Human Ecology - Culture, Power and Sustainability - Master of Science programme

Cultural, power and sustainability

Drawing on fields such as anthropology, geography, sociology and economic history, the programme provides interdisciplinary perspectives and analytical tools for communicating about problems of sustainability. It represents an important complement to technological and natural science approaches towards sustainability by focusing on the cultural dimensions of consumption and resource use, cultural perceptions of environment and economy, and social science perspectives on the global distribution of environmental problems. A central aim is to help students develop skills in communicating across boundaries separating the discourses of different disciplines, cultural traditions, or the interests of business, politics and social movements. The programme encourages critical scrutiny of the debate about sustainability, but also a serious commitment to improving human–environmental relations worldwide. It covers the major social and environmental challenges of our time, including climate change and climate justice, unequal exchange and use of ecological resources, and the shifting of environmental risks and problems to the poorest parts of world society.

This programme is unique in combining perspectives on sustainability from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. It brings together lecturers and students from various backgrounds in truly interdisciplinary discussions about how culture, power and ecology interact in human-environmental relations.

Career prospects

The capacity to communicate and negotiate issues of global sustainability will be increasingly important for a wide range of professions, including careers in education, journalism, public and private management, development aid, and non-governmental organizations devoted to achieving a globally sustainable development.

In these sectors, trans-disciplinary approaches combining perspectives from both the natural and the social sciences can be expected to be increasingly in demand.