Climate Justice & Sustainability
The MA 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 on 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.
Subjects taught
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
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
Entry requirements
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.
Go to https://www.mic.ul.ie/international/study-in-ireland/essential-information/english-language-requirements for English language requirements.
Application dates
EU Applicants
Applications for September 2023 entry are now open.
Closing date for receipt of completed applications for September 2023 intake is 30 June.
Complete all the steps below:
Download and complete the application form.
You will be required to send your university transcripts (and applicants may be required to name one or more referees on request).
In the case of non-native English speakers, a copy of IETLS (or equivalent) is required.
Please pay the non-refundable €50 application fee using Stripe here, and return the completed application and transcripts by email to TaughtProgrammes@mic.ul.ie.
Non-EU Applicants
You are advised to contact the MIC International Office before applying:
E: International@mic.ul.ie or T: +353 61 204988 /+353 61 774790
Entry requirements and the application process vary according to country of origin. For information that is specific to your home country.
Please complete your application through PAC here.
You will be required to upload your university transcripts.
In the case of non-native English speakers, a copy of IELTS (or equivalent) is required.
The application fee is €50 and is non-refundable.
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.
Delivery Mode: Face-to-face and/or online
Location: MIC Limerick/online