Development, Environment and Cultural Change (master's 2-years)
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 120
Organization: Full time study
Responsible faculty: Faculty of Humanities
Programme name
Development, Environment and Cultural Change (bokmål)
Development, Environment and Cultural Change (nynorsk)
Development, Environment and Cultural Change (english)
Why choose this programme?
What are the key systemic causes of the so-called Anthropocene era, how are different lives lived under this new planetary condition, and what are the main challenges in creating more sustainable futures? These are some of the questions you can explore in this programme.
About the programme
Background
During the last century and a half, the world has changed more dramatically than ever before. Since the Second World War, especially, the world has seen enormous economic growth, but the spoils have been unevenly distributed, and the negative consequences of this unparalleled growth have become increasingly clear.
Now, in the early 21st century, the world faces three interlocking crises – of economy, identity, and environment – which all emanate from our failure to achieve genuine sustainability.
What you learn
In the two-year master’s programme Development, Environment and Cultural Change (DECC), you will gain knowledge and critical insight into the key systemic features of the Anthropocene era, and learn how different lives are lived under this new planetary condition.
The programme explores the complex interplay between different scales and localities, the role of different actors, as well as the relation between research and policy, within the sustainable development agenda. In addition, MA students specialize within topic areas related to the Centre’s ongoing research, through elective courses and thesis work.
"SUM and the Development, Environment & Cultural Change programme are international, multidisciplinary, and full of students and staff who are truly passionate about a wide variety of different topics and issues within climate, environment and development. That makes it a great place to be both challenged and inspired, and to further develop your own thoughts and engagement with the world."
By choosing DECC, you will acquire a keen sense of the problems involved and how they interconnect; an advanced grasp of how those problems have been theorized within social science and humanist scholarship; and the creativity to see how theory can be linked up with practice to assess, advice and create change.
The DECC master’s programme approaches the complex issues of sustainable development with an interdisciplinary lens, building upon a foundation of humanities and social sciences.
An international and welcoming environment
The Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) welcomes applications from students who are interested in studying in an international and welcoming environment; who appreciate working independently as well as in teams; and who are interested in both the academic and the practical challenges of creating sustainable futures.
Please explore these web pages for information about the programme’s structure, courses offered, learning outcomes, and how to apply.
Learning outcomes
A candidate in Development, Environment and Cultural Change (DECC) will acquire this knowledge, skills and competencies upon graduating from the programme
Knowledge
Students will acquire:
- A broad understanding of the complex causes of the Anthropocene.
- Broad knowledge of the historical and contemporary meanings of key concepts and claimed ‘solutions’ in the area of “sustainable development.”
- Advanced insight into ongoing academic debates about sustainability, and the history of these debates.
- Deep insight into one specific topic pertaining to sustainable development, of your own choosing (MA thesis)
- Deep understanding of ethical challenges involved in researching sustainable development, including corresponding academic dilemmas and responsibilities
Skills
Students will have:
- Developed their ability to recognize and critically navigate the many streams of actors, thoughts, disciplines, and research methods relevant to specific sets of problems within the field of sustainability.
- Acquired practical skills in note-taking, deep reading, and scholarly writing, as well as planning and giving presentations.
- Acquired analytical skills in formulating, planning, carrying out, and presenting an independent MA research project on a topic pertaining to sustainable development
- Developed skills to communicate complex sustainability issues to specialists as well as the general public.
- Strengthened collaborative skills, including the ability to work in interdisciplinary groups.
Competences
After completion of the programme, students can:
- Think and act critically and creatively in the field of sustainable development.
- See behind and beyond contemporary initiatives framed as related to sustainability, and identify their contradictions, limits, and potentials.
- Appreciate, value, and foster cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary learning and collaboration.
- Contribute to new thinking, narratives, and other innovative initiatives to promote sustainable development.
- Show concern for the individual, collective, and differential responsibilities in seeking pathways to sustainability.
Admission
Get your admission requirements and application deadline for this programme by following our guide.
Check your admission requirements and when to apply
Answer three questions in our admission guide to get
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your application deadline
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admission requirements
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which documents to submit
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access to the application portal Søknadsweb
Selected program requirements (visible to UiO employees only)
Available places
28
Required specialization
Bachelor's degree
You must have a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree.
Required specialization and minimum grade requirement
You must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C in the required specialization. A Norwegian C is described as a good grade, generally comparable to an American B and a Second Class Upper in the British system. We do not use conversion tables for foreign grades. All foreign education is individually evaluated during the admission process.
Please note that eligible applicants who fulfill the minimum grade requirement will compete for a study place. Please see the section on ranking for more information on selection criteria.
Either
Specialization equivalent to at least 80 ECTS within subjects from the humanities or social sciences.
or
Specialization equivalent to at least 80 ECTS in sustainable development, or equivalent subjects, as long as the specialization is deemed relevant for the program.
Further documentation for this program
Applicants with an interdisciplinary background must upload a 1 page letter where they describe their degree and its relevance to the master's program Development, Environment and Cultural Change.
Ranking of applicants
Selection is based on your academic performance in the required subjects for this programme.
Admission to this programme is usually highly competitive. Please note that even if you fulfill the minimum grade requirement, you are not guaranteed a study place in the programme.