COURSE CURRICULUM

This MSc program in Sustainable Development provides students with a strong foundation in the theories, methods, and practical tools needed to address complex global challenges and support transformative change. The course includes a set of compulsory modules worth 135 credits. At the core is the Independent Research Project, a 60-credit module where students conduct an in-depth investigation on a chosen topic, applying scientific methods and presenting findings in the form of a research paper. The Fundamentals of Sustainable Development module introduces the key concepts and historical context of development, exploring shifts in global trends, sustainability theories, economic transitions, inequality, and environmental degradation. Transformative Change – Concepts, Theories, and Case Studies further explores the drivers and dynamics of deep social and environmental change through real-world examples and reflection on values, worldviews, and power structures. Sustainable Development Research Methods trains students in a range of research approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, while Planning for Sustainable Development offers practical skills in intervention design and facilitation.Students also select 45 credits from a diverse set of optional modules to tailor their learning. These include thematic areas such as climate change, food security, adaptation, and agriculture, with modules like Climate Change, Food Security and Sustainable Development, Adaptation to Environmental Change, and Economics, Agriculture and Marketing. Others explore critical development issues such as conflict and fragility, gender and inequality, and regenerative economic models. Modules such as Fragility, Conflict and Emergency and Gender, Inequalities and Social Difference examine systemic challenges and responses, while Regenerative Societies, Economies and Environments focuses on alternative economic systems and sustainable trade practices. Students can also opt for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) to build practical skills in tracking and assessing development interventions. Together, the program prepares graduates to engage with sustainability issues at local, national, and global levels through research, policy, and applied work.