERM, AMEC, Environ UK, Nicholas Pearson Associates, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Pegasus Planning, AECOM, RPS Group, Savills, and Waterman, among many others.

- Environmental managers and EIA / SEA officers with regulatory bodies such as the Environment Agency and SEPA, local authorities, and government departments both in the UK and internationally.

- Officers with non-statutory bodies and non-governmental agencies in Europe and overseas.
A number of graduates have progressed to undertake research degrees (PhD).

Free language courses for students - the Open Module

Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:
- studying at a Brookes partner college
- studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.

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The new African Studies degrees at UCL draw on world-leading research and expertise from across the university, and offer a unique opportunity to choose one of three distinct pathways. In the African Studies with Education MA students will come to understand some of the challenges surrounding education in contemporary Africa - including poverty, inequality, gender, education and employment, education and technology; vernacular education and the diaspora.

Degree information

The degree pathways share a common core, comprising modules on the continent’s political and economic past and present. In addition, the Education pathway explores aspects of education and learning, through a bespoke 'African Studies and Education' core module and a range of advanced optional modules drawn from the UCL Institute of Education and other UCL departments.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of three core modules (45 credits), three optional modules (45 credits), and a dissertation/report (90 credits).

Core modules:
- Africa: Dialogues of Past and Present
- Debating Africa's Future
- African Studies and Education

Optional modules:
Students choose three from a range of optional modules including the following:
- Education and International Development: Concepts, Theories and Issues
- Planning for Education and Development
- Education, Conflict and Fragility
- Learners, Learning and Teaching in the Context of Education for All
- Education in Muslim Communities
- Gender, Education and Development
- Promoting Health and Wellbeing: Planning, Practice and Participation
- Cultural Heritage, Globalisation and Development
- Cultural Memory and Identity
- Research Methods in African Studies
- Performance, Visual Media and Popular Culture in Africa
- Archaeology and Education

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars and guided independent research. Assessment is through essays, portfolio, research proposal and examination.

Careers

Graduates will be well placed to take up diverse positions within education-related organisations, national and international policy-making bodies, non-governmental development organisations, or within national ministries and the public sector.

Employability
Students will develop skills in research and research ethics, thematic debate, environmental data analysis and GIS, archival work, ethnographic field techniques and presentation.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL offers a unique teaching and learning environment in which to study education as it relates to the continent of Africa. More than 35 permanent members of UCL academic staff focus their research primarily on Africa and their field activities span the continent. This expertise is combined with that of the world-leading UCL Institute of Education to provide unparralleled insight into education policy and practice.

African Studies marks the first time existing expertise on Africa at UCL has been combined to offer an interdisciplinary degree. The new African Studies and Education pathway has been co-developped with the UCL Institute of Education and draws on the University's core stregths in teaching and reseach on education in Africa.

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The course explores local, regional, national and international issues of sustainability and stewardship of national resources.

Make a difference

If you undertake our Education for Sustainability course you will:
*Be exposed to issues associated with local ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Areas
*explore local, regional, national and international issues for sustainability and stewardship of national resources
*discover the roles local communities can have in contributing to stewardship
*gain an appreciation of our outstanding natural assets within a global context.

Who is this course for?

This course is relevant to teachers, trainers, school leaders, administrators; education and communication officer and to any individual seeking to upgrade their sustainability expertise.

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Master of Education, graduates will be able to:
*Demonstrate advanced knowledge of recent developments, discourses and debates in the field, or a sub-field, of Education and/or area of professional practice
*Demonstrate knowledge of research or inquiry principles applicable to the field, or a sub-field, of Education and/or area of professional practice
*Investigate, analyse, synthesise and evaluate complex information, problems, concepts and theories, at an advanced level, and critically reflect on theory in relation to different bodies of knowledge or practice
*Justify, interpret and present theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
*Demonstrate advanced speaking, reading, writing, listening, collaborating and advocacy skills for Educational leadership in a field or sub field of Education
*Design, plan and ethically execute a substantial research and/or inquiry-based project with creativity and initiative and a high level of autonomy and accountability in the field or a sub-field of Education.

Award title

MASTER OF EDUCATION (MEd)

Course pre-requisites

Completion of:
*An AQF level 7 Bachelor Degree in a discipline other than education, with a minimum 2 years professional work experience in education; or
*An AQF level 7 Bachelor Degree in education, or
*An AQF level 8 Graduate Certificate in education from one of the following JCU courses: Graduate Certificate of Education for Sustainability; Graduate Certificate in Research Methods [Education]; Graduate Certificate in Career Development; Graduate Certificate in Catholic Education; Graduate Certificate in Education (Academic Practice); or
*An AQF level 8 Graduate Diploma in education, or
*An AQF level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree in a discipline other than education, with a minimum 2 years experience working as a professional educator in a management, leadership or supervisory position; or
*An AQF level 8 Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a discipline other than education, with a minimum 2 years experience working as a professional educator in a management, leadership or supervisory position;or
Other qualifications recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Division of Tropical Environments and Societies as equivalent to the above.

Entry requirements (Additional)

English band level 2 - the minimum English Language test scores you need are:
*Academic IELTS – 6.5 (no component lower than 6.0), OR
*TOEFL – 570 (plus minimum Test of Written English score of 4.5), OR
*TOEFL (internet based) – 90 (minimum writing score of 21), OR
*Pearson (PTE Academic) - 64

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 2– Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Why JCU?

JCU is now a signatory to the Talloires Declaration – an international commitment to sustainability in higher education making us one of 350 universities across 40 countries to commit to a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach.
James Cook University offers courses to develop knowledge and skills for education for sustainability based on principles and practice implemented through the United Nation’s Decade of Sustainable Development 2005-2014.
Education subjects cover the challenges of learning in the Anthropocene, the current Australian curriculum and national and international framing documents and ideas as well as communication skills, pedagogies and the latest developments in education for sustainability research and practice.

Application deadlines

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

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Mission and goals

Our mission is to educate engineers who can design infrastructures and plan human development while balancing environmental health and the society’s need for better living conditions. The MSc in Environmental and Land Planning Engineering focuses on a broad range of interdisciplinary professional capabilities and expertise required to deal with all the issues related to a sustainable utilization of natural resources. We provide a full track in English, which offers a panoply of specialized courses and laboratories addressing all the environmental components, air, water, soil and the biota, and the impacts due to natural hazards and to human activities, as well as their mitigation. We achieve the mission through advanced scientific and technological education.

See the website http://www.polinternational.polimi.it/educational-offer/laurea-magistrale-equivalent-to-master-of-science-programmes/environmental-and-land-planning-engineering/environmental-engineering-for-sustainability-track/

Career opportunities

Graduates are expected to be employed in land and environmental service enterprises, engineering firms for design and construction of plants for water and air emissions treatment, energy generation and waste disposal, companies for producing and managing environmental instrumentation, remote sensors and environmental monitoring systems and networks, public authorities and agencies for land planning and control.

The track in Environmental engineering for sustainability is taught in English.

Presentation

See http://www.polinternational.polimi.it/uploads/media/Environmental_Engineering_for_Sustainability.pdf
Our mission is to educate engineers who can design infrastructures and plan human development while balancing environmental health and the society’s need for better living conditions. The MSc in Environmental and Land Planning Engineering focuses on a broad range of interdisciplinary professional capabilities and expertise required to deal with all the issues related to a sustainable utilization of natural resources. We provide a full track in English, which offers a panoply of specialized courses and laboratories addressing all the environmental components (air, water, soil and the biota) and the impacts due either to natural hazards or to human activities, as well as their mitigation. We achieve the mission through advanced scientific and technological education.
Graduates are expected to be employed in land and environmental service enterprises, engineering firms for design and construction of plants for water and air emissions treatment, energy generation and waste disposal, companies for producing and managing environmental instrumentation, remote sensors and environmental monitoring systems and networks, public authorities and agencies for land planning and control.
The track in Environmental engineering for sustainability is taught in English.

Subjects

Available courses include: chemistry for sustainability, soil remediation, engineering and process technologies for water, air and solid wastes treatment, hydrology and hydraulic engineering, ecology, energy systems technologies, environmental impact assessment and quality evaluation, environmental systems engineering and management, geotechnical and seismic engineering, water, land and soil resource management, surface and subsurface water quality modelling and evaluation.

See the website http://www.polinternational.polimi.it/educational-offer/laurea-magistrale-equivalent-to-master-of-science-programmes/environmental-and-land-planning-engineering/environmental-engineering-for-sustainability-track/

For contact information see here http://www.polinternational.polimi.it/educational-offer/laurea-magistrale-equivalent-to-master-of-science-programmes/environmental-and-land-planning-engineering/environmental-engineering-for-sustainability-track/

Find out how to apply here http://www.polinternational.polimi.it/how-to-apply/

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For over 40 years, the Postgraduate Diploma in Outdoor Education, and for almost 20 years, the MSc in Outdoor Education, have been the world’s foremost graduate programme in the field, providing a broad base for a professional career in outdoor education.

There are three possible exit levels: Certificate (60 credits), Diploma (120 credits), or Masters (180 credits). The Certificate programme provides a broad theoretical coverage of the field of outdoor education. The Diploma extends this with further academic study and a Professional Development Programme (involving field courses, such as a canoe descent of the River Spey, winter hillwalking, a teaching placement/practicum, and an expedition), which provides a broad base for a professional career in outdoor education. The Masters extends this further still with a dissertation and associated research methods course.

The emphasis — whether Certificate, Diploma, or Masters — is on developing the knowledge, understanding, and judgement necessary to facilitate meaningful learning in, for, and through the outdoors.

You will develop your intellectual skills through critically assessing theoretical, professional, and academic issues surrounding outdoor education, while honing transferable skills such as environmental literacy and oral communication. You will also expand your understanding and personal practice of outdoor education through a range of professional development activities.

Courses take place at our Edinburgh campus and the University’s two residential outdoor centres in the highlands of Scotland, from where you will journey by boat or on foot to live and learn in the outdoors.

Programme structure

Learning will take the form of lectures, seminars, group discussions, student presentations, field courses, self-study, and work experience/practicum.

For the Postgraduate Certificate you will complete the following courses:

• Personal and Social Development and Outdoor Education (20 credits)
• Outdoor Environmental Education: Concept-based Practice (20 credits)
• Experiential Education (10 credits)
• Sources of Knowledge (10 credits)

For the Postgraduate Diploma, in addition to the above courses, you will complete:

• Ecology and Field Studies (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Landscape (20 credits)
• Social Theory and Outdoor Education (20 credits)

For the Masters, in addition to the above courses, you will complete:

• Research Methods – Planning Research (10 credits)
• Dissertation (50 credits)

For the Masters and Diploma you will also complete five field courses (sea kayaking, hillwalking (winter), hill walking (autumn), rock climbing, open canoeing, sea kayaking; approximately 24 days total), a four-week professional placement/practicum, a two-day specialist first aid course, and a 14-16 day expedition.

The Masters and Diploma programmes can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. The Certificate is by nature a part-time programme of study.

Career opportunities

Our graduates have been employed throughout the world in all aspects of the sector, such as residential outdoor education centres, organisations working with marginalised young people, management development, wilderness expeditions, environmental education programmes, and school, college, and university outdoor education programmes.

While the programme does not offer a formal teaching qualification, recent graduates have been successful in gaining accreditation by the General Teaching Council of Scotland to teach Outdoor Education in schools. In addition, you will develop highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied in any field.

Completion of the MSc degree also enables you to continue onto advanced research, and a possible academic career.

Work placement/internships opportunities

To facilitate and broaden direct experience of teaching outdoors, course members undertake a 4-week professional placement. The placement occurs at a stage in the programme when students are able to make a useful contribution to the agencies they choose to work with and are able to relate their experience to theoretical material covered in class. Placement agencies range from those focusing on environmental education, to inner city projects, special needs organisations, management training, outdoor education centres, and many more.

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Unique in Europe, and one of only a few in the world, this internationally respected MSc programme offers you the chance to develop a holistic approach to outdoor education with a specific emphasis on environmental and sustainability education. This programme will prepare you for a career in which you will facilitate learning that focuses on themes of environmental, sustainability, and ecological education.

There are three possible exit levels: Certificate (60 credits), Diploma (120 credits), or Masters (180 credits). The Certificate programme provides a broad theoretical coverage of the field of study. The Diploma extends this with further academic study and a Professional Development Programme (involving field courses, such as a canoe descent of the River Spey, introduction to group leadership and navigation techniques, a teaching placement/practicum, and a group project), which provides a broad base for a professional career in outdoor environmental and sustainability education. The Masters extends this further still with a dissertation and associated research methods course.

The emphasis — whether Certificate, Diploma, or Masters — is on developing the knowledge, understanding, and judgement necessary to facilitate meaningful learning in, for, and through the outdoors. You will consider a range of connected subject areas as well as the particular demands for teaching these in a variety of settings, from schools, residential centres, and Ranger sites, to charitable/not-for-profit organisations.

You will develop your intellectual skills through critically assessing theoretical, professional, and academic issues while honing transferable skills such as environmental literacy and oral communication. You will also expand your understanding and personal practice of educating outdoors through a range of professional development activities.

Courses take place at our Edinburgh campus and the University’s two residential outdoor centres in the highlands of Scotland, from where you will journey by boat or on foot to live and learn in the outdoors.

This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Environment & Society Academy.

• Global Environment & Society Academy

Programme structure

Learning will take the form of lectures, seminars, group discussions, student presentations, field courses, self-study, and work experience/practicum.

For the Postgraduate Certificate you will complete the following courses:

• Outdoor Environmental Education: Concept-based Practice (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Landscape (20 credits)
• Ecology and Field Studies (20 credits)

For the Postgraduate Diploma, in addition to the above courses, you will complete:

• Education for Environmental Citizenship
• Introduction to Learning for Sustainability
• Experiential Education (10 credits)
• Sources of Knowledge (10 credits)

For the Masters, in addition to the above courses, you will complete:

• Research Methods – Planning Research (10 credits)
• Dissertation (50 credits)

For the Masters and Diploma you will complete a four-week professional placement/practicum, a five-day canoe descent of the River Spey, a three-day land-based group leadership and navigation course, a two-day specialist outdoor first aid course, a group designed, week-long ‘Environmental Education in Practice’ practicum project, and the opportunity to opt-in to other professional development courses (eg. sea kayaking) from the MSc Outdoor Education programme at an additional cost.

The Masters and Diploma programmes can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. The Certificate is by nature a part-time programme of study.

Career opportunities

This industry-recognised qualification will allow you to take on roles in outdoor environmental and sustainability education in a variety of settings from schools, to community education, private organisations, or charitable/not-for-profit organisations.

Completion of the MSc degree will enable you to continue onto advanced research, and a possible academic career. However, you will also develop highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied in any field.

Work placement/internships opportunities

To facilitate and broaden direct experience of teaching outdoors, course members undertake a 4-week professional placement. The placement occurs at a stage in the programme when students are able to make a useful contribution to the agencies they choose to work with and are able to relate their experience to theoretical material covered in class. Placement agencies range from those focusing on environmental education, to inner city projects, special needs organisations, management training, outdoor education centres, and many more.

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Are you looking forward to a future as an expert in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics? As a graduate of our Master’s Programme in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics, you can find employment in the national or international market, for example at universities, research institutes, the public sector or in business, or you can become a self-employed entrepreneur.

The Viikki Campus offers optimal resources for studying the unique range of subjects offered by our programme. Upon graduating you will be a professional in applied economics in agricultural, environmental and resource-focused fields. You will be well versed in topics such as climate policy, sustainable agriculture and food security.

The Master's programme comprises two study tracks:
1. Agricultural economics
-Languages of instruction: Finnish, Swedish, English

2. Environmental and resource economics
-Language of instruction: English

As a graduate of the study track in Agricultural Economics you will have the ability to:
-Support decision-making in the public and private sectors in various roles as a consultant, researcher or public servant.
-Analyse and communicate the impact of policies on fields relating to agriculture, the environment and natural resources.
-Apply economic theories and quantitative methodologies, such as econometrics and numerical modelling, to issues in the field.

As a graduate of the study track in Environmental and Resource economics you will have the ability to:
-Identify the socio-economic drivers of natural resource use and environmental degradation.
-Analyse the effects of policies on the environment and on natural resource usage.
-Formulate recommendations to support decision-making in both the public and private sectors.
-Apply microeconomic theory and quantitative methods (econometrics, analytical and numerical dynamic modelling, game theory).

The University of Helsinki will introduce annual tuition fees to foreign-language Master’s programmes starting on August 1, 2017 or later. The fee ranges from 13 000-18 000 euros. Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries, who do not have a permanent residence status in the area, are liable to these fees. You can check this FAQ at the Studyinfo website whether or not you are required to pay tuition fees: https://studyinfo.fi/wp2/en/higher-education/higher-education-institutions-will-introduce-tuition-fees-in-autumn-2017/am-i-required-to-pay-tuition-fees/

Programme Contents

Studytrack: Agricultural economics
After completing the study track in agricultural economics you will be able:
-To apply the concepts and central theories of agricultural economics.
-To apply perspectives of economic, ecological and social sustainability.
-To analyse and develop the business operations of agricultural and rural enterprises as well as intensify production in a sustainable manner.
-To analyse the operation of agricultural and food markets.
-To analyse the international political steering of agriculture.

The study track of agricultural economics combines expertise in business administration and economics with knowledge of the special features of agriculture, rural enterprises, the food market and related policies. Through studies in agricultural economics, you will learn to apply theories and models used to define the profitability and competiveness of agricultural and rural enterprises and the farm-level factors contributing to profitability and competiveness. You will examine the operation of the market and assess various policy options. The studies include practice-oriented assignments that build your decision-making and career skills, and your self-confidence to apply theoretical knowledge in practice.

Studytrack: Environmental and Resource Economics
In this studytrack you will receive a state-of-the-art economic education in environmental and natural resources policy. The courses are divided into three groups:
-Theoretically focused courses in which you will gain a deep understanding of static and dynamic models and applications of game theory.
-Courses focusing on quantitative methods in which you will gain the ability to run numerical simulations and apply econometric methods.
-Thematic courses focusing on relevant challenges in environmental and resource policy.

Selection of the Major

Studytrack: Agricultural economics
Graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme in Environmental and Food Economics can continue directly to the Master’s Programme in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics, provided that they specialised in agricultural, environmental and resource economics for their Bachelor’s degree. In addition, graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme in Agricultural Sciences can continue directly to the study track in agricultural economics, provided that they have completed the module in agricultural economics for their Bachelor’s degree.

Applicants from other programmes and universities must have completed a sufficient amount of studies in economics, mathematics and statistics. Some of these studies may be incorporated into the Master’s degree as optional studies. If there are more applicants than student places, admission will be based on your previous academic performance and the applicability of your Bachelor’s degree.

Studytrack: Environmental and Resource Economics
The studytrack offers three mandatory modules and several optional modules. You can choose two thematic modules in order to focus on issues of interest to you. See the research focus below.

Programme Structure

Studytrack: Agricultural economics
The scope of the Master’s level studies is 120 credits, including both field-specific advanced studies and optional studies in the field or from other degree programmes. The minimum scope of field-specific advanced studies is 60 credits, 30 of which are accounted for by the Master’s thesis. You are recommended to focus on your Master’s thesis during your second year of Master’s studies.

The advanced studies comprise at least two modules of 15 credits. The modules are:
-Agricultural markets and policy
-Business economics
-Rural entrepreneurship
-Environmental and natural resources

In addition, your studies must include at least 15 credits of methodological studies. The studies encompass a practical training period and seminars, and they can include career orientation and career planning. You will also need to complete a personal study plan (PSP).

The scope of optional field-specific studies and studies offered by other degree programmes is 30–40 credits.

Studytrack: Environmental and Resource Economics
The studytrack lasts four semesters, lasting approximately 22 months (1st year beginning of August- 2nd year beginning of June).

Core modules (45 ECTS)
-Environmental economics
-Natural Resource Economics, dynamic optimisation and numerical models
-Environmental valuation, applied econometrics and cost-benefit analysis

Thematic modules (30 ECTS) Choose two of the following:
-Climate change
-Baltic Sea protection
-Agricultural economics and agri-environmental policy
-Forest economics

Internship and Master’s thesis seminar 15 credits (ECTS)

Master’s thesis 30 credits (ECTS)

Career Prospects

According to the labour market surveys conducted by the Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists, graduates from the study track in agricultural economics have been successful in finding employment – often before graduation. The programme alumni have found positions in various organisations in the public and private sectors in Finland, and many have pursued international careers in Europe or further afield. This study programme provides you with wide-ranging skills for starting a business and for serving in various expert or managerial positions, even if the focus of studies is on applied agriculture. Consequently, possible job titles are numerous: specialist, teacher, entrepreneur, researcher, senior officer, product manager, head of finance, etc. If you are interested in developing your expertise further, you can pursue postgraduate studies in the doctoral programmes offered by the University of Helsinki or another university in Finland or abroad.

The Environmental and Resource Economics Master of Science offers promising career paths in government, research, consultancy, industry, NGOs and international organisations.

Internationalization

-You can complete a practical training period abroad or go on a student exchange.
-You can work as a member of an international research group in Finland or abroad.
-You can complete part of your degree in English by taking courses given by international teachers.

As a student in the programme, you will have opportunities for internships, visits and study exchanges with partner universities. Visiting foreign lecturers give intensive courses as part of the thematic modules. As a student you will also be able to join our international research networks.

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