Programme description
The MSc in Environment and Development (E&D) is an interdisciplinary programme exploring the inter-dependencies between pressing environmental concerns and development pressures. It explores these themes, the disputes around it and practical issues from an informed theoretical perspective, with an abiding concern for social justice claims. Conventional academic approaches focus on development or the environment as separate categories, while this programme looks at socioeconomic development as a socio-ecological and politicoecological process.
In particular this E&D programme focuses on:
- grounding students in an awareness of the contested development paradigm;
- inculcating an awareness of economic, political and cultural links between environmental change and social inclusion.
Those issues will be studied at the local and national level, but also taking into account the global scale of environmental and development agendas. In many cases the root causes of inequality and poverty, both in the Global South and in the Global North, are driven by regional or global economics far beyond the borders of a particular country, village or region.
The programme will teach you to critically evaluate the multiple dimensions of the relationship between development and the environment. Teaching, fieldwork, group and practical exercises will use examples of relevance to Northern and Southern countries.
The breadth and depth of the School of GeoSciences enables students to explore a variety of environment and development issues relevant to the programme: e.g. biophysical dynamics, food insecurity, environmental governance, river basin management, cultural studies, climate change, multiple scarcities and inequalities, gender and development,etc. Students are challenged to cultivate research thinking that is cross-cutting and globally relevant, but also grounded in cases that focus on particular issues, places or systems, providing insights to effective solutions.
This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Development Academy.
Programme structure
This MSc consists of two semesters of taught courses. Students take two compulsory and four option courses, each a balance of lectures, seminars, workshops and visits, followed by an individual dissertation.
Compulsory courses typically will be:
Understanding Environment and Development
Development: Principles and Practices
Dissertation
Option courses:
In consultation with the Programme Director, you will choose from a range of option courses. We particularly recommend:
Applications in Ecological Economics
Atmospheric Quality and Global Change
Case Studies in Sustainable Development
Ecosystem Services 1: Ecosystem Dynamics and Functions
Energy & Society
Energy Policy and Politics
Environmental Impact Assessment
Forests and Environment
Foundations in Ecological Economics
Gender and Development
Global Environment and Society
Global Environmental Politics
Governing Mineral Extraction in Africa
Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability
Integrated Resource Planning
International Political Economy
Interpreting Development: Institutions and Practices
Interrelationships in Food Systems
Land Use/Environmental Interactions
Marine Infrastructure and Environmental Change
Marine Systems and Policies
Participation in Policy and Planning
Political Ecology
Principles of Environmental Sustainability
Principles of Geographical Information Science
Research Design in Human Geography
Soil Protection and Management
South Asia: Roots of Poverty and Development
The International Politics of Money
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Water Resource Management
Courses are offered subject to timetabling and availability and are subject to change.
Career opportunities
This programme is suitable for students seeking roles within international and national development agencies, thinktanks, NGOs, environmental consultancies or the private sector, or those going on to PhD research.
Student experience
Would you like to know what it’s really like to study at the School of GeoSciences?
Visit our student experience blog where you can find articles, advice, videos and ask current students your questions.
https://edingeoscistudents.wordpress.com/
A UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent. A UK 2:2, or its international equivalent, may also be accepted with relevant work experience and a strong personal statement and supportive reference.
