University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Science > School of Geographical Sciences > Global Development and Environment (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 2GEOG001T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
James Duminy
|
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
This programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge of the global nature of developmental and sustainability challenges, with an emphasis on their links to complex environmental processes such as climate change as well as emerging threats to human health and wellbeing. The complexity of these challenges demands a perspective that is interdisciplinary and global in scope, yet attuned to the specific dynamics of space, place and location. First, the programme will provide students with a critical understanding of the intellectual and material trends that have underpinned the emergence of development as a global discourse and activity, as reflected in agreements and targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals and more recently driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, the programme will provide students with an understanding of how key global trends and problems such as climate change, land-use transformation, food/water security, poverty, and urbanisation interlink within complex systems, at multiple scales, and how these processes generate impacts for particular places and populations. Third, the programme will foster student knowledge of the macro-level drivers of environmental consumption and stewardship, the governance of global resource distributions, and the contestations and conflicts arising over these distributions. Finally, the programme provides the student with training in diverse analytical methodologies and techniques necessary for understanding developmental and environmental issues. Here, the student will obtain skills in statistical analysis and qualitative research methods. In addition, the student will gain research skills through the completion of a dissertation. The ultimate aim of the programme is to equip students with critical and interdisciplinary knowledge, rooted in a geographical attention to space and environment, that prepares them to understand and address key development and environmental challenges at multiple scales. The programme thus prepares students for employment in a variety of sectors (international development, civil service, third sector, environmental consultancy, academia, etc.) that demand knowledge and understanding of the governance of developmental and environmental problems and solutions.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Depending on the unit, methods will range from traditional and interactive lectures, workshops, problem-solving classes, to fieldwork. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Students will be assessed for each unit and through the writing of a dissertation. Unit assessment – depending on the unit – will include submission of written work, oral presentations, poster presentations, production of digital assets, assessed practicals/fieldwork, peer assessment, and groupwork outputs. A dissertation will be submitted at the beginning of September. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
---|---|
|
Depending on the unit, methods will range from traditional and interactive lectures, workshops, problem-solving classes, to fieldwork. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Students will be assessed for each unit and through the writing of a dissertation. Unit assessment – depending on the unit – will include submission of written work, oral presentations, poster presentations, production of digital assets, assessed practicals/fieldwork, peer assessment, and groupwork outputs. A dissertation will be submitted at the beginning of September. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Group projects, dissertation research |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Oral presentations, written assignments, problem-solving projects, dissertation research |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
An introductory understanding of the essential foundations for postgraduate study and of the key themes and multi-scalar trends which underlie developmental and environmental knowledge, policy and practice. Students will gain insight into conceptual and methodological approaches to developmental and environmental knowledge, policy and practice. They will develop an understanding of how to apply such approaches in addressing complex developmental and environmental challenges. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
A broadening knowledge and evidence of broadening use of skills in discussing and analysing developmental and environmental knowledge, policy and practice at multiple scales. A developing understanding of relevant developmental and environmental knowledge, and an ability to link that knowledge with policy and practical issues across a range of scales. A competent grasp of the issues pertaining to current research in development and environment, and an ability to reflect on inter-relationships between different areas of study. Increasing evidence of methodological sophistication. Ability to make use of a widening range of sources and methods in the analysis of problems pertaining to developmental and environmental policy and practice. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
Qualified evidence of analytic insight and reflexive practice. Ability to work flexibly and adapt skills and knowledge across a range of areas and scales. Secure grasp of contemporary developmental and environmental knowledge, policy and practice, and an ability to evaluate critically different bodies of knowledge, policy and practice. Competence and authority in working with a diverse range of primary and secondary sources relating to developmental and environmental knowledge, policy and practice. Ability to structure ideas and proposals coherently and present them persuasively in cogent written form, as well as to plan, manage and bring to completion a dissertation on a research topic arising from the different areas covered in the programme, either comparatively or based on a secure understanding of developmental and environmental contexts at multiple scales. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Students will be encouraged to attend departmental seminars in both human and physical geography.
Programme Administrator (email geog-pgadmin@bristol.ac.uk) or Programme Director Dr James Duminy (email james.duminy@bristol.ac.uk).
The following units are must pass for the award of an MSc: GEOGM0044
For the definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Students must take the following units: | ||||
Dissertation: MSc Global Development and Environment | GEOGM0059 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Global Development and Environment: History, Theory, Practice | GEOGM0044 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Sustainability, Risk and Resilience in the Urban Age | GEOGM0037 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography | GEOGM0041 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Practical Statistics for Use in Research and Policy | GEOGM0010 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Select 40 credit points from the following: | ||||
Postcolonial Matters | GEOGM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Conflicted Environments: Studying environmental social movements from the grassroots | GEOGM0036 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Environmental Policy and Politics | GEOGM1409 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Global Development and Environment Studio | GEOGM0060 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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