Environment and Development

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In a rapidly changing international economic, political, security and environmental context it is vitally important that policy makers, academics and others understand the interlinkages between different social and environmental systems. Global climate change and poverty are two of the most large-scale and serious issues facing humankind. Both compromise human and environmental security and are increasingly interlinked. Climate change is implicated in the generation of poverty, particularly in countries and regions which are most severely affected and have large, climatically dependent agricultural sectors, as in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In-turn, poverty is implicated in environmental modification and the necessity for people to mine their natural environments for resources as sources of livelihood. While over-consumption in the developed world of resources plays the major role, nonetheless poverty associated deforestation is also an important channel through which climate change is affected, for example. People living in extreme poverty are often more directly dependent on the environment for their livelihoods. Therefore maintaining and enhancing environmental quality can have a direct and important impact on poverty reduction. This requires a transition to sustainable livelihoods, involving a combination of new assets, capabilities and institutions.

This degree addresses issues of environment and development and the interlinkages between them. It aims to develop a critical understanding of the operation of socio-political and environmental processes from local to global scales. Particular emphasis will be laid upon the interconnectedness between political and socio-spatial theory, governance, civil society, environmental conflict, and climate change, amongst other issues.

A wide variety of careers will be open to graduates from this programme in overseas development assistance for public, private and non-governmental organizations. It is envisaged that the programme will also attract active professionals already working in these fields, who wish to strengthen their qualifications, in addition to students who wish to develop careers in this area or to pursue further academic studies.

This degree aims to develop a critical understanding of the operation of socio-political and environmental processes from local to global scales. Particular emphasis will be laid upon the interconnectedness between political and socio-spatial theory, governance, civil society, environmental conflict, and climate change, amongst other issues. The course includes an innovative fieldcourse based in Rwanda on Climate-Environment-Sustainability Interactions and Threats to Livelihoods. Further details on modules and on the fieldtrip are available from the course director.

A wide variety of careers will be open to graduates from this programme in overseas development assistance for public, private and non-governmental organizations. It is envisaged that the programme will also attract active professionals already working in these fields, who wish to strengthen their qualifications, in addition to students who wish to develop careers in this area or to pursue further academic studies.

Course Modules

Globalisation, Environment and Development

* Global Economy, Global Ecology: The Scale of Global Environmental Problems
* Globalization and Development Theory
* The Causes of Global Environmental Problems: Overconsumption versus Overpopulation * Case studies of the United States and India.


* Indigenous Land/Marine Mangement Systems
* The Political Ecology of Food
* States, Transnational Corporations and the World Bank: The Environmental Impacts of Development * Toxic Trade and Environmental Racism


* Gender and Environment * Case study of Narmada Dam project in India


* Grassroots Environmental Action
* The Greening of Industry or Deglobalisaton

Climate Change, Conflict and Development

* Introduction to climate change vulnerability * Brief review of political ecology
* Brief review of the politics of underdevelopment
* Explanation of local climate change patterns in African states


* Connecting the dots * How is climate change related to ecological disasters?
* How is climate change vulnerability related to underdevelopment?
* How is underdevelopment related to political exclusion and marginalization?
* How is marginalization related to conflict onset and duration?
* Why are those most affected by climate change the least likely to rebel?


* Conflict * Correlates to conflict in underdeveloped states
* Why climate change causes more poverty, but not war.



Environmental Transformations in the Developing World

* Health impacts of environmental change * Vectors for disease propagation
* Air quality and respiratory conditions
* Demographic change linked to environmental pressure
* Water quality and health sustainability


* Forest productivity and regional economic dependency
* Competition for water resources, migration and conflict * Case studies in sub-Saharan Africa


* Coastal zones, infrastructure and commerce * Impact of coastal zone change on trade routes and socio-economic stability


* Habitat loss, resource management and evolving social-economic impacts on development
* Environmentally-driven conflict and migration
* Fieldcourse

Globalisation and African Development

* Africa and the World System
* The African State
* Ethnicity, Conflict, Terrorism and Democracy
* Agriculture and the Rural-Urban Interface
* HIV/AIDS in Africa
* Regionalization in Southern Africa: South Africa´s Role and Impact
* The New Partnership for African Development
* China in Africa
* Roadmaps for the Future

Globalisation and Asian Development

* Overview of theories of development and anti-development * Case studies to connect these theories to contemporary issues in Asia


* The variety of political and economic models of development practiced throughout Asia * Five case studies: Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Thailand


* Globalisation and global, regional and local inequality
* Asia´s role in the Global Economy
* Asian financial crises * Causes and contemporary outcomes


* Asia´s place in global flows of commodities and capital. * Environmental impacts
* Social impacts
* Economic impacts


* Social movements and alter-globalisation
* Technological advancements, altered global positionalities and new cybergeographies * Opportunities and tensions arising from international interactions
* Interplay of domestic societies and transnational and international forces


* Disintermediation, the `digital divide,´ and possibilities for new types of development.

Research methods: Data handling and analysis

* Research design. Experimental design (introduction). Data collection methods.
* Types of data and the implications for data exploration, assessment of normality etc.:
* Data description: Plots, summary statistics
* Basic statistical analysis: t-tests, Chi-squared analysis, simple one-way ANOVA, linear regression, correlation
* More complex experimental design: extending ANOVA, multiple regression.
* Mutivariate methods - ordination, classification, cladistics.
* Interviews and survey questionnaires
* Case studies
* Multicriteria assessment

Desk Study

* Introduction to the goal of a review, presentation of topics
* Tutorial session at beginning and mid-point of module
* Presentation summary of the study at the end of module

A variety of topics will be proposed by a wide section of the School academic staff. The topics will relate to current and future trends in environmental and development issues in the developing world. These topics will be collated and approved by the module co-ordinator. Each student will work with the member of staff proposing their chosen topic, following standard guidance on recommended number of meetings, report structure and presentation.

Project Planning

* Workshop to present and discuss list of project titles
* Student meetings with supervisors
* Workshop on developing a grant application, including budgeting and hypothesis generation. Presentation of the Logical Framework Approach.
* Student presentations on project plans, including hypotheses under investigation and research methods.

Research project (dissertation)

Students should develop and demonstrate a capacity to:

* prepare a clear rationale for the selection of a problem or issue to be studied;
* carry out an appropriate review of the relevant literature and consider its implications for the proposed study;
* develop a set of hypotheses or ideas to be tested;
* select and employ suitable methods and procedures for the collection, analysis and presentation of relevant data;
* discuss the results in terms of their implications for the hypotheses;
* present the study in a coherent and acceptable fashion;
* produce well-reasoned conclusions and discuss their significance and implications.

Course Module Options available through TCD Masters in Global Health

* Determinants of Health Health in Emergencies and Complex Situations,
* The Impact of Migration and Population Movement on Global Health,
* The Dynamics of International Aid for Global Health and Development.

Course Module Options available through University College Dublin

* Politics of Development,
* Human & Economic Development,
* Governing the Global Economy,
* The International Politics of the Middle East,
* Development and Global Justice,
* Key Issues in Human Rights,
* Food Security,
* Comparative Ethnic Conflict.

Applications for admission are accepted from * holders of first or upper-second class honors degrees awarded by recognised universities and institutions, and recognised degree awarding bodies (e.g. NCEA, CNAA); * holders of other degrees from recognised universities or degree granting institutions who have experienced at least three years of appropriate employment; * holders of recognised professional qualifications obtained through examinations who have spent four years at least in study and who, in addition, have been employed for two years at least in the work of their profession; * holders of diplomas obtained through examinations who have spent three years at least in full-time study at a recognised third-level educational institution and who, in addition, have experienced a minimum of five years appropriate employment. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English in a test administered by an institution independent of their own university (e.g. the British Council).All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must present one of the following qualifications in the English language: * IELTS: Grade 6.5 * TOEFL: 88 - iBT, 230 - Computer based, 570 - paper based * Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: Grade C * Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: Grade C English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 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) TOEFL paper-based test score : 570 TOEFL iBT® test: 88

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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