COURSE CURRICULUM

The full-time MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media & Society at Dublin City University is structured across two semesters and includes a year-long dissertation or capstone project, totaling 90 credits. In Semester 1, students complete four core modules that provide a foundational understanding of the key dimensions of climate change. These include Climate Change Policy and Governance, which explores the frameworks and institutions shaping climate action; Climate Change: The Physical Science Basis, which grounds students in the scientific understanding of climate systems; and Climate Change and the Media, which examines how climate issues are communicated and perceived in public discourse. Additionally, a Research Methodology module equips students with essential academic and investigative skills needed for the dissertation or capstone project.In Semester 2, the core module Climate Change and Societal Transition focuses on the societal shifts required to address climate change and explores the roles of institutions, communities, and individuals in facilitating sustainable transitions. Students also select two optional modules from a diverse range, allowing them to tailor their studies to specific interests. Options include Climate Change Law, Environmental Change and World Politics, Climate Change and Cities, Political Economy of the Environment, Climate Change Education, and Future Generations: Priorities, Policies, Politics. These modules cover topics such as legal frameworks, global environmental politics, urban climate challenges, environmental justice, educational responses, and intergenerational equity.Throughout the academic year, students work on a Dissertation or Capstone Project worth 25 credits. This major research component allows for in-depth exploration of a climate-related issue aligned with the student’s academic and career goals. The program’s interdisciplinary structure ensures graduates leave with a comprehensive understanding of the societal, political, legal, and media dimensions of climate change, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to climate policy, advocacy, communication, and governance roles.