ISA Master s Degrees in Sustainability Degree Title Master of Science in Global Environmental Change University King s College University Overview King's College London, ranked among the top 25 universities in the world and part of the prestigious Russell Group, was founded in 1829 by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. With its regal history and prestigious ranking King's has created a reputation for being a center of global academic excellence. Today, the college accommodates more than 25,000 students, including 7,000 international students from almost every country, ethnic and cultural group. King's College London offers 800 plus courses from nine schools of study. Students have access to the facilities, services and courses offered at King's College London allowing complete integration with local degree-seeking students. This unique connectivity provides students with an immediate network of academic, social and cultural organizations and opportunities as they experience the capital city. In addition to being one of the top world universities, King's College London was short listed for 'University of the Year' in the 2008 by the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards and ended up winning the title in 2010/11. Program Information Students who complete the Global Environmental Change track of the ISA Master's Degrees in Sustainability at the King s College will earn a Master of Science in Global Environmental Change. The Global Environmental Change MSc in the Geography Department at King's College London provides students with a broad understanding of the Earth s environmental changes over the past, present and near future, together with the societal implications of current and future changes. The programme develops a fundamental understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes operating in the Earth s environment, providing an understanding of how these change over time, both naturally and through human impact. A consideration of the different ways these impacts can be managed and mitigated is also provided. The programme delivers a choice of streams that allows students to specialise in either the science or policy aspects of global environmental change. This allows students to specialise in areas of particular interest and provides preparation for a broad range of career options in environmental change research, consultancy and/or policy development. Course Outline MS Global Environmental Change candidates are required to complete the core module, as well as three compulsory modules: Core module (60 credits): 7SSG5167 Dissertation in Global Environmental Change (60 credits) (must Take and Pass) Compulsory modules (60 credits):
7SSG5110 Methods for Environmental Research (20 credits) 7SSG5176 Global Environmental Change 1: Past and Present (20 credits) 7SSG5177 Global Environmental Change 2: Present and Future (20 credits) MS Global Environmental Change candidates must also complete a total of 60 credits from the following optional modules, with at least 40 credits from the list of prescribed optional modules given below for their pathway, and the other credits may come from any Level 7 (Masters) modules offered in the Geography Department (including those on either list of prescribed optional modules). Students on either pathway who wish to take greater than 180 credits overall (for a maximum total of 210 credits) will require approval from the Programme Director using the Module Amendment Form available on the program website. However, it is not necessary to take these additional credits and it is strongly advised that students generally restrict themselves to the minimum number of credits required. List of Prescribed Optional Modules Specific to the POLICY pathway of this Programme: 7SSG5070 Environmental Internship (20 credits) 7SSG5073 Environmental Actors and Politics (20 credits) 7SSG5104 Water Resources and Water Policy (20 credits) 7SSG5117 River Processes and Management (20 credits) 7SSG5149 Disasters and Development (20 credits) 7SSG5165 Environmental Science and Policymaking (20 credits) 7SSG5206 International Rivers (20 credits) 7SSG5208 Understanding Climate Change in Society (20 credits) List of Prescribed Optional Modules Specific to the SCIENCE pathway of this Programme: 7SSG5029 Environmental Remote Sensing (20 credits) 7SSG5031 Modelling Environmental Change at the Land Surface (20 credits) 7SSG5035 Monitoring Environmental Change (20 credits) 7SSG5109 Environmental GIS (20 credits) 7SSG5111 Environmental Research Design and Application (20 credits) Other Optional Modules Available to Students on this Programme: Any Level 7 (Masters) modules offered in the Geography Department, including from the list of prescribed optional modules given above. Up to 20 credits of Level 7 modules from any KCL Departments or Institutes outside of Geography. Next Steps For students interested in receiving their Master of Science in Global Environmental Change from King s College through the ISA Sustainability Masters Degree program, please submit your application here. Summary of Teaching and Assessment Compulsory taught modules are all assessed by coursework-based methods (essays, presentations, practical writeups, online quizzes). Optional moduels are assessed by coursework and occasionally by examination. The three-month written research dissertation is core and is based upon work conducted overseas or in the UK.
Program Outcomes KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING To enable those with first degrees in a range of disciplines geography, physical sciences, engineering, computer science etc - to focus on specific issues relating to environmental change in the Earth system, and in particular on anthropogenic influences on the terrestrial, hydrological and atmospheric environments, and their biological, physical and societal consequences. To expose students to current understanding of the processes and nature of environmental changes occurring in Earth s terrestrial, hydrological and atmospheric environments, to understand the linkages and causes of these forcings, and to allow them to place this knowledge within the context of our understanding of both natural variability and Earth s history of environmental changes over the period of human societies and before. To expose students to the methods used to examine the potential future consequences of current environmental changes, and the potential for future significant perturbations to the Earth environment, including changes to the carbon cycle, climate, to the planet s hydrological regimes and to its land use and land cover. To enable students to evaluate environmental change research critically and with regard to the strengths and weaknesses and potential societal implications of the science. To allow students to develop research skills in the undertaking and presentation of environmental research, and to develop specialist skills in one or more of the research tools used to investigate such issues. To provide an understanding of the scientific evidence needed for policy makers and society to respond to the problems associated with global and regional environmental changes happening to the Earth system, and to understand the nature of the uncertainties involved in future predictions. To promote initiative and the exercise of independent critical judgment in identifying, analysing and providing answers to research questions at an advanced level. To develop relevant transferable skills embedded in the learning and assessment schemes in the programme. Course Descriptions Applicants should note that it cannot be guaranteed that all modules are offered in any particular academic year. The final decision on which module options a successful candidate will follow will be made by the Institute in consultation with the candidate before the start of the session. Below is a brief introduction to a selection of each module: Methods for Environmenta nvironmental l Research Module code: 7SSG5110 This module aims to provide a background in issues and methods involved in doing environmental research, including research methods and design. To achieve this, the module consists of a series of lectures, seminars, and practicals giving an overview of methods in designing, analyzing, presenting and evaluating environmental research. A subcomponent of this module will be an additional unassessed but required set of practicals and seminars giving a overview of laboratory and field equipment available in the KCL Department of Geography. On completion of this module, the student will be able to define the features of environmental problems and will be able to assess environmental investigations in terms of their design strategies for collection of data, data analysis, and results presentation. When taken with SG/5111 the students will be fully equipped to carry out their own independent research into environmental problems using these methodologies.
Disasters sters and Development Module code: 7SSG5149 This module aims to provide students with training in critical social science with which to examine the causes of natural disaster associated with climate change and other extreme events and the ways in which natural disaster risk and recovery are managed. The module exposes students to vulnerability and capacity assessment methodologies, and management approaches including community based risk management. There is a particular, but not exclusive focus on Africa, Asia and Latin America. Theoretically the module draws from the political ecology of disaster and hazardscapes work. Environmental Actors & Politics Module code: 7SSG5073 This module enables students to understand the main problems and opportunities of environmental actors with regard to environmental policy formulation and implementation. It gives students an insight into the pertinent debates surrounding the role of different environmental actors in the environmental management process and enables them to understand debates surrounding differences between environmental policymaking in advanced economies and the Third World and why different environmental actors are pursuing different agendas with regard to environmental policy and politics. Environmental GIS Module code: 7SSG5109 This module enables students to capture spatial GIS data from a variety of sources, to assess and manage spatial data quality, to integrate and analyse these data within the latest business and research standard GIS environments. The module focuses particularly on the integrated use of spatial (GIS) data alongside remote sensing technologies and simulation models for better understanding and managing the natural environment. Various aspects of spatial and spatio-temporal analysis are covered and the role of GIS in supporting management decisions is emphasised. Course materials focus on the physical environment and ecological systems but include socio-economic information where necessary. Environmental Internship Module code: 7SSG5070 This module enables students to understand the main opportunities and constraints facing the policyinfluencing capacities of environmental organisations, through the medium of an internship placement with an NGO. Students gain insights into the workings of environmental organisations and a feel for the day-to-day working practices of environmental activists. While on placement students learn how to collect/process environmental information relevant to the campaigning activities of environmental organisations, and subsequently put together a structured and coherent report reflecting on their practical experience. Environmental Remote Sensing Module code: 7SSG5029 The module enables students to understand the information content of optical, thermal and radar remotely sensed data and to be able to identify the appropriate type of data for use in different environmental investigations. Students will learn to understand and apply various data calibration, processing and analyses techniques to maximize the interpretation of remotely sensed imagery. They will search, order and import various types of remote sensing data into appropriate software packages, and will be able to identify, obtain, calibrate, process and interpret data from sensors such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer and/or Landsat Thematic Mapper to illustrate examples of environmental change phenomena.
Modelling Environmental Change at the Land Surface Module code: 7SSG5031 Through seminars and hands on experience, this module enables students to develop a research-level understanding of environmental modelling applications and limitations. Students will gain the ability to build, develop and apply a wide-range of modelling solutions to environmental problems. Students will also be able to critically assess research involving models and the application of models. Monitoring Environmental Change Module code: 7SSG5035 This module introduces students to the details and practicalities of environmental monitoring, using a variety of methodologies and measurement techniques, specifically using electronic-based sensors and instrumentation. Students acquire the skills to manipulate raw field, laboratory and logged data for analysis, to monitor, measure and analyse data on environmental stores and fluxes, and to interpret, analyse and present field and laboratory data clearly in written reports in order to explain processes operating in the environmental system under investigation. Students will also gain experience to design field or laboratory based research projects to monitor environmental systems, making use of appropriate field, laboratory and measurement equipment. Field monitoring methods are taught in the context of atmospheric environments, catchment monitoring, fluvial systems, hydrological processes, complemented with a practical fieldwork exercise. Water Resources and Water Policy Module code: 7SSG5104 This module provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the recent history of water resource allocation and management especially in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Priority will be given to outlining a conceptual framework identifying the relevant underlying ecological, economic and sociological principles relevant in the evaluation and management of water resources. The conceptual framework will also show the link between these underlying principles and environmental and economic policies. The roles of the institutions and technologies through which such policies can be implemented will also be analysed and exemplified. Course Disclaimer: Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change.