Environment, Politics and Development

The programme attracts applications from students with a variety of academic and experiential backgrounds. We welcome applications from those who have worked in a broad field of development, but also from students without relevant work experience who can demonstrate a strong interest in, and understanding of, environment-development issues. A good first degree in a social science is preferred.

This programme takes a critical political ecology frame and examines environmental policy and its intersections with development from a social justice angle. It is taught and convened by leading political ecologists and offers a critical analysis of key issues including water, forestry, climate, fisheries, agricultural production, biodiversity, conflicts and energy supply.

The masters asks important questions including:

• How does the environment intersect with global poverty, wealth and questions of inequality?
• Can Carbon trading offer a solution to managing climate change?
• How does access to water intersect with dynamics of wealth and poverty?
• Is wildlife conservation implicated in social injustices?
• What role can and do environmental movements play in development?
• Is there a link between environmental change and violent conflict?
• What is the political ecology of forests?

The MSc programme’s emphasis on transferable analytical skills has been of great benefit to the many graduates who have returned to, or taken up, professional careers in development in international organisations, government agencies and non-government organisations. Students also benefit from the wide range of courses on offer, both within the Department and across the School, allowing them to create individualised interdisciplinary programmes.

The MSc Environment, Politics and Development has four components:

There are four main components to this degree: three taught courses and a 10,000 word dissertation. All students take a core course, Political Ecology of Development. They then select one of four further core courses: Political Economy of Development; Theory, Policy and Practice of Development; Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development; or Law and Natural Resources. Through these courses students build their analytical skills and knowledge of the main issues and debates in Development Studies.

Specialisation

Students also take optional courses (one full unit course or two half-unit courses), allowing them to specialise in particular areas of environment, politics and development and potentially to develop a dissertation in a related theme. By tying these to their individual dissertation topic, students design their degree to suit their own interests and career development goals.

Core Courses

All students take Political Ecology of Development. Then select either Political Economy of Development, Theory, Policy and Practice of Development, Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development or Law and Natural Resources. The dissertation is compulsory.

• Political Ecology of Development - 15PDSC009 (1.0 Unit)
• Political economy of development - 15PDSC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Theory, policy and practice of development - 15PDSC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Political economy of violence, conflict and development - 15PDSC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Law and natural resources - 15PLAC126 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Dissertation in Development Studies - 15PDSC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Non-Assessed Courses

All MSc students in Development Studies are eligible to attend the one-term , non-assessed course, Economics for Beginners,which introduces students to basic concepts in microeconomics, macroeconomics, development economics, and statistics and econometrics.

Optional Courses

• Agrarian Development, Food Policy and Rural Poverty - 15PDSH026 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Aid and development - 15PDSH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Borders and Development - 15PDSH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Civil society, social movements and the development process - 15PDSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Contested natural resources, rural livelihoods and globalisation - 15PDSH031 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2014/2015
• Development practice - 15PDSH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• East Asia and globalisation - 15PDSH025 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Environment, Governance and Development - 15PDSH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Extractive Industries, Energy, Biofuels and Development in a Time of Climate Change - 15PDSH048 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Famine and food security - 15PDSH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Fundamentals of research methods for Development Studies - 15PDSH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Gender and development - 15PDSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Global commodity chains, production networks and informal work - 15PDSH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Global Health and Development - 15PDSH051 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Issues in forced migration - 15PDSH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Migration and Policy - 15PDSH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Neoliberalism, Democracy and Global Development - 15PDSH054 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Problems of development in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PDSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Security - 15PDSH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The working poor and development - 15PDSH030 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Understanding economic migration: Theories, Patterns and Policies - 15PDSH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Water and development:conflict and governance - 15PDSH049 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2014/2015

Open Options in Other Departments Politics and International Studies Department

• Government and politics in Africa - 15PPOC205 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of modern South Asia - 15PPOC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year

School of Law

• Human rights in the developing world - 15PLAC111 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Water Law: Justice and Governance - 15PLAH044 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

History Department

• History of Environment and Globalisation in Asia and Africa - 15PHIH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Anthropology and Sociology Department

• Anthropological approaches to agriculture, food and nutrition - 15PANH053 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Study of Religions

• Religions and Development - 15PSRH049 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent). Relevant work experience may also be considered.Subjects Preferred: Social Science English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.