Environmental Sciences

About this programme

The MSc programme Environmental Sciences has been designed for students who want to take up the challenge of finding innovative approaches to improve the state of the environment and sustainable solutions to the threats it faces. The programme provides insight into the socio-economic causes, the characteristics, and the impact of pollution and degradation of the natural environment. Students learn how to integrate knowledge and skills in dealing with complex environmental issues that are characterized by uncertainties, diverging social interests, and by conflicting views on their nature and the best ways to solve them. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, they learn to develop analytical tools and models, environmental technologies, socio-political arrangements, and economic instruments to control and prevent these issues. \n\nThe programme provides its students with an opportunity of advanced academic training, emphasising the development of a critical attitude and analytical and problem-solving skills, and of gaining more in-depth knowledge of a comprehensive range of environmental disciplines. Its target groups are recently qualified BSc graduates with basic academic training as well as mid-career environmental professionals. The classroom is truly international; due attention is given to the development of intercultural communication skills. The programme is thesis-oriented with an individual research project as its core. Compulsory elements are kept at a minimum, thus enabling the programme to be tailored to the wishes and needs of the individual student. \nEleven different disciplines offer the possibility of major thesis research within this programme. They are offered via four specialisations: \n- Environmental Quality: Air quality and atmospheric chemistry, Aquatic ecology and water quality, Soil biology, Soil chemistry and chemical soil quality, Environmental toxicology and Marine animal ecology; \n- Environmental Policy and Economics: Environmental policy, and Environmental economics and natural resources; \n- Environmental Technology: Environmental technology; \n- Human-Environmental Systems: Environmental systems analysis, and Water systems and global change. \n\nExperimental thesis research will usually be part of on-going research programmes of WUR departments or research institutes. Otherwise, thesis topics are the initiative of the student or the result of discussions between the student and potential supervisors. \n\nStudents have the opportunity of acquiring knowledge of, and experience in, environmental education and communication (track) and they can opt for one of the career orientations, including consultancy, capacity building, entrepreneurship, international relations, and research.