Aim of the programme
The unsustainable management of natural resources hampers human development and exacerbates human inequalities. Pollution, depletion of natural resources, the disintegration of ecological functions, and ineffectual policies are matters of local, regional and global concern. Economic development and rising living standards in the developing world, set against increased pressures on the environment, contribute to the urgency of these problems. Preventing further degradation of the environment, and the consequent damage to human society, requires new approaches for sustainable interactions between people and their environment. Sustainability depends on balancing use and conservation of environmental resources, but the challenge is to increase food supply and human welfare while minimising and counteracting the negative impacts on the environment.
To find sustainable solutions and improve the quality of human life, we must first understand the processes that sustain natural systems, how these systems function and how they interact with one another and with human society. The MSc programme in Environmental Science develops the understanding of these processes and how to apply this knowledge for better natural resource management in your day-to-day work. During the programme you will learn to analyse and assess environmental systems and problems; be able to propose and plan for sustainable solutions and develop technical measures; and understand the planning and management dimensions of addressing environmental problems. In class ample examples from practice are used to illustrate and reflect on theory and concepts, while group work is applied to gain the necessary skills to address problems in multi-disciplinary teams. During the final phase of the programme, you will produce an independent scientific research project that brings together the knowledge, skills and the critical thinking developed through the individual modules of the programme.
Programme contents
The MSc programme in Environmental Science equips professionals with the necessary capacities for sustainable natural resource management by offering a systems approach. This means you will investigate subsystems and their interactions at global, regional and local scale without losing sight of the overall picture. The programme balances a thorough knowledge of the disciplines taught by each of the programme’s specializations, and the added value of bringing these disciplines together in one coherent programme.
Specialization
Applied Aquatic Ecology For Sustainability
You will gain a thorough understanding of the natural processes in aquatic ecosystems and be able to apply this knowledge to sustainable management for healthy ecosystems and good water quality in a multidisciplinary setting.
ISCED Categories
