The interdisciplinary Master in Environmental Science and Management organized by the Université Catholique de Louvain is designed for students and professionals who have already done a course of study at Master level and who wish to broaden their field to include other disciplines involved in environmental management and sustainable development.
The aim of the interdisciplinary Master in Environmental Science and Management is to train future professionals capable of entering into a dialogue with all the relevant players, of systematically approaching and integrating all the relevant factors and dimensions necessary for sensible management of environmental (scientific, economic, ethical, societal and technical) issues, of developing a coherent overview of how the ecosystem and the sociosystem interact and of harnessing these synergies for practical action.
The interfaculty nature of the Master means that a significant part of the programme includes courses organized by different partner faculties.
The programme is structured as follows :
1. students from different backgrounds will follow introductory courses which will enable them to acquire a foundation in disciplines they have not studies before. Students must take all these activities to qualify for the Master degree : exemptions may be given for subjects already studied and previous results. If more than 21 credits are lacking, students will have to complete a preparatory year before they can enter the Master programme.
2. a block of compulsory group activities : 7 credits
3. a professional focus including 30 credits for compulsory activities
4. an option or a block of optional subjects : the option programme must include a minimum of 15 credits and a maximum of 30. It is possible to select a mixed programme of activities. However, it is compulsory to take at least 15 credits for activities within a single option if this option is to be mentioned in the supplement to the degree certificate. Failing this, there will be no specific reference to a particular option : the supplement will merely list the optional subjects taken.
5. a professional work placement, ideally done outside the university: 30 credits
6. a final piece of individual work (report on the professional work placement) : 15 credits
7. optional activities enabling students to supplement their programme, depending on any exemptions they may have been granted.
To recap :
1. Core subjects (total : min. 52 credits and max. 75 credits)
- work placement (*) : 30 credits
- individual final projet (*) : 15 credits
- compulsory group activities (*) : 7 credits
- basic activities : 21 credits maximum
- optional activities : 15 credits
2. Professional focus (*) : 30 credits
3. Option courses or optional subjects :
- Option course: 15 credits minimum (*) and 30 credits maximum.
- Optional subjects : 15 credits minimum (*).
(*) Compulsory activities
Each individual programme must always be approved by the programme coordinator.
Wathever the focus or the options chosen, the programme of this master shall totalise 120 credits, spread over two years of studies each of 60 credits
Core courses
Professional Focus
Une option au choix parmi les quatre suivantes (15 à 30 crédits) ou un ensemble de cours au choix (15 crédits min) :
Although it is open to certain bachelors, the Master in Environmental Science and Management should ideally follow a first Master in human sciences, exact sciences or applied sciences. Its stongly interdisciplinary nature will provide second cycle students who wish to have a professional career in environment with useful additional knowledge in the areas of science and integrated management of environmental issues.
Doctoral programmes : this Master does not specifically lead to a doctorate.
