Environmental History

Course Overview
The M.Phil in Environmental History gives students a firm understanding of the interplay of, and feedbacks between, nature and culture over time, allowing them to develop much needed historical perspectives on the evolution of current environmental challenges. During the course, students will explore methods and themes that are directly relevant to the professional workplace at a time when there is an increasing awareness of the need to include the competencies and insights of the humanities in understanding and addressing environmental issues, not least climate change. The course combines a strong methodological focus with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and innovative assessment design.

Is This Course For Me?
This course is aimed at students interested in how humans have interacted with and changed their environment in the past, how this has shaped the world we live in today, and how past environmental conditions and human activities have impacted the environment.

Course Structure
Taken as a full-time course, the M.Phil. lasts for 12 months, starting in September. Teaching will be spread over two terms, beginning in September and concluding the following April. EU/ UK/EEA students can also take the course on a part-time basis over two years.

An M.Phil degree within the School of Histories and Humanities consists of 90 ECTS.

The core modules for this course include: Methods and Debates in Environmental History, Energy and Power in the Modern World: The Making of Brazil: An Environmental History: Oceans and the Anthropocene: Parchment to Pixel: World History through Historical Maps and GIS.

Students also choose from a range of elective modules offered by the School of Histories and Humanities or the School of Natural Sciences. Optional fieldtrip modules in previous years have included a preparatory workshop and fieldtrip to Iceland.

The Postgraduate Research Seminar provides an opportunity for students to attend seminars with invited speakers. The seminar will be organized in collaboration with the M.Phil. programmes in Public History, Modern Irish History, International History and Early Modern History and will give students the chance to get involved with leading representatives of these various fields of history.

The capstone of the course is the individual research project. Depending on the nature of their research, students can choose between two forms of assessment: a 15,000-20,000 word dissertation OR a combination of an extended research paper (10,000-12,000 words) and a digital output (such as a database or map).

Relevant preparatory courses include NFQ Level 8-degree courses in the Humanities (History, Political Science, History of Ideas, Cultural Studies or similar) or the Natural Sciences (Environmental Sciences, Geography, Ecology, Biology or similar). Applicants should normally have at least an upper second-class (2.1) Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (for example, GPA of 3.3) in a relevant discipline or specialisation.

Closing Date: 28th June 2024.

Apply
Please click on "Application Weblink" above.

Assessment: Modules will be assessed by a mix of presentations (pass/fail) and marked written assignments ranging in format from essays to archival and library exercises, seminar reports, digital content creation (e.g. GIS maps) and historical case studies. There will be no written examinations.

1 year full-time (EU and non-EU students) / 2 years part-time (EU/UK/EEA students only).

Next Intake: September 2024.

Career Opportunities
The M.Phil. helps prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers including in the museum and heritage sectors, libraries and archives, publishing, NGOs, public policy and administration, teaching, media. It also provides invaluable training in research for those planning to pursue a doctorate and/or career in research.