Master Programme Guidebook Environmental Management and Physical Planning - Master of Science Department of Quaternary Geology and Physical Geography

Transcription

1 Master Programme Guidebook Environmental Management and Physical Planning - Master of Science Department of Quaternary Geology and Physical Geography

2 The Programme Autumn Term Spring Term Programme Description This programme focuses on combining environmental science with physical planning. It provides students with a systems perspective on environmental, health, and sustainability issues in urban, rural and international settings. It provides students with the skills to analyse planning processes, international and transboundary issues, and gives practical training in tools such as systems analysis and GIS*. The programme includes three compulsory courses and up to three optional elective courses which allows students to individually profile their education to increase knowledge in such areas as resource management, climate or water sciences, systems analysis modelling and theory, GIS, Swedish environmental law (in Swedish) as well as gain practical experience through internships**. The programme concludes with a thesis of up to 60 credits. *elective **some suggested electives require additional pre-requisites than required for the Environmental Management and Physical Planning programme. Please check pre-requisites for elective courses accordingly Programme Outline The two-year Master s Programme consists of 120 credits: 45 credits Mandatory advanced courses credits Optional courses credits Master Thesis Project (mandatory) The number of optional courses taken will be dependent on the period of time devoted to the Master Thesis, which may extend over one or two terms. A B C D A B C D Year 1 Year 2 A B GE7022 Applied Environmental Modelling, 15 credits (10 weeks) OPTIONAL: Register for this course when you register for the programme (Optional Courses, pp. 4-5) GE7015 Environmental Management in Planning OR GE7042 Environmental Law and Planning (in Swedish), 15 credits GE7007 International Environmental Issues, 15 credits Autumn Term Spring Term C D A B C D OPTIONAL COURSES OR THESIS (see optional suggestions) OPTIONAL COURSES OR THESIS (see optional suggestions) THESIS (see Thesis project hints) THESIS Admission requirements To be eligible for this programme you must have knowledge corresponding to a Bachelor's degree, with at least 90 ECTS credits in Earth sciences, Geography or Environmental Sciences, or equivalent Science or Civil Engineering competence. Also required is knowledge equivalent to Swedish upper secondary school course English B (for TOEFL requirements and other equivalents, visit Teaching Staff Academic and Trained Professionals Members of the teaching staff are drawn from Stockholm University, KTH and other universities, as well as from public authorities, organisations, NGOs and private business. 1

3 Programme Courses Mandatory Courses Applied Environmental Modelling, GE7022, 15 credits Environmental issues are complex. A systems perspective is required in order to understand today s multidisciplinary environmental problems and to identify both long-term solutions and alternatives. The course is founded in systems science theories (system analysis and system dynamics) and approaches problem-solving with the help of conceptual and quantitative modelling, and scenario techniques focusing on natural resource management, anthropogenic environmental impact and sustainability. The course includes both theoretical and practical components. After taking the course it is expected that the student will be able to: identify, represent and analyse environmental systems and associated dynamic structures; utilize system theoretical methods to conduct diagnostic and prognostic analyses of diverse environmental problems, including identification of sub-systems, processes, delays and non-linear behaviour; apply conceptual modelling on practical examples; use aggregated computer-based modelling; apply scenario techniques, analyse and evaluate scenario assumptions and results; and analyse uncertainty, knowledge. Environmental Management in Planning, GE7015, 15 credits Environmental issues are increasingly important in physical planning as they are complex, intertwined with other policy areas and require a broad analysis to identify potential solutions and different stakeholder perspectives. You will study the roles of local and regional planning authorities and their modes of work through Swedish planning examples, as well as come in contact with EIA and other methods for decision-making. The course includes lectures from public and private sector experts in the environmental policy, planning and business spheres, as well as presenting academic perspectives regarding environmental management and planning. The course incorporates a large project component, providing hands-on experience through the analysis of a sustainable development initiative currently being undertaken in the Stockholm region. After taking the course it is expected that the student will have knowledge of: methods and practices of relevance for physical planning used by public authorities; environmental objectives and environmental action plans; the role of County administration and municipalities in the planning process; laws and regulations governing physical planning; as well as be able to develop community plans which include environmental considerations. 2

4 Mandatory Courses cont. International Environmental Issues, GE7007, 15 credits Many of our environmental problems are trans-boundary and require international co-operation for their mitigation or resolution. The course describes the role of scientific knowledge and how scientific uncertainty and ignorance are handled in relation to environmental policy, international law and global commerce and negotiations. Examples of international environmental issues covered in the course include anthropogenic climate change, regional trans-boundary air pollution, the ozone hole, international fisheries, industrial life-cycle analysis, and environmental security. Special attention is given to the role of the EU in European and national environmental regulation. The course is based on lectures, seminars, gaming and includes a week-long excursion to Latvia which illustrates international environmental action and problems. It includes visits to the Latvian Environmental Ministry and the North Vidzeme UNESCO biosphere reserve. After taking the course it is expected that the student will have knowledge of/be able to: the historical development of international environmental conservation and management identify problems and challenges currently associated with international environmental management; understand and evaluate the scientific uncertainty and risks related to monitoring and regulation of international and environmental issues; and critically analyse current conditions and limitations for the development of environmental politics/guidelines which steer environmental work and the regulation of international environmental issues. Research in Action. Group Project Work, Environmental Management in Planning 3

5 Optional Courses Choosing Optional Courses Gain the breadth of knowledge you desire during your Master s degree by registering for elective courses that reflect your interests and complement your academic skills. This will help to make you more employable in the workplace or more suitable for PhD opportunities you may be interested in, after you graduate. You are required to apply for your fall elective in your first year at the same time that you apply for the programme due to limited seat availability in all departmental courses. You can also choose to complement your technical and other skills by taking courses at other institutions including KTH and KI. There are some additional courses offered in the department in Swedish for those students proficient in the Swedish Language. Choose courses based upon: Desired knowledge areas environmental policy and theory, environmental science, applied knowledge, technical skills, and practical work experience. Course pre-requisite requirements - check to make sure you qualify. If you can, take the prerequisite courses you will need in your undergraduate degree, to have easier access to a broader range of courses at the Master level. Potential employment or PhD opportunities do research to check course, experience, and knowledge requirements to support your post-graduation plans. Take elective courses that sound interesting! Optional Programme Courses Applied Environmental Modelling II, GE8020, 15 credits Long-term solutions to environmental problems require a systems perspective in order to describe and analyse the dynamic interactions between the various actors involved. This course provides greater understanding of problem-solving strategies utilising systems thinking, and conceptual- and quantitative modelling. The course builds on the student s existing system-theoretical knowledge as well as offering new tools for the application of systems thinking within the realm of environmental analysis and planning. Theory in Systems Analysis and Planning in an Environmental and Landscape Perspective, GE8014, 15 credits This is a literature-based course that applies a systems perspective to discussions of sustainability and environmental issues at local, regional and global scales. The course approaches theoretical and practical systems analysis through the discussion and analysis of case studies addressing: systems thinking, planning theory, planning and decision making, as well as the use and management of natural and cultural landscapes. These theories and approaches are then applied to environmental and urban landscapes and reflect upon the environmental impacts of activities occurring in these spaces, including climate change impacts. This course complements course GE7022, Applied Environmental Modelling, by extending the theoretical knowledge related to themes and issues introduced to students in GE

6 Autumn Term: Period C-D (available to you in both Year 1&2*) Special application processes and other pre-requisites outside of programme pre-requisites are required for several of these options. Please check the website for information, prerequisites and other course options before registering. *Course availability will vary year-to-year. Optional Programme Courses Applied Environmental Modelling II, GE8020, 15 credits Theory in Systems Analysis and Planning in an Environmental and Landscape Perspective, GE8014, 15 credits GIS and Remote Sensing Applied Remote Sensing and GIS for Landscape Analysis, GE7062, 15 credits Introductory master-level course Geographic Analysis and Visualization in GIS, GE8013, 15 credits Advanced master-level course Global Climate and Environmental Change, GE7063, 15 credits Environmental Science and Resource Management Hydrology and Hydrogeology, GE5022, 15 credits bachelor-level course Miljökonsekvensbeskrivningar (Case Studies of Environmental Impact Assessments), GE7045, 15 credits (In Swedish) Autumn Term, Year 2: Period A-B In your second year, you have the potential to take up to 2 optional courses, in blocks A-B and C-D of the autumn term (see options above for block C-D). Speak with Maria Damberg, the Academic Student Counsellor to register for courses internally in your second year (Do not register online!). Local to Global Water Vulnerability and Resilience, GE7025, 15 credits Environmental Science and Resource Management Political Ecology Land use and Natural Resources in a Local to Global Perspective, GE7039, 15 credits Miljövård i jord- och skogsbrukslandskapet (Environmental Management in Agriculture and Forestry), GE7044, 15 credits (in Swedish) 5

7 Internships and Thesis Work Internships and Thesis Project Tips The department provides you with the possibility to complete an internship. It is your responsibility to find a company to work with. It is actually easier to identify these companies than you might think. Here are some tips to get you started: Think sector: would you like to intern for an NGO, a consultancy/private business, or in the public sector? Do you want to intern in Sweden? Many companies have a section dedicated to students on their websites. Here you can find information on available internship and thesis project options that and/or contact information for a company representative that can provide you with this information. It can be more difficult for international students to find internships in Sweden, but not impossible. Search for international organizations and business located in Sweden AND Swedish organizations that work internationally. There can be more flexibility to work in English in these cases. Talk to students in the second year of the programme. They may have tips regarding companies to check-out. Thesis topics and Areas of Research You have independence and flexibility in deciding what thesis project you would like to undertake. The multidisciplinary nature of the programme allows for a broad range of project options ranging from management and planning, through environmental science and modelling, to socioecological/socioeconomic research, or a combination of these areas. It is your responsibility to determine a research topic, so start to think early and reflect upon what areas of research you are most interested in. Would you like to continue with a PhD after your master degree? Align your research with an area and concrete topic you would like to continue working with in the future. If possible tailor your choices to the department you would like to complete your PhD. Would you like to write your thesis for a company? There is the opportunity to write your research as a cooperative work between the university and a company or organization. Several students have done this in the past. It can also act as an alternative to an internship (see tips for finding an internship). This could also put you in a better (though certainly not ensured!) position to gain employment directly after you graduate. Are you an international student planning to return to your home country? If you want to go home after your research it might be a good idea to find an internship and/or thesis research topic related to environmental issues and management in your own country as your research may be more applicable upon your return. 6

8 Work after Graduation What job can I get when I graduate? One of the most common questions asked by new and potential students applying to this programme is: what kind of a job can I get after graduating? Because the programme is highly multi-disciplinary, it prepares you for a wide range of potential career paths upon completion. This can be in areas of sustainable development, ecosystem management, energy and forestry sectors, or environmental planning; this means working with anyone from environmental or technical consultancies, the private sector and public sector, non-profit work, or even in politics. What you work with will be reflective of your interests and even how you have tailored your programme studies throughout your Master degree. This type of flexibility means, however, that identifying exactly what type of jobs graduates can get is more difficult than say, understanding that a degree in law = lawyer. To get a better understanding of what range of jobs we might possibly be talking about, four students are featured below and a further list of other job titles and work places that past graduates are now working at can be found at the end of this booklet. Each graduate has also offered some key advice to you during your studies. Christina Holmström Current Employment: Technical Consultant, Sweco (Sweco Environment), Stockholm. Educational Background upon entering this programme: BSc. Environmental Science, Linköping University, Sweden Why she chose this Master programme: I like systems thinking and management approaches to environmental planning and there was a great ability to shape my own degree. Elective course recommendation: Environmental Law and Planning if you plan to work with Environmental Management in Sweden. Master thesis topic: Christina used systems analysis to analyse different methods of food waste collection and their impacts upon the working environments of those employed as waste collectors. Internship/Master thesis partnership: She wrote her thesis in collaboration with Sweco. Other events she partook in during her time at SU: Christina attended a seminar about Rio +20 with Nobel Prize winners. Her thesis is now published in Avfall Sveriges branch magazine Waste and Environment. Her tips to you as new students: Think big and wide when it comes to both elective courses and thesis topics! I chose electives in several departments at different universities which gave me great new contacts, and a great breadth of knowledge. Approach companies and potential employers early for thesis work, with a well prepared CV and cover letter. You do not have to propose an idea, my experience was that companies tend to have their own areas of interest that they would like to develop. If you happen to share that interest, there is a chance to get your foot in the door by doing your thesis work with an identified potential employer. That is how I got my first contract! Country of origin: Sweden 7

9 Daniel Ketzer Current Employment: Scientific Staff, Renewable Energies and Bioeconomy, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. Educational Background upon entering this programme: BSc. Physical Geography, Munich University, Germany Why he chose this Master programme: It provides an interesting combination of courses and the flexibility to choose courses according to my own profile. It also gave me the option to focus on renewable energies and sustainable technology and provided me with skills in Environmental Modelling and GIS, which I believe are key competencies necessary for environmental work. Elective course recommendations: GIS and other electives in the field of renewable energies and sustainable technology at KTH to complete your courses at SU. Master thesis topic: Daniel used systems analysis, developing a model to assess bioenergy potentials using different scenarios in the Odenwaldkreis A district of Hesse State, Germany. Internship/Master thesis partnership: He wrote his thesis in partnership with the Institute of Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Other events he partook in during his time at SU: The European Biomass Conference in Berlin, the Nobel Symposium in Stockholm, Field Trip to Tarfala Research Station, and was an activity coordinator during Stockholm Earth Week. His tips to you as new students: Go abroad, try to find a company for your Master thesis, do an internship and try to develop a science network while you are in school. Take part in conferences if possible and participate in site visits! Make the most of your time! Country of origin: Germany Calle Österlin Current Employment: Research Assistant Developing and improving indicators within the Environmental Objective System in Sweden, Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University Educational Background upon entering this programme: BSc. Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Sweden Why he chose this Master programme: Because I wanted to study in Stockholm and the programme seemed interesting. Elective course recommendation: Experimental Studies in Environmental Science with the ITM department. They have a large number of resources for data collection in the field and results analysis. Master thesis topic: Through group modelling of Causal Loop Diagrams with stakeholders in the alternative energy industry, Calle was able to explain the effects of regional environmental targets on current biogas systems in Stockholm. Internship/Master thesis partnership: Calle did an internship at the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia where he worked with improved rural sanitation. Other events he partook in during his time at SU: REACT U.S. (Research on Environmental Action and Clean Tech in U.S. Cities), a Swedish American Green Alliance grant-funded initiative administrated by the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. This included a brief internship at the Portland Sustainability Institute, in Oregon, USA. Country of origin: Sweden 8

10 Elissa Berrill Current Employment: First Nations Forestry and Community Economic Development Intern, Robin B. Clark Inc. Community Forest Consulting, Vancouver, Canada. Educational Background upon entering this programme: B.A. Human Geography with a minor in Commerce, University of British Columbia, Canada Why she chose this Master programme: I wanted to move to Sweden as it is so well known internationally for its environmental successes. This programme allowed me to combine my socioenvironmental background with more concrete technical and planning skills. Systems analysis is a very valuable theoretical framework and analytical tool for environmental management. Elective course recommendation: GIS and advanced Systems analysis courses, complement your current skill set. Master thesis topic: Elissa used system analysis within ecosystem-based community forest management to address the balance between environmental conservation and community development, in Canada. Internship/Master thesis partnership: The Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative in the Slocan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Other events she partook in during her time at SU: Student Panelist, Green Entrepreneurship Conference, Stockholm University; member of Symbios, the Stockholm University student environmental organization; and project leader for Stockholm Earth Week. She recently won a delegate seat to the Economist World Forest Summit. Her tips to you as new students: Academics take advantage of the elective courses offered within the programme. Get concrete technical skills and find an internship abroad. Write your thesis with a company. Student life get involved in student organizations. I had an awesome two years at SU! Country of origin: Canada Elissa has developed this brochure in hopes that it will provide new students to the programme guidance, support and insight into what possibilities exist during and after their studies in Environmental Management and Physical Planning at SU. More about past graduates! Other past graduates in this programme are now employed as: Political Secretary in Transport and Energy, Miljöpartiet de Gröna (the Green Party) Environmental Assessor, Ramström Vind Trainee at the EU Commission DG Environment Environmental Co-ordinator, HSB Environmental Consultant, ÅF-Infrastructure Investigator of Environmental Crimes, The National Police Board Environmental Inspector, Södertörn Environment and Health Protection Association Lecturers and Researchers, Stockholm University Department Contacts For more information or if you have questions, please contact: Maria Damberg, Student Counsellor maria.damberg@natgeo.su.se Erik Hansson, Student Office erik.hansson@natgeo.su.se Ingrid Stjernquist, Programme Responsible ingrid.stjernquist@natgeo.su.se

11 Cover and course description photos courtesy of Peter Schlyter. This brochure is official publication material of the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University. 10