Structure, content and study tracks

The study module in Aquatic sciences offers students comprehensive knowledge of the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, both marine and freshwater, including their food webs, and biological, chemical and physical regulatory mechanisms.

Students acquire skills in planning and carrying out aquatic ecosystem research, including both experimental and field studies. The study module in Aquatic sciences also teaches students to diagnose the main environmental problems of aquatic ecosystems and to apply research-based solutions; e.g. management and restoration planning. 

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Science (M.Sc.).  

In the study module of Changing Arctic and northern environments students will develop an understanding of Arctic ecosystems and specific environmental issues related to the Arctic and knowledge of long-term perspective on Arctic environmental changes and human activities. The Changing Arctic and northern environments study module deals with central theories, concepts and glossary of Arctic research, including the questions of resilience, bifurcations and critical transitions. 

Students will learn basics of Arctic ecosystem properties and get to know the main environmental issues which are especially significant in the Arctic. Students get familiar with real-world problems and abilities for their management and solving. They also learn key research methods and approaches and data acquisition means and become familiar with Arctic literature and topical research reports.  

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Science (M.Sc.).  

The module in Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Systems covers a diversity of topics related to the sustainability of primary production in agriculture, environmental soil science and food system. There are several integrative courses that are compulsory to all module students. Students are expected to choose a further focus either on environmental soil science or on food system and agroecology. The first track will allow to deepen understanding of soil functioning and the role it plays in several sustainability challenges in both agriculture and forestry. The second track will keep your learning journey at a systemic and interdisciplinary plain.

Having completed this module, the student is able to:

• have sound understanding of the key concepts and theories guiding the food system, from soils to food consumption, from the perspective of sustainability
• be able to find and interpret research literature, use appropriate methods in fields of environmental soil science, food systems and agroecology
• apply knowledge and skills in identifying practical problems and proposing solutions for conservation of soils and other natural resources in farm, landscape and food system level 

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Science (Agriculture and Forestry). 

The module in Urban socio-ecological interactions & governance module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of urban environmental challenges and sustainability solutions. Students will explore the intersection of urban biodiversity, environmental policy, and nature-based solutions to address pressing global issues. The module fosters critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to urban studies, emphasizing just sustainability transformations, governance, and the impacts of climate change and pollution on urban environments. Through fieldwork and applied learning, students will gain hands-on experience in assessing ecological dynamics and policy implications in urban settings.

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Analyze and evaluate urban environmental policies and sustainability strategies.
• Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to address biodiversity conservation and climate change in urban settings.
• Assess the role of governance, consumption, and just sustainability transformations in urban ecological systems.
• Conduct field-based research and apply scientific methods to study urban environmental challenges.
• Develop solutions for pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss in cities, integrating nature-based and policy-driven approaches. 

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Science (M.Sc.). 

The module in Policy, politics and everyday practices in local environments provides students with a comprehensive understanding on policies, technologies and practices, their multi-level nature, and their dynamics especially in local environments and everyday life settings. With a particular focus on systems of consumption and production, their governance, and environmental impact, the module equips students with critical skills to reflect on the power and material structures, institutional dynamics, as well as social and cultural norms, steering consumption of resources. Building on an engaging, context-sensitive perspectives and real-life projects, students will develop their research skills and capabilities for collaboration with researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders. The module offers skills and proficiencies especially for students wishing to work with local government, particularly in engaging local residents in action for sustainability.

Having completed the Policy, politics and everyday practices in local environments module, students have the basic knowledge and skills enabling them to work as an expert in the fields of environmental policies, sustainable consumption and production, and governance processes especially in local environments. They understand, can apply and critically reflect upon the key research paradigms, theoretical approaches and empirical research findings and have the capabilities to evaluate competing research perspectives and policy proposals.

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Social Sciences (M.Soc.Sc.).

The module in International Environmental Governance provides a critical overview of central theories related to international environmental governance of global environmental challenges, risks and vulnerabilities (such as energy, natural resources, marine resources). Methodologically, it presents methods of sustainability science and environmental social science (both quantitative and qualitative methods), and environmental economics and management. Thematically, the module analyzes global sustainability challenges in the domains of climate science, energy transitions, food and marine management and governance. The module places special emphasis on the critical analysis of cross-cutting chronic global environmental challenges. 

After completing this module, the student is able to:

1. Critically review central theories related to international environmental governance of global environmental challenges, risks and vulnerabilities (such as energy, natural resources, marine resources).

2. Use and build on methods of sustainability science and environmental social science (both quantitative and qualitative methods), and environmental economics and management.

3. Analyze global sustainability challenges in the domains of climate science, energy transitions, food and marine management and governance.

4. Analytically navigate cross-cutting chronic global environmental challenges.

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Science (M.Sc.) or a Master’s degree in Science (Agriculture and Forestry).

Forests and forest lands for food, fibre and fuel are contested spaces in the Global North and South, which often produce inequal outcomes in benefit and burden sharing for the many diverse actors involved. Forest and forestlands are high on international and domestic agendas, featuring prominently as problem and solution in global environmental change.

The module in Just and sustainable forest and land governance will provide a basic understanding of the societal, economic and ecological dimensions of forest, forestlands and people, their relations and interdependencies. Students will gain knowledge on discursive practices and dominant narratives, incentive structures and related business models The course selections aims to provide students with skills to dissect complex forest and land policy arenas and inform decision makers, practitioners and businesses on alternative pathways., and the underlying and often imbalanced power relations. This should enable them to facilitate and contribute to larger, transformative societal change within and beyond the land and forest sector. 

The learning outcomes for this module are:

• To gain a holistic understanding of the role and ecological, economic, and societal dimensions of forest, forest lands and forest-related people, for and also beyond fibre, food and fuel production.
• To assess underlying politics and power and implications for social and environmental justice particularly in the Global South.
• To understand sustainability transitions related to forests, forest lands, people, markets and the business structures in which they operate, and have tools to facilitate change at actor, group and socio-political levels in the Global North and South

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Science (Agriculture and Forestry). 

The module in Diversity and Justice for Sustainability equips students with critical skills to reflect on the foundational questions underpinning sustainability research and practice. It explores diverse ontological, epistemological, and axiological frameworks that shape different research traditions, policies and decision-making. Emphasis is placed on the dynamic, real-world social-ecological contexts in which sustainability knowledge is produced and applied. Indigenous social worlds and values are learned within both global Indigenous and Sámi contexts. Building on an engaging, context-sensitive perspective, students will develop an ability to facilitate communication and collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders, contributing to the resolution of complex sustainability challenges in ethically responsible, fair, and just ways. 

The learning outcomes for this module are:

1. to recognize and to develop critical ability to engage with different epistemologies, ontologies and values in sustainability;
2. to understand changing economic, social, legal, and political forces affecting diversity in human and more-than-human communities;
3. how to engage with and to communicate differences and diversity in research, policy and practice; and
4. how to design and facilitate just processes of knowledge synthesis and co-production to solve complex sustainability challenges.

In ECGS, this disciplinary study module corresponds to a Master’s degree in Social Sciences (M.Soc.Sc.) or a Master’s degree in Science (Agriculture and Forestry).