Energy, Environment and Society - Master's Degree Programme

In this study program, you will be learning about sustainability. Climate change and biodiversity loss represent two of the greatest challenges of our time. They involve political, economic, developmental, security, social and ethical challenges, especially for the most vulnerable societies.

It is expected that graduates of the master will be able to actively work with complex sustainability issues and the energy transition in different work environments.

Learning outcomes

In the study program, we aspire to promote the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to contribute to the strategies and solutions for a sustainable society. Graduates will after completion of the master have acquired the following learning outcomes, in terms of knowledge, skills and general competences:

Knowledge
Upon completing the programme, the student will have:

• Knowledge about Norwegian and international policies related to climate change mitigation and sustainability, such as the SDGs, as well as their application.
• Advanced knowledge about challenges, opportunities, and strategies related to energy systems and technologies, and how society can transform energy production and use in a more environmentally friendly direction.
• Advanced knowledge about the strategies and challenges associate with a energy transitions, and how it affects and is affected by societal and political systems and structures, institutions, geographies, as well as individual lives and beliefs.
• Advanced knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to politics and policy change, related to energy, environment, and society.

Skills
Students will be able to:

• Apply and assess theoretical and methodological approaches and analyses related to the field of energy, environment, and society.
• Apply theoretical and methodological perspectives to interpret, asses, and analyse complex systems across different subject areas related to sustainability (e.g. regulation, economics, environment, society, policies, and politics).
• Conduct and present research projects, independently and in teams.
• Communicate and advance understandings of issues related to sustainable energy, environments, and societies.
• Apply knowledges in various energy and sustainability related fields, to identify, asses, and propose measures to solve problems related to sustainability in terms of energy systems, environmental impact, and societal factors.

General competencies
Students will be able to:

• Analyse and assess various sources of relevance in new settings to conduct advanced projects and tasks in various sectors, for instance related to sustainability challenges and goals affecting societies and industries, such as the SDGs, ESG, and more.
• Contribute to innovation, critical thinking, and reflection in research, policy, practices, and strategies for transitions to a low-carbon society.
• Work independently and cooperate in projects to conduct and communicate rigorous research, analyses and conclusions, in accordance with scientific values.
• Contribute to the strategies and solutions for a sustainable society, in developing, designing, and implementing solutions to challenges around sustainability.
• Facilitate cooperation towards sustainable solutions by communicating across divides between e.g., technical specialists, engineers, policy makers, the general public, and various interest groups.
  

Syllabus

Duration

2 years (4 semesters)

Number of study places

30 for local applicants 15 for international applicants

ECTS credits

120

Language of instruction

English

Start of studies

August every year

Career prospects

Demand for knowledge about the nexus between energy, environment, and society is increasing. Employers such as public sector ventures and institutions, think tanks and interest groups, consultancies, the energy industry, and start-ups all explore new ways of thinking and acting to enable social change.

This Master’s social science graduates are therefore an asset for the public and private sector. We are actively working with an expanding network of private and public companies and institutions, as well as alumni in Rogaland, Norway, and beyond.

Work placement opportunity

In the third semester, students can apply for the elective course ‘Work placement’ (30 credits). This course gives students the opportunity to complete an internship in a company or organization related to sustainable development and/or the energy transition. Each year, we offer work places in businesses and organizations the department has an agreement with. Students can also propose work placements that may be evaluated by the department. See more information about work placements under "Study plan and courses".

Graduates from the master programme in Energy, Environment, and Society qualify for PhD studies.

Course assessment

The student evaluation of the program's courses is conducted according to the Faculty of Social Sciences' evaluation system. To ensure the study program’s quality and a good learning environment for student and lecturers, dialogues will be held early in each course all semesters. In addition, standardized course evaluation will be held every year. The evaluation of the study program and its courses is conducted according to UiS’ quality system.