Master's in Climate Change and Sustainability (CCS)
A 60-credit, two-year program for professionals and practitioners who want to manage environmental change, plan for resilience and work on climate solutions.
Overview
Why a Master's in Climate Change and Sustainability?
The program offers career-oriented professionals and practitioners the chance to build their skills and expertise in environmental management and climate change. The courses give a deep understanding of environmental issues, climate change dynamics and how the two connect.
Students learn innovative approaches to sustainable resource management, such as optimizing resource use, minimizing waste and promoting circular economy principles, through applied and analytical work. The courses build an understanding of green technologies and innovations, so graduates can design and carry out sustainable solutions for energy, agriculture and other sectors.
Focus areas
Environmental management
Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Biodiversity management
Sustainable practices
Climate negotiation
Climate change and governance
Climate impacts and vulnerability
Climate-resilient society
Applied statistics and data science
Academics
Program learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Develop a solid foundation in the principles of climate science, including the drivers of climate change, global warming and its consequences.
- Gain a deep understanding of sustainability concepts, covering ecological, social and economic dimensions, to analyze and address complex environmental challenges.
- Assess climate and environmental governance at local, national and international levels.
- Assess vulnerability, risk and impacts, and develop resilient and adaptive strategies for communities, ecosystems and the environment in the face of climate change.
- Develop proficiency in quantitative analysis, statistical techniques and data interpretation specific to climate and sustainability research.
Course delivery
- Quality education through technology in a blended mode: online (e-learning) combined with in-person class interaction at the service center. The mix includes lectures, seminars, workshops and webinars.
- An e-learning approach that brings teaching and learning together through professional online databases and an audio-video learning system, connecting the latest technology with conventional pedagogy.
- Online classes where instructor and students connect virtually to interact. Lab-based courses require physical classes.
- Seminars, workshops, colloquia, discussions and reviews of published papers, case study preparation, and general discussion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and ethical issues.
- Where relevant, links with organizations working on environmental management and climate change adaptation and mitigation, so students can learn from outside the academic setting.
Semesters
| CCS 501 | Principles of Sustainability Core | 3 |
| CCS 502 | Sustainable Practices Core | 3 |
| CCS 503 | Climate Change Science and Governance Core | 3 |
| CCS 504 | Ecology, Evolution and Climate Change Core | 3 |
| CCS 505 | Research Methodology CoreMentor | 3 |
| CCS 551 | Environment and Society Interactions Elective | 3 |
| CCS 552 | Environment, Energy, and Economy (3E) Elective | 3 |
| CCS 553 | Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation Elective | 3 |
| CCS 554 | Biodiversity and Climate Change Elective | 3 |
| CCS 555 | GIS, RS & Modeling Core | 3 |
| CCS 556 | Biostatistics CoreMentor | 3 |
Students take five of the six courses, for 5 × 3 = 15 credits.
| CCS 601 | Analytical Methods Core | 3 |
| CCS 602 | Climate Change Analysis Core | 3 |
| CCS 603 | Applied Statistics and Data Science Core | 3 |
| CCS 604 | Project/Organization Intern or Fieldwork and Reporting Core | 3 |
| CCS 605 | Writing Project Proposal and Research Proposal CoreMentor | 3 |
| CCS 651 | Thesis (writing and defense) CoreMentor | 15 |