The Master's in Environmental Geography focuses on human-ecosystem interactions and is well-placed to throw light on the daunting environmental challenges facing our planet.
It could be argued that we have gone beyond the earth’s carrying capacity and are approaching planetary boundaries. Other arguments hold that human ingenuity will equip us to deal with new challenges in the future. This programme focuses on the relationship between humans and their ecosystems. This is done by taking a strong spatial perspective and researching the impact of both global and local environmental change on humans.
Climate change governance
The Master's in Environmental Geography will begin with a broad coverage of all the key issues and will then focus on climate change governance – the causes and impacts, politics, policies and measures that can deal with climate change. This programme will examine the causes of climate change and will focus on the dynamics of energy and land-use challenges. It will also consider the impacts of climate change and focus on changing hydrological regimes and their effect on global biodiversity, food, water, livelihoods and infrastructure at local and global levels.
Real-life dynamics and relationships at various levels
Environmental Geography will not just offer an abstract focus, but will also look at the real-life dynamics and relationships experienced at
- a global level (changing North-South relations)
- regional level (supranational and transboundary experiences)
- national level (policy dilemmas and hybrid governance arrangements)
- and local level (the opportunities and limits of action in specific contexts, whether urban or rural).
Studying Geography in Amsterdam
Geography is all about studying people, space and place - and Amsterdam is the perfect place to do that. First of all the city of Amsterdam itself is the perfect location and junction to study, explore, experience geography. Secondly, the University of Amsterdam, a major research university, offers a Master’s programme taught by one of the highest ranked geography departments in continental Europe. Last but not least, the Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS) of Amsterdam provides a vibrant and international academic community. The GSSS values diversity in both research and academic content, academic staff and student population.
Focus on research: academic staff
The lecturers in the Master's track Environmental Geography are all active researchers involved in the Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research
(AISSR), Amsterdam research centres such as Centre of Urban Studies, IMES, ACCESS EUROPE and numerous international research networks and projects. They bring this research expertise and their networks to the programme.
(AISSR), Amsterdam research centres such as Centre of Urban Studies, IMES, ACCESS EUROPE and numerous international research networks and projects. They bring this research expertise and their networks to the programme.
This track builds on cutting-edge research projects from the related research group of the Amsterdam Institute of Social Science Research. Insights from these research projects are integrated into the main thematic course, and the Master's thesis projects which take place in the second semester of the programme.
The teaching in this track is organised in small groups. This results in small scale research communities in which academic staff and students work closely together in a less formal and more open environment.
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