Climate Justice & Sustainability

Programme Overview

The MA in Climate, Justice and Sustainability tackles the most pressing global issue of our time – how to manage human exploitation of our natural environment sustainably, and fairly. This is a unique programme, involving a collaboration between MIC’s Departments of Geography and Philosophy, covering fundamental issues such as environmental ethics and climate justice, as well as more practical topics like social and environmental sustainability.



Key Features

Longer term thinking and new approaches to development and prosperity are urgently required. Persistent and worsening ecological crises present fundamental questions, including the need to think about challenges to prosperity as well as justice and rights issues, reversals of development gains and resulting conflicts. The programme draws on MIC’s established strengths in the Faculty of Arts, combining expertise from across the faculty to deliver a focused Master of Arts programme in Climate, Justice and Sustainability. The Department of Geography has established teaching and research expertise in Sustainability, Just Transitions and Political Ecology. The Department of Philosophy has a growing international reputation in Environmental Ethics, Sustainability Citizenship and Intergenerational Justice. In partnership, these Departments will provide a unique offering which targets a growing and urgent academic need for graduates of technical, theoretical and practical proficiency, equipped with the necessary skills to address our most profound challenges as a global community.



Educational Aim

This unique programme will equip graduates with a broad range of skills and expertise across the environmental domain, integrating perspectives from both Geography and Philosophy disciplines. At its core, the programme will embed a recognition of the interrelationships between the myriad socio-cultural and biophysical factors driving global socio-ecological crises; in the process, a deep understanding of the role of justice in understanding the causes of, and importantly, solutions to, our present ecological crises will be developed. The programme will take a deliberate transdisciplinary framing, addressing key questions about global prosperity, fairness and justice, the roles of science and knowledge in sustainability as well as critical interrogations of the inter-linked relationships between ecology and culture, environmental justice, and prosperity and economic growth. Graduates will be equipped to develop their professional careers nationally and internationally in the growing sustainability sector.



Professional Skills

There are important environmental, and ethical, reasons to study this programme, but there are also strong professional reasons. This is a busy and growing employment sector, and this programme enhances provides both subject-related and transferable skills that are sought after by employers. To ensure our students are ready for the world of work, the programme includes a novel Environmental Consultancy module, where student groups undertake real-world projects commissioned by external organisations.

For full-time students, the curriculum is structured into three 30 credit semesters, where students take three foundational modules in the Autumn semester, three more advanced modules in the Spring semester, and the dissertation module over the Summer period. For part-time students, the taught curriculum (first six modules) is spread out over two years (four semesters), followed by the dissertation.



Perspectives on Climate, Justice and Sustainability

Autumn Semester; 12 Credits

Module Coordinator: Dr Julian Bloomer



Environmental Ethics

Autumn Semester; 9 Credits

Module Coordinator: Dr Basil Vassilicos



Criminal Justice

Autumn Semester; 9 Credits

Module Coordinator: Dr Daniel Vazquez



Sustainability Transitions and Transformations

Spring Semester; 9 Credits

Module Coordinator: Dr John Morrissey



Environmental Consultancy

Spring Semester; 9 Credits

Module Coordinator: Professor Paul Aplin



Geographical and Geospatial Methods

Spring Semester; 12 Credits

Module Coordinator: Dr Julian Bloomer



Dissertation

Summer; 30 Credits

Module Coordinator: Dr John Morrissey

Applicants will be considered for entry on the basis of a primary degree in Geography or a cognate discipline at a minimum of 2.1 honours.



Potential students who do not meet the normal entry requirements may be considered for admission and should contact the Programme Director for information.



For English language requirements, go to https://www.mic.ul.ie/international/study-in-ireland/essential-information/english-language-requirements

How to Apply

Applications for September 2026 intake are now open.



EU Applicants

Please see "Application Weblink" above.



EU Applicants

061 205160 / 204348

TaughtProgrammes@mic.ul.ie



Non-EU Applicants

You are advised to contact the MIC International Office before applying:

E: International@mic.ul.ie

T: +353 61 204988 /+353 61 774790



To apply, please see "Application Weblink" above.



Non EU Applicants:

+353 61 204988 / +353 61 774787

International@mic.ul.ie

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time. Delivery Mode: Face-to-face and/or online.

Career Opportunities

The programme will equip graduates with broad-based career opportunities, across diverse areas of environmental advocacy and management, and social justice; including sustainability appraisal, corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social, and governance (ESG), education, research, roles in international and domestic non-governmental organisations, environmental management, environmental consultancies (plus legal, planning and management consultancies), government departments and agencies at both local and national levels.



A survey of Irish employment websites in September 2022 using the keywords ‘sustainability’ ‘climate’ and ‘justice’ revealed a broad range of employment opportunities, including roles such as:

• Sustainability Policy Analyst

• Sustainability Data Analyst

• Head of Sustainability

• Sustainability Officer

• Sustainability Manager

• Sustainability and Net Zero Consultant

• Junior Environmental Consultant

• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Manager

• Head of Decarbonisation

• Community Engagement Officer (sustainability)

• International Development Officer

• Campaign Manager (conservation)

• Carbon EIA Consultant

• Carbon and Climate Impact Consultant

• Director, Climate Resilience

• Carbon Reduction Integration Consultant



Graduates also have the option to complete further study to PhD level; see MA / PhD in Arts by Research for additional information, including entry requirements.