Master's Programme in Globalization, Environment and Social Change
The Master’s Programme in Globalization, Environment and Social Change, aims to provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to investigating global environmental and social change. The programme provides students with the opportunity to combine theory and practice, and the ability to seek answers to their questions through their own field work.
How do vulnerable communities adapt to increased rainfall and tropical cyclones? How can we improve the sanitary conditions in rapidly growing slums? Our students study places and people around the world to explore the relationship between globalization, environment and social change.
The programme is hosted by the Department of Human Geography and run in cooperation with the Department of Physical Geography.
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Programme overview
This programme involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to the first cycle (bachelor), and in addition to the requirements for the first cycle the programme:
- further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
- develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
- develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.
Year 1
The first and the second semester include four core courses which are compulsary.
Semester 1 (autumn semester)
Globalization, Environment and Social Change, 15 HECs
Global Climate and Environmental Change, 15 HECsSemester 2 (spring semester)
Urbanization and Environment, 15 HECs
Theory and Method in Globalization, Environment and Social Change, 15 HECsYear 2
In the third semester you study optional courses and free courses at Stockholm University or do exchange studies, and in the fourth semster you write a thesis.
Semester 3 (autumn semester)
In addition to the totally 60 HECs of specified mandatory courses in the first year there are 15 HECs of optional second cycle courses from the two participating departments and 15 HECs of free courses.
In the student study plan individual preferences can be met by optional courses in the two collaborating departments or other Stockholm University departments.
Courses in the Department of Human Geography
Courses in the Department of Physical GeographyThe optional second cycle courses include:
Agricultural Geography, 15 HECs, period A–B, even years (e.g. 2024)
Applied Remote Sensing and GIS for Landscape Analysis, 15 HECs, period C–D
Field Studies in Geography, 15 HECs, period A–B & C–D
Migration and Social Change – A life course perspective, 15 HECs, period C–D
Planning Practices in Cities and Regions, 7.5 HECs, period B
Political Ecology - Land Use and Natural Resources in a Local to Global Perspective, 15 HECs, period A–B
Project on Assignment in Geography, 15 HECs, period A–B & C–D
Theoretical Perspectives on Planning, 7.5 HECs, period A
Traineeship in Geography, 15 HECs, period A–B & C–DExchange studies are possible at one of our partner universities abroad via the Department of Human Geography or the Department of Physical Geography. In addition to the contacts of the two geographical departments, Stockholm University have a large number of exchange agreements open to all students at the institution.
Semester 4 (spring semester)
The fourth semester consists of the compulsary master´s thesis course. You can choose to study it at either the Department of Human Geography or at the Department of Physical Geography:
Master's thesis in Geography, 30 HECs (Department of Human Geography)
Geography, Degree Project, 30 HECs (Department of Physical Geography)
Geography, Degree Project, 45 HECs (Department of Physical Geography)Independent project
Examples of student projects completed in the fourth semester:
- (Re)politicizing the energy system in Berlin: A struggle over the democratic distribution of power
- Age and urban space in Stockholm: a qualitative single case study of older adults’ experiences of public urban spaces and urban planning
- Between ‘Place-Branding’ and ‘Sense of Place’ in the Nordics: A comparative study through two generations of Nordic residents in Stockholm
- Exploring the potential of cultural ecosystem services in social impact assessment of Finnish mining projects. Assessment of local cultural values in the municipality of Kolari in Finnish Lapland
- I never tried the swings before: Perspectives on urban greenspace from children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities
- Indigenous interests in planning: Examining the role of participation and recognition of Sami reindeer husbandry in the planning of the new Kiruna railway station
- Labelling in the Loop. The potential of the Nordic Swan Ecolabel to incorporate the concept of circular economy in their criteria
- It´s The Smart City, Stupid!: A critical study of Smart narratives, Attraction Hysteria & the production of Smart Space in the European Green Capital 2020
- Permaculture in the South of Brazil – the start of a silent revolution?: Examined through farm visits in Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais
- Potential for mitigating GHG emissions at a Swedish wastewater treatment plant – a life cycle approach
- Protecting biocultural refugia?: Political ecology perspectives on sustainable food production in the context of two Swedish biosphere reserves
- Recycling plastic waste in Sweden. A comparative study of how the recycling of plastic waste in Sweden conforms to the proposed End-of-Waste criteria for plastic
- Taking back the city: Citizen participation in urban planning in Dublin, Ireland
- The quest for justice in the marine environment: A case study of Menai Bay Conservation Area, Zanzibar, Tanzania
- What to do with the overpasses constructed in the urban areas?: An alternative vision on the overhead pedestrian bridges constructed in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan
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How to apply
You apply via universityadmissions.su.se
Explanation of eligibility requirements
Relevant main field of study for the bachelor degree is one of the following (or equivalent):
- Anthropology
- Biology - Earth Sciences
- Demography
- Development Studies
- Earth Science
- Economic History
- Environmental Science
- Geography
- Global Development
- Human Geography
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Urban Studies
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More information
Why choose the Master's Programme in Globalization, Environment and Social Change?
- High quality programme in close connection to front line research and to society.
- Programme preparing for professional careers as well as for studies at the doctoral level.
- Programme ranges across several fields and targets students wanting to develop an interdisciplinary perspective and the expertise to analyse global environmental and social issues.
- Great emphasis is placed on explaining structures and driving forces behind global environmental changes.
- Upon completing the training, students will have both deep and broad subject knowledge and will be able to draw parallels and mediate between different perspectives related to global environmental issues.
- High ranked, healthy founded and well operated university.
- Good campus facilities including libraries, GIS laboratories and places for team work and individual studies.
- Campus situated in the green, safe and beautiful City of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
- Informal atmosphere between students and faculty.
Top reasons to choose Stockholm University
Learning objectives
After completion of the programme, students are expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in geography, including both a broad proficiency in the discipline and important specialized knowledge in certain parts of the discipline, plus detailed insight into current scholarship.
- Demonstrate detailed knowledge of methods in geography
- Demonstrate an ability to systematically but critically integrate knowledge and to analyse, evaluate and manage complex phenomena, research questions and situations even with limited information.
- Demonstrate an ability to creatively, independently, and critically identify and formulate research questions; to plan and carry out relevant tasks with appropriate methods within a given time-frame, thereby contributing to the advancement of the discipline; and to evaluate this work.
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and discuss – orally and in writing, in national and international contexts, and in dialogue with different groups – one’s conclusions and the knowledge and arguments that are the basis for these conclusions.
- Demonstrate the necessary competence that is required to be able to participate in research and development (R & D) or to work independently in other relevant activities.
- Demonstrate an ability to evaluate the relevant academic, social and ethical aspects related to differentquestions and topics in geography, and demonstrate an awareness of the ethical aspects of R & D.
- Demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limits of research, its roll in society and people’s responsibility for how research is used.
- Demonstrate an ability to identify one’s needs for additional knowledge and to take responsibility for one’sown learning.
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Meet us
Are you wondering what former students thought about the Master's Programme in Globalization, Environment and Social Change? Are you curious about what the education can lead to after graduation?
Meet our alumni
Erica from Sweden
Joshua from England
Katariina from Finland -
Career opportunities
The programme leads to a Master’s degree in Geography.
Do you dream of working with global environmental and social issues in government agencies, organizations or international bodies? Or do you want to engage in research with the potential to change our world view?
The strength of our students is that they are able to communicate with different groups of people involved in both environmental and social issues. The programme’s global focus and international connections open up a broad labour market. Our alumni work in organizations dealing with issues related to aid, development and international affairs, in departments of state and at universities. Nearly half of our graduates are currently working outside of Sweden.
Typical jobs are investigator and project manager. Examples of other titles are chief executive officer, sustainable development consultant, desk officer, foreign services officer, head of unit, key account manager, search engine marketing consultant, standards officer, sustainability specialist and water resources officer.
The degree offers an excellent grounding for students wishing to pursue a Doctorate.
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Contact
Programme Director
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X402
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
Academic Counselling
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X331
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
Student Affairs Office
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X326
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
- Office hours
Tuesday and Thursday at 10.00–12.00.
- Phone hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10.00–12.00.
