International Environmental Studies

International Environmental Studies

Master of science (2 year) Full time

This program provides students with the skills needed to study local to global environmental problems and to formulate policies and strategies for sustainable development. They learn to engage with the issues from an interdisciplinary perspective.

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Application deadline:

April 15th
International applicants:
December 1st

Number of students
30
Study start
Autumn 2022
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Contact info

Admission Office:
opptak@nmbu.no
Phone:  67 23 01 11

The program consists of a set of core courses – Introduction to International Environmental Studies, Foundations of Sustainability Science, and Research Methods – a broad variety of electives, and a 30-credit master thesis.

The core courses present fundamental concepts and analytical tools in environmental and sustainability science, and provide knowledge on the use of scientific methods.

Elective courses include e.g., Agroecology and Development; Climate Change and Development; Environmental Governance; Global Environmental Change; Global Food Security; Linking Ecological and Social Resilience; and Political Ecology. Both the elective courses and the master thesis allow students to specialise and tailor their course plan accordingly.

Job opportunities

Graduates can work in national and international agencies, ministries and environmental organisations, development aid agencies, education, research organisations, media, consulting companies and international non-governmental organisations.

Learning outcomes

Students will learn about society and environment interactions related to climate and other global environmental changes, loss of biodiversity and ecological life-support systems, land degradation, water and natural resource extraction, unsustainable agri-food systems, energy and pollution.

The program provides an in-depth understanding of the relationship between social and natural processes, and how governance and economic structures influence current trends.

Admission requirements

Applicants should hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent in the social, natural, environmental, humanities or agricultural sciences. 

A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of C (or the equivalent) is required.  

Applications must include a one-page (A4) motivation letter outlining your background (personal, professional, academic), motivation to study the M-IES programme and your contribution to the learning environment.  

Admission will be based on the applicants' academic transcripts and the motivation letter.

Applicants must meet the University’s requirement for English language proficiency: Language requirements for programmes taught in English at NMBU | NMBU

General information about admission requirements.

I give support to our Congolese partners in their implementation of projects. My master program at NMBU was highly relevant for the job I have now.

Stefan Kistler, Rainforest Foundation

Study structure

The program is interdisciplinary and uses a socio-ecological approach, with courses that focus on both natural and social aspects of the environmental challenges of our time. Students with both natural and social science backgrounds are accepted into the program.

The role of international political bodies, nation states and state policies, intergovernmental organizations, markets and civil society are emphasised. Poverty alleviation, health, human well-being, and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources are core aspects of sustainable development that are extensively covered in the program.

The program has an international scope, with a curriculum that covers topics that are relevant for countries across the globe, and utilises research-based knowledge from a wide set of geographical contexts. The program also covers global environmental issues as well as international initiatives for sustainability, and attracts students from all over the world.

 

Study content

Social relevance:

All humans depend on the Earth`s ecosystems and the services they provide, for food production, water supply, a healthy environment, suitable climate, spiritual well-being, and aesthetic pleasure. Many consider the rate at which people have changed the ecosystems during the last fifty years alarming. The M-IES programme offers interdisciplinary knowledge about how and why a sustainable future will depend not only on our ability to understand the ecosystems, but also on our realization of how human societies can interact sustainably with the environment. Sustainable development depends on competent analytical and management capacity both in the public sector and in civil society. The M-IES programme equips students with such capacities. To build the capacity needed to ensure long-term ecosystem services, students will explore complex relationships between society and the environment. Graduates are expected to contribute with integrated and innovative solutions to far-reaching problems, fostering action and change to meet socio-economic and biophysical challenges. Job opportunities can be found in government agencies, environmental organizations, research and education, media and business.

Learning outcomes:

The M-IES programme is interdisciplinary and uses a socio-ecological approach, with courses that focus on both natural science and social science aspects of the environmental challenges of our time.

The programme provides an in-depth understanding of the relationship between social and natural processes, and how governance and economic structures influence current trends. The programme has an international scope, with a curriculum that covers topics that are relevant for countries across the globe and utilises research-based knowledge from a wide set of geographical contexts.

Knowledge:

  • Extensive knowledge regarding the characteristics of environmental challenges and their drivers at different scales: global to local
  • In-depth understanding of key concepts, frameworks and tools for understanding sustainability problems and creating solutions
  • Comprehensive insights regarding complexity and interrelated social and ecological processes occurring across temporal, spatial, and organisational/political scales

Skills:

  • Ability to engage in management and policy formulation for sustainable development
  • Capacity to analyse complex environmental problems and governance issues in an interdisciplinary way
  • Learn about and critically assess academic advancements within the field of environmental and sustainability studies, as well as new policy developments
  • Capacity to create and evaluate solutions to environmental problems, acknowledging the dynamics between ecological and socio-political processes
  • Competence in planning and conducting field research, project management and development work.
  • Ability to use various frameworks and methods in the study of socio-environmental issues in the field.
  • Develop writing skills and learn to evaluate and use primary and secondary sources of data in the writing of papers, including the correct use and presentation of references.
  • Develop a critical perspective on power relations, ethical issues and conflicts of values related to environmental change and policy.

General competence:

  • Plan and carry out independent research, develop relevant research questions and engage critically in policy formulation and project development.
  • Solve theoretical, methodological and project/policy problems independently.
  • Apply insights and knowledge in development or environment management, teaching or business
  • Engage in public debates, media, voluntary organisations, community meetings, popular dissemination and in meetings with policy makers
  • Build research teams and inter-personal communication across cultures and across academic fields.

Contents and structure:

The Master Programme in International Environmental Studies requires a total of 120 ECTS over two years.

The first year consists of course work covering environmental studies theory, interdisciplinary research perspectives, research methodology, and an excursion that introduces new students to practitioners in the field. In addition, students can choose up from a wide range of core and elective courses. Students can choose elective courses offered in the M-IES program, but also more broadly at NMBU.

During the first semester, students design an individual study plan for their M-IES degree allowing to specialise within topics such as political ecology, sustainable agri-food systems, environmental governance, or green economy.

The second year comprises an individually designed combination of electives, field course and internship. Students are encouraged to spend a semester on exchange at a university abroad or in an internship with a national or international organization. Students are encouraged to write their Master Thesis based on field research and may locate their study in a variety of geographical contexts. The Master Thesis is normally written in the final semester.

Year 1:

Semester: Autumn

Compulsory Courses:

Elective courses include:

Semester: Spring

Compulsory course:

Elective courses:

The availability of electives may vary between years, and space limitations apply.

* Students must choose 20 ECTS among a set of core elective courses.

Year 2:

Semester: Autumn

Elective courses:

Exchange: Erasmus exchange in Europe | NMBU

Exchange outside of Europe

Faculty specific exchange

  • Students can also choose elective courses offered in the M-IES programme, at Noragric or other Faculties at NMBU. Course Catalogue.

Sample of Elective courses often taken by M-IES students:

EDS225 Linking Ecological and Social Resilience

EDS260 Global Environmental Changes

EDS285 Global Food Systems and Food Security

EDS315 Governance of Genetic Resources and Seeds

EDS348 Global Environmental Governance

EDS349 Energy and Society

EDS379 Global Political Economy​

Semester: Spring

Master thesis

A 30 ECTS Master Thesis is normally written in the Spring Semester of the second study-year.

A 60 ECTS Master Thesis is normally written in the Autumn and Spring Semester of the second study year.

Learning activities:

The overarching approach to learning in the M-IES programme is problem-based and process-oriented. Such student-active learning strategies are based on responsibility for own learning facilitated and supported by educators, as per the NMBU Learning Philosophy. This implies that, in many courses, students will be given responsibility for developing assignments, finding information, and deciding on the form of the presentation. The development of collaborative and communicative skills is central in the programme, and problem-based learning is often done in groups. Most courses will combine problem-based and process-oriented learning with other teaching and learning methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, digital and visual methods and individual work, including academic writing. Guest lectures by practitioners or scholars contribute to courses and debate.

Evaluation:

Courses use a variety of evaluation methods designed to match the learning goals, such as term papers, group work, oral presentations, podcasts, digital storytelling and written exams. In some, performance is evaluated based on work and assignments during the semester in others on a final assignment or examination at the end of the semester. Course descriptions include information on the form of evaluation used.

Admission requirements:

Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent in the social, natural, environmental, or agricultural sciences, or humanities.

A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of C (or the equivalent) is required.

Applications must include a one-page (A4) motivation letter outlining their background (personal, professional, academic), their motivation to study the M-IES programme and their contribution to the learning environment.

Admission will be based on the applicants' academic transcripts and the motivation letter.

Applicants must meet NMBU’s requirements for English language proficiency

General information on Admission requirements | NMBU.

Cooperation with other institutions:

The Department and Faculty cooperate internationally with a wide range of universities and research institutions. Further information.

https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/landsam/department/noragric/institutional_coop

Arrangements, incoming exchange students:

The programme is taught in English. Incoming exchange students can design a programme involving a variety of course combinations.