Environmental Governance MSc

Global warming, over-fishing, famines, water shortages, organic food, the loss of rare animal species, fair trade coffee, deforestation, geopolitical struggles over oil and gas supplies, and desertification: these are among the signature issues of our time. They raise important questions about how we currently - and should in future - organise the relationships between societies and the natural resources and environments upon which they depend. This new MSc addresses these questions. It will provide a thorough training in the principles and practices of environmental governance. It is targeted at three audiences: those wishing to pursue a career in environmental regulation and management; those wishing to do further research on these topics; and current environmental professionals wishing to update their knowledge.

The MSc is distinctive in four ways:

• First, it considers the whole spectrum of approaches to regulating human use of the non-human world: from market-based to non-market approaches
• Second, the degree covers a wide spectrum of environments and resources, using case studies from the `first', `second' and `third' worlds equally
• Third, the MSc makes the connections between the different social spheres where environmental governance occurs - such as production, distribution and consumption.
• Finally, the MSc is highly interdisciplinary and will expose students to ideas and practices developed in a range of subject areas rather than one alone.

The degree is taught in such a way that students develop a wide range of both generic and subject-specific skills. Though the core teaching staff belong to the Geography discipline in the School of Environment and Development, the degree draws upon the expertise of the Society-Environment Research Group (SERG). This group involves over 10 researchers from SED and the School of Social Science. These researchers have distinguished records of theoretical, empirical and applied research in a range of geographical and environmental settings. These include work on mining in the south Pacific and French Guyana, on land rights in southern Africa, on bioprospecting in central America, on conservation projects in central Africa, on GMOs in Britain, and on water management in Ecuador and Spain - to name but a few.

The programme will also make good use of environmental practitioners in Manchester and the north-west of England. One of the practical elements of the programme will involve working with (or on) local institutions of environmental governance.

Informal enquiries, prior to applications, are welcomed. Please contact: Dr Maria Kaika(Programme Director) | Email: environmental.governance@manchester.ac.uk

`Governance' is a broad concept that refers to the principles and techniques - as well as the actors and institutions - involved in managing a sphere of human activity (like the economy). The syllabus covers theories and practices of environmental governance in a range of situations at a diversity of spatio-temporal scales. It is designed to offer a comprehensive introduction to how human use of the non-human world is organised and with what effects. The programme combines training in theory and concepts with more practical and applied elements.

Course units typically include:

• Key Debates in Environmental Governance
• Issues in Environmental Policy
• Doing Environmental Research

Optional Units

Students select five course units in order to make up their overall credits total. Where agreed with the course director, a student may select course units that are not directly related to the substantive aims of the programme if there is good reason.  So, for example, if a student is interested in representations of environment in Japanese literature, there may be a case for taking a Japanese Language unit.  Students are responsible for ensuring that they achieve an appropriate balance of units in each semester.

For further information and outlines of optional units in the faculty of humanities, please visit:

http://courses.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/pg/

Availability of course units may vary from year to year.

Postgraduate open days provide a great opportunity to take a look at the University and find out what Manchester has to offer you.For further information, please see: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/opendays

Academic entry qualification overview: Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with a minimum classification of Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2:1) or its international equivalent.

Admission of candidates who do not meet this criterion may be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or professional experience can be provided. Please contact the School's admissions office for further guidance.

English language:  Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

• IELTS Test score of 7.0 or more overall. With a minimum writing score of 7 and 6 in the other subsections
• TOEFL Test (Internet based) score of 100 or more overall, with a score of 25 in the written section, and 22 in the other subsections
• Pearson Test of English score of 66-73 or more overall, with a minimum score of 66 in the written section and 59 in allother subsections
• Grade C in the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
• Grade A in the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English.  (Please note that the Cambridge First Certificate in English is not acceptable.)
• an NCUK PMP EAP Grade A

Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of your course.

• Part-time Study

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 24 months.  There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and also seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off.  Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

The graduates of this programme will possess the knowledge of theory and policy, as well as the practical research skills, to pursue one or both of two careers: namely, a career in environmental governance in the public, private or voluntary sectors; and a career doing further research on environmental governance within a university or think-tank environment. Our graduates will be equipped to work for organisations like the Environment Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Soil Association, the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture among many, many others. Students are encouraged to interact with potential employers during the programme, especially when undertaking dissertation research.

School of Environment and Development

See: The School.

Contact name: Leann Finch

Telephone: +44 (0) 161 275 7446

Facsimile: +44 (0) 161 275 0421

Email: leann.finch@manchester.ac.uk

Website: www.manchester.ac.uk/sed