Environmental Governance

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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.

Course aims

`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.

Module details Course units typically include:

* Theories of Environmental Governance
* Issues in Environmental Policy
* Seminars and Key Texts in Environmental Governance
* Doing Geographical Research 1 and 2
* Environment and Democracy - exploring issues and mechanisms in ensuring democratic decision making about the use of the environment
* Valuing the Environment
* An Introduction to Environmental Economics
* Environment and Development
* Concepts in Environmental Law
* International Environmental Politics

Several other new options will be available in due course.

Students can also take as options units taught as part of the masters degrees in Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Reconstruction and Environmental Impact Assessment and Management.

Full entry requirementsAcademic entry qualification overview: Applicants are expected to have a first or upper second class degree (or its international equivalent) from a recognised research university. We welcome applicants from a range of degree backgrounds, especially Geography, Politics, Anthropology, Sociology and Philosophy. Candidates are expected to work very hard while studying for the MSc, and may need to undertake additional study on their own if they do not understand basic knowledge presupposed in some of the taught modules.International entry requirements: We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country .English language: Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements: * an IELTS Test score of 7.0 or more overall with a minimum writing score of 7 * or a TOEFL Test (Paper-based) score of 600 or more with a minimum score in Test of Written English of 5 * or a TOEFL Test (Computer-based) score of 250 or more with a minimum essay rating of 5 * or an NCUK PMP EAP Grade A Applicants whose language of academic instruction for at least 1 year has been English may be exempted from this requirement, at the discretion of the School. English Language Requirements 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. 60 (Grade C)