The MA/MSc in Environmental Sciences and Humanities is an innovative and truly interdisciplinary one-year Master's course, combining different approaches from the sciences and humanities for thinking about our relationship with the natural world.
This is a new course, to be offered for the first time in 2012/13. For detailed information on the degree programme, please consult the course prospectus or contact Dr Angela Breitenbach.
The MA/MSc in Environmental Sciences and Humanities brings together researchers in the environmental sciences, philosophy, history and literature to develop new ways of thinking about environmental change and social transitions, and to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our different approaches. The course is strongly orientated towards developing the insights of interdisciplinary work for policy-making.
The course begins with an intensive induction week, which forms part of a year-long unit, designed to support students throughout the course by providing the necessary context for reflecting on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental studies. Prior knowledge of the full range of disciplines is not required. The course is then arranged around three semester-long core modules, each of which pursues an integrated approach to a key area of environmental studies. All three of these modules are new units that are tailored specifically to the proposed degree and, with the exception of Module 1, are open only to students registered on the course. The modules explore, firstly, the understanding and measuring of environmental change, using physical and historical evidence to put contemporary changes into context; secondly, how to deal with uncertainty and risk, analysing the practical and theoretical significance of these concepts; and thirdly, competing ideas concerning the value of nature and how those values might be reconciled, ranging from economic to aesthetic and ethical evaluation. Students will also choose one further module from a range offered by the participating schools and will undertake a supervised dissertation project over the summer period. Students can approach any willing member of staff to supervise this dissertation and negotiate an appropriate topic with him or her.
The University of East Anglia houses a world-leading school of environmental science, together with internationally recognised expertise in the environmental social sciences and emerging environmental humanities. The Master's in Environmental Sciences and Humanities is the only course at this level that brings together this range of expertise to train the next generation of leaders, researchers, activists and citizens. In a world in which environmental concern is gradually being recognised as integrally related to all human concerns, this course aims not only to initiate and foster fundamental academic inquiry, but also to encourage practical and effective action. The course instructors are keen to share their extensive experience in bringing environmental thought to life, whether it be in the form of bringing appropriate technologies into service, transitions to sustainable living, political engagement or creative and artistic projects.
The Master's in Environmental Sciences and Humanities is the ideal gateway for anyone who wants to turn a passion for the natural world and concern for the future of humanity into a career that will forge new kinds of dialogue and engagement in sectors including conservation, the media, government, non-governmental organisations, research and education. It also offers an opportunity to those already working within these areas to further develop and share their knowledge.
The MA/MSc in Environmental Sciences and Humanities brings together researchers in the environmental sciences, philosophy, history and literature to develop new ways of thinking about environmental change and social transitions, and to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our different approaches. The course is strongly orientated towards developing the insights of interdisciplinary work for policy-making.
The course begins with an intensive induction week, which forms part of a year-long unit, designed to support students throughout the course by providing the necessary context for reflecting on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental studies. Prior knowledge of the full range of disciplines is not required. The course is then arranged around three semester-long core modules, each of which pursues an integrated approach to a key area of environmental studies. All three of these modules are new units that are tailored specifically to the proposed degree and, with the exception of Module 1, are open only to students registered on the course. The modules explore, firstly, the understanding and measuring of environmental change, using physical and historical evidence to put contemporary changes into context; secondly, how to deal with uncertainty and risk, analysing the practical and theoretical significance of these concepts; and thirdly, competing ideas concerning the value of nature and how those values might be reconciled, ranging from economic to aesthetic and ethical evaluation. Students will also choose one further module from a range offered by the participating schools and will undertake a supervised dissertation project over the summer period. Students can approach any willing member of staff to supervise this dissertation and negotiate an appropriate topic with him or her.
The University of East Anglia houses a world-leading school of environmental science, together with internationally recognised expertise in the environmental social sciences and emerging environmental humanities. The Master's in Environmental Sciences and Humanities is the only course at this level that brings together this range of expertise to train the next generation of leaders, researchers, activists and citizens. In a world in which environmental concern is gradually being recognised as integrally related to all human concerns, this course aims not only to initiate and foster fundamental academic inquiry, but also to encourage practical and effective action. The course instructors are keen to share their extensive experience in bringing environmental thought to life, whether it be in the form of bringing appropriate technologies into service, transitions to sustainable living, political engagement or creative and artistic projects.
The Master's in Environmental Sciences and Humanities is the ideal gateway for anyone who wants to turn a passion for the natural world and concern for the future of humanity into a career that will forge new kinds of dialogue and engagement in sectors including conservation, the media, government, non-governmental organisations, research and education. It also offers an opportunity to those already working within these areas to further develop and share their knowledge.
