MSc / PG Dip / PG Cert Climate Change Management

Introduction

The new MSc Climate Change Management aims to meet the needs of both climate-change practitioners and those hoping to move into this fast-developing sector. The programme will provide students with a comprehensive advanced level grounding in many areas of climate change and an opportunity to reflect on practice at both individual and corporate levels. As the programme is offered through part-time, evening face-to-face study, it provides a distinctive opportunity for practitioners to combine study with a continuing career.

In the compulsory programme students will gain an informed understanding of the key issues in the three main areas of science, policy and business by engaging with academic, professional and popular literature. They will be able to critically evaluate scientific scenarios for future climates and landscape impacts, assess the effectiveness of different policy approaches and determine suitable business responses to the climate change challenge. Students will then be able to pursue their own interests, both within climate change and across the broad range of Masters-level environmental modules offered by the Schools of Geography and Management. The research project will comprise in-depth study of real challenges arising from climate change, in a number of contexts. Links will be available with partners in a number of areas to facilitate this.

Please contact Dr Becky Briant, Course Director for details: b.briant@bbk.ac.uk.

Download

Download Climate Change Management Programme Handbook for 2009-10 (pdf, 220k). Updated 12 October 2009.

Download MSc Climate Change flyer (pdf, 100k).

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This programme is also available as a Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate.

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Structure and Content

MSc: complete all eight modules, plus a dissertation.

Postgraduate Diploma: complete eight modules (Year 1 and Year 2).

Postgraduate Certificate: complete the four Year 1 modules.

Year 1

Compulsory Modules (1/3 of grade) in:

• Climate Change (topics include: Fundamentals of the climate system and past changes over geological timescales; Evidence for recent human-induced climate change; Climate modelling and forecasting; Climate change impacts on natural systems; Mitigating human-induced climate change; Adaptation strategies)
• Climate Change and Sustainable Business Practice (topics include: Impacts of CC on different sectors; Carbon reporting and the Carbon Disclosure Project; Carbon in the supply chain; Carbon footprinting and lifecycle analysis; Financing a low-carbon economy; Innovation for a low-carbon economy; Cross-sector partnerships and the role of NGOs for a low-carbon economy)
• Environment and Policy (topics include: Carbon policy; Governance; Sustainability and the city; Futures planning)
• Research Methods in Management I (topics include: Philosophy and research approaches; Research design and qualitative methods; Case studies; Survey design; Descriptive statistics; Inferential statistics [correlation, regression, hypothesis testing])

Year 2

Dissertation (1/3 of grade)

Four option modules (1/3 of grade)

At least two from:

• Climate Change and the Global South (Geography)
• Climate Change and Energy Issues (Geography)
• Modelling Climate Change Impacts (Geography)
• Coastal management in a changing climate (Geography)
• Introduction to Geographic Information Science (Geography)

No more than two from:

• Cultural Landscapes (Geography)
• Philosophy and Politics of Environmentalism (Management)
• Environmental Management and Business Policy (Management)
• Environmental Communication (Geography)
• Environmental Law and Policy (Geography)
• Environmental Ethics (Geography)

Teaching

Each compulsory or option module is taught via lectures and seminars lasting one academic term (either autumn or spring). Most modules are taught in the evening, but some option modules are taught in blocks of days. Revision sessions are held in the summer term before the examination period. Research supervision is provided for students preparing a dissertation.

Assessment

Assessment is by a range of coursework and examinations. Coursework will include practical tasks relating to reporting of climate change-related information. Master's programmes also require a substantial piece of independent research in the form of a dissertation, which accounts for one third of the final grade.

When to apply

Applications are welcome at any time.

Study resources

Virtual learning environment; library facilities; fully equipped computer laboratories and significant expertise in GISc within the School of Geography.

Special features

The programme is taught by a number of people who work within climate change. In addition, the School of Geography has excellent contacts with many public and private sector organisations, professional bodies and researchers at other academic institutions.

Contact for enquiries

School of Geography
tel: 020 7631 6473
email: secretary@geog.bbk.ac.uk
www.bbk.ac.uk/geog .

Duration

Two years part-time.

Attendance

Two evenings a week (6pm - 9pm) part-time.

The programme runs from October to September.

Entry requirements

Good honours degree (2:1) in a relevant discipline. We may consider professional experience in place of a degree.
Two references: either from an academic source and a past or present employer, or two from an academic source.
Non-native speakers need to provide proof of English language ability.

Admissions tutors

Dr Becky Briant