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International Master's Programme in Environmental Social Science

Environmental social science is the interdisciplinary study of what governs people’s behaviour, beliefs and ways of organising themselves in relation to the natural environment.

It focuses on understanding the social processes that either lead to environmental change or are a reaction or adaptation to such change. The field of research explores how, where and at what levels of society decisions relating to the environment are made. How can various types of political, financial, social and cultural control of social processes affecting the environment be achieved at the local, national and global levels?

The programme in environmental social science discusses how science, policies and practices interact with power relations. How are environmental issues and their solutions defined and understood, and how does vulnerability create unequal conditions?

  • Programme overview

    The first semester of the programme includes four obligatory, interdisciplinary courses that provide an introduction to environmental social science research. The second and third semesters consist of optional advanced courses from various social science disciplines, in addition to obligatory method courses worth a total of 15 credits. In the second or third semester, it can also be possible to do an internship worth 15-30 credits. The degree project constitutes 30 credits and is written during the fourth semester.

    Since a degree can only be issued in a main field of study in which the student has been awarded at least 60 credits, the programme offers three possible master’s degrees: Human geography with a specialisation in environmental social science, Social anthropology with a specialisation in environmental social science, and Political science with a specialisation in environmental social science. In order to be awarded a degree in the main field of study, the student is required to have completed 15 credits of method courses, 15 credits of advanced courses, and 30 credits of a degree project in the relevant main field of study. The main field of study is chosen during the first semester.

    The education plan states the eligibility requirements, the composition of the programme, as well as the goals and expected study results of the programme.

    Year 1

    Semester 1

    Period A
    Environment, Lifestyles and Individuals
    Course responsible teacher: Matilda Miljand

    Period B
    Environment och Local Communities
    Course responsible teacher: Lowe Börjeson

    Period C
    Environment, Markets and Politics
    Course responsible teacher: Matilda Miljand

    Period D
    Environment and Global Governance
    Course responsible teacher: Aysem Mert

    Semester 2 and 3

    Optional advanced level courses in Environmental Social Science

    Compulsory courses in Social Science methods

    Internship
    See below for more information about internship within the programme:
    Internship within the International master’s programme in political science

     

    Year 2

    Semester 3

    See above
     

    Semester 4

    Degree project

  • How to apply

    Before you apply for a Master's programme you need to make sure you have the required academic qualifications and language skills. In addition to the general entry requirements, the programme and the master's level courses have specific entry requirements.

    The Master's programmes in English are only open for admission in the international admission's round.

    All applications are to be submitted electronically through universityadmissions.se (English) or antagning.se (Swedish).

    Please note that all parts of the application must be submitted directly to universityadmissions.se or antagning.se. No documentation should be sent to the department.

    Admission Requirements – General and Specific Eligibility

    The general requirement to study a Master's programme in Sweden is a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, corresponding to at least 180 credits in the European Credit Transfer System.

    To apply for the International Master's Programme in Environmental Social Science you must have a Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) in a social science subject, with a BA thesis (15 ECTS).
    Or
    A Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) with a thesis (15 ECTS) in one of the following main fields of study:

    •     Geography with a specialization in human geography
    •     History with a specialization in environmental history
    •     Law with a specialization in environmental law  
    •     Environmental science with a specialization in social science.

    All applicants should have English proficiency equivalent to English Course B or English 6.

    If your bachelor’s degree did not include a thesis you can share a paper you have written for one of your courses. The lowest threshold for what we approve as an equivalent exam work is a research paper of a minimum of 15 pages containing the following components:

    •     A research question
    •     A theory section
    •     Clearly specified method(s) and research design
    •     Analysis of an empirical case or material/a data section

    If you don´t have a Bachelor´s degree/Bachelor´s studies from Sweden (and not have your academic record in Ladok), you need to submit your degree project together with your other academic qualifications.

    If your thesis/degree project is not written in Swedish or English, please submit a brief summary (roughly 1 page) in English along with your thesis/degree project. The summary should describe the thesis/degree project's content and structure.

    Selection

    We make a selection among the eligable applicants. The selection of students is based on grades of academic courses and the relevance of previous studies in relation to the programme

    Questions?

    If you have questions about the admissions process or the general eligability, please contact University Admissions, or the Admissions Office at Stockholm University.

    If you have questions about the specific requirements, the selection process or the programme, please contact impress@statsvet.su.se.

  • Meet us

    Meet our students

     

  • Contact

    Programme coordinator
    impress@statsvet.su.se