MSc Environment and Development

Course director: Dr Gavin Hilson

The MSc in Environment and Development is a one year, full-time Masters degree course which critically examines the links between environment and development at the global, national and grassroots level. It aims to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to work in an environmental policy and planning discipline. For Home and EU students, this course is also available on a part-time basis over two years.

Aims and objectives

The course aims to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the key dimensions of environment and development. Its specific objectives are as follows:

• To develop an understanding of the dimensions of environmental policy, management and evaluation within a developing world context
• To develop a critical awareness of how environmental concerns are being addressed in developing world settings, and to examine the roles played by different actors in environmental policy-making
• To develop a comprehensive understanding of pressing environmental problems in the developing world, and the policy responses to these problems

Transferable skills

The programme requires a substantial amount of independent reading, research and study. Students are expected to take personal responsibility and show initiative in developing their knowledge and understanding of the field of Environment and Development. Students will also have the opportunity to enhance and develop their communication (both oral and written), presentation, information handling and problem solving skills. Students will learn to work independently, under time pressures, and will expected to set priorities and manage their time in order to meet strict deadlines. Career planning, via choice of modules, will be an integral part of the programme.

Programme structure

The course starts at the beginning of the Autumn Term and is taught over two ten-week terms. The remainder of the course, from June until September, is devoted to preparation of a 12–15,000 word dissertation, for submission in early September.

Entry requirements

Entrants to this programme are normally required to have obtained an honours degree or its equivalent in environmental studies, environmental sciences, or a related subject. Applicants with other qualifications approved by the Senate, and who have at least 2 years' professional experience in a relevant field of development work are also encouraged to apply for admission to this programme. References are also taken into account.

Subject streams

Students follow compulsory modules (60 credits) and select a further 60 credits from an extensive list of optional modules.

Compulsory modules:

• Perspectives on Development
• Research and Study Skills for Independent Learning
• Environment and Development: Problems and Policies
• Environment and Development: Case Studies
• Resource and Environmental Economics

Optional modules include:

• Appraisal of Agricultural and Rural Development Projects
• Poverty, and Development: Concepts and Interventions
• Governance, Accountability and Development
• Rural Policy and Planning
• Water, Agriculture and Irrigation
• Vegetation, Agriculture and the Atmosphere
• Research Methods for Development and Communication
• Communication and Innovation in Development
• Extractive Industries, The Environment and Developing Societies
• Agriculture in the Tropics
• Governance, Accountability and Development
• Rethinking Agricultural Development: Searching for Solutions
• Climate Change and Food Systems

See the full list of the modules offered to GIIDAE students.

Further details of each of the above modules can be found on the main University module description pages. See: www.reading.ac.uk/module

(Please note that the programme may be subject to change from the list above)

Career prospects

Students who have followed this programme have found successful employment in the UK, Europe and in the developing world in a wide variety of environmental and development settings; these have included bi- and multi-lateral aid agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and in governmental organisations – especially at local and regional levels.Within these organisations graduates of the MSc in Environment and Development are engaged in a wide range of tasks which include:

• Forest conservation management projects
• Rare bird and wetland conservation
• Waste management policy formulation
• Water catchment management
• Environmental protection and refugee management