Environment, Sustainability and Global Development, Master Programme, 120 credits

Validation

This programme syllabus was validated by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2022-06-22 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree in natural sciences, social sciences or humanities, with at least 90 credits relevant to the environment, sustainability or global development. In addition, English 6 is required.

Programme outcomes

On completion of the programme, students can:

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in environmental science, including broad knowledge of environmental science and significant in‑depth knowledge in specific areas of environmental science and deep insight into current research and development.
• demonstrate in‑depth knowledge of methods in environmental science.

Competence and skills

• critically and systematically integrate knowledge in field of environmental science and analyse, assess and manage complex phenomena, issues, and situations, even when information is limited
• critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate questions in the field of environmental science, and plan and complete expert assignments within a given time frame, using the correct methods, so contributing to knowledge development, and assess this work
• in both national and international contexts, both orally and in writing, clearly explain and discuss their conclusions and the underlying argument for these in dialogue with different groups
• show the competence and skills necessary to participate in research and development or to independently work in other expert activities
• formulate research questions with a transdisciplinary profile in the field of environmental science.

Judgement and approach

• demonstrate the ability to make judgements that consider relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects within environmental science, and show awareness of ethical aspects in research and development work
• show insight into the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society, and humanity’s responsibility for how it is used, and
• identify their need of additional knowledge and take responsibility for their knowledge development.

Applicability

The programme is adapted to the increasing need for professionals with training in managing issues and problems that bridge the gap between different fields of knowledge. This is not least applicable to issues related to sustainability and global development, where the ability of ecological systems to provide ecosystem services is linked to issues of decision‑making and governance on various scales, including the life‑support systems of local communities. Due to the multi‑faceted nature of most kinds of environmental and natural resource problems, considering multiple analytical and assessment perspectives simultaneously is a necessary skill. The programme places considerable emphasis on developing the students’ communicative ability in both speech and writing for different target groups.

This Master’s programme provides eligibility for doctoral studies in Environmental Science or equivalent disciplines.

The programme has two specialisations: Environment, Politics and Global Development and Ecosystem Management, Biodiversity and Climate Change.

i. Environment, Politics and Global Development

This specialisation develops skills related to compiling, using, assessing and communicating knowledge about the environment, politics and global development in and between various types of organisations. Considerable attention is paid to globalisation, policies and complex structures around global cooperation and decision‑making, as well as different perspectives on and understandings of sustainable development. This Master’s specialisation develops useful analytical skills related to the increasing degree of complexity and uncertainty regarding sustainability that must be managed by nations and various types of institutions, organisations and movement. An important element of this specialisation is training the students’ ability to communicate complex scientific arguments a manner that is adapted to the target audience.

ii. Ecosystem Management, Biodiversity and Climate Change

Knowledge and skills in the natural resource management of terrestrial and marine ecosystems will help both us and future generations to improve the sustainable management of a changing environment. The character of environmental and climate‑related problems has expanded over recent decades, from comparably delimited problems to ecosystem‑based, multi‑dimensional approaches, which include ecological, societal and economic dimensions. Increased understanding of the significance and value of ecosystem services in physical planning and decision‑making is vital to sustainable development. Ecosystem management approaches are now common in environmental legislation and policy documents, both nationally and internationally, for example in the EU, and have an impact on the implementation of the UN’s global sustainability goals at local and regional levels. There is thus an increased demand for experts in environmental science who speciliase in ecosystem management, biodiversity and climate change issues.

Qualification

Title of qualification:

Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in Enviromental Sciences.

Filosofie mastersexamen med huvudområdet miljövetenskap.

Qualification stipulation:

The degree of Master of Science (120 credits) is awarded on completion of courses equivalent to 120 credits with a degree of specialisation determined by the individual institute of higher education. At least 60 credits must be awarded for in-depth courses within the main field of Environmental Science including a minimum of 30 credits for an independent project in the main field. A project of 15 credits is sufficient if a Master's project of 15 credits has previously been completed. A student must previously have been awarded a degree of Bachelor of Science for courses equivalent to 180 credits, or have an equivalent qualification from abroad.

Programme design

This programme aims to develop a trans‑disciplinary knowledge base and the ability to analyse and manage relevant environmental, climate and sustainability issues. There is a particular emphasis on developing useful combinations of scholarly approaches that increase the understanding of sustainability, the environment, global development, policy, climate, risk and ecosystem management. Group assignments are important tools for fostering different forms of cooperation, not only between students, but also by providing insights in practical environmental and sustainability work at government agencies, companies and other organisations outside the university.

The programme has two specialisations. Some courses are common to both, such as courses on research methods, environmental planning, environmental risks, and the final Master's dissertation. Students choose their specialisation after being admitted and registered on the programme.

i. Environment, Politics and Global Development

The specialisation focuses on in‑depth analyses of the relationship between science, communication, and political decision‑making in the fields of the environment, climate, and sustainable development at local, national, and global levels. Special attention is given to power structures and issues of how socio‑cultural, political, economic, and administrative structures and stakeholder interests affect interactions between experts, decision‑makers and the general public.

ii. Ecosystem Management, Biodiversity and Climate Change

The specialisation in ecosystem management, biodiversity and climate change is problem‑oriented and interdisciplinary, including aspects from the social sciences and natural sciences that relate to a sustainability transformation. The identification and evaluation of a range of ecosystem services in different types of ecosystems, and how they are affected by biodiversity and climate change and human activities, are particularly important. Humankind and nature can be viewed as a complex and integrated socio‑ecological system, where opportunities for flexibility and learning can contribute to a sustainability transformation. This includes different forms for ownership and usufruct of natural resources, for example, as well as stakeholder participation in governance processes such as adaptive co‑management.

Compulsory courses

Environment, Politics and Global Development:

• Sustainability, Policy and Knowledge Production, 7.5 credits
• Research Methods, 7.5 credits
• Global Development and Sustainability Challenges, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Discourses and Political Governance, 7.5 credits
• Contemporary Debates in Development and Sustainability Studies, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Communication, 7.5 credits
• Sustainability, Civil Society and Transnational Governance, 7.5 credits
• Communicating Scientific Knowledge and Complex Environmental Issues, 7.5 credits
• Ecosystem Management, 7.5 credits
• Statistics, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Planning for Sustainable Governance, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Risks, Assessment and Management, 7.5 credits
• Dissertation, 30 credits

Ecosystem Management, Biodiversity and Climate Change:

• Ecosystem Management, 7.5 credits
• Statistics, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Health, 7.5 credits
• Biodiversity and Conservation, 7.5 credits
• Climate Change and Sustainability Transformation, 7.5 credits
• Analytical Tools in Environmental Science, 7.5 credits
• Sustainability, Civil Society and Transnational Governance, 7.5 credits
• Communicating Scientific Knowledge and Complex Environmental Issues, 7.5 credits
• Sustainability, Policy and Knowledge Production, 7.5 credits
• Research Methods, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Planning for Sustainable Governance, 7.5 credits
• Environmental Risks, Assessment and Management, 7.5 credits
• Dissertation, 30 credits

A student on a study programme is guaranteed a place on the compulsory courses or on the specializations/courses within the programme. (For entry requirements, see, Other Stipulations.)

Optional courses

A student is guaranteed a place on a range of courses equivalent to a full workload. There is no guarantee that a student is offered a place on his/her first choice of course. For entry requirements, see course syllabus.

Degree project

Master's Dissertation in Environmental Science, 30 credits.

Credit transfer for prior studies

A student has the right to have prior learning assessed for accreditation within the study programme.

Other stipulations

For entry requirements for courses within a study programme, see course syllabus.