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NUI Galway

Climate Change Agriculture & Food Security

Your course
The worlds climate is rapidly changing due to global warming, and will continue to do so for the decades and centuries ahead. This poses major challenges for future agricultural systems to provide food and other bioresources for the nine billion people that will occupy the planet by 2050. The new MSc in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) provides students with the skills and tools for developing agricultural practices, policies and measures to address the challenge that global warming poses for agriculture and food security worldwide. This programme is aimed at students who want to combine scientific, engineering, technical, social or policy skills so that they are better equipped to understand and make significant contributions regarding the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts on global agriculture and food security.

The MSc includes the following: nine modules each of which are 5 ECTS (credits); comprises a CCAFS Science Communication Project; a CCAFS Journal Club; CCAFS Skills and Techniques Tutorials; and a CCAFS Research Project. A full list of modules is available at www.nuigalway.ie/ ccafs.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements
QQI Level 8 honours degree or equivalent to a minimum standard of Second Class Honours, Grade 1 or equivalent in an appropriate discipline is required.

Duration

1 year, full-time.

Careers or further progression

Career opportunities
Graduates of this MSc will be well positioned for positions in research, policy, enterprise, business, administration and other activities across a wide range of public and private sector institutions internationally. Career mentoring, advice, strategy and facilitation will be provided to all students on the MSc CCAFS to ensure that they rapidly enter employment in relevant institutions and activities, where they can build on their interests, experience and training.

Further enquiries

Professor Charles Spillane,
Head of Discipline of Botany & Plant Science
T: +353 91 494 148
E: charles.spillane@nuigalway.ie

Dr Edna Curley,
Programme Co-ordinator
T: +353 91 494 158
E: edna.curley@nuigalway.i
www.nuigalway.ie/ccafs

Comment

3 GOOD REASONS TO STUDY THIS COURSE
1. Research experience: students complete a research project worth one-third of the final grade.

2. Mobility opportunity: this research may be completed at the students place of work, within the international CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security or in collaboration with industry partners.

3. Buoyant jobs market for graduates of this programme: as the climate change challenge for sustainable development and business on the planet intensifies, there will be a need in all organisations for personnel skilled in both climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies/ approaches for the development of greener economies, agrifood systems and low environmental footprint supply chains.

Assessment method

Assessment
Semester One Exams: December. Semester Two Exams: April/May. A range of assessment methods are integrated and applied throughout the programme. These include essays, projects, reports, presentations and case studies. A dissertation must also be submitted.