MA in Environment, Policy and Society
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Taught Masters
- Code
- F19
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 180 credit points
Description
Please note that this qualification will be withdrawn at the end of December 2011. In order to claim your qualification you must have completed the required 180 points by this time. This qualification is not available to new students. If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification please contact the Awards and Ceremonies Centre on +44(0) 1908 653003 or email us.
The MA in Environment, Policy and Society introduces you to the responses of social science approaches to environmental issues. You will work with tools, theories and models and consider critically how the social sciences have responded to complex and uncertain environmental changes. The core taught courses focus on ecological thinking, the economic aspects of environmental policy, environmental conflict resolution and international environmental negotiations.
The MA aims to:
- offer an interdisciplinary programme on environmental issues and policy making
- enable you to establish connections between theoretical, methodological and practical considerations
- explore a number of issues that underpin environmental studies
- introduce you to a range of empirical and case study material on environmental problems at the local, national, regional and global levels
- give you the opportunity to develop research skills and conduct an individual piece of research.
Planning your studies
Most courses start in either May or November; some start in February and end in October. 30-point courses are taught over a sixteen-week study period, 60-point courses over thirty-two week. Examinations are held in April and October.
You can choose whether or not to do a dissertation. If you decide to include a dissertation, it must be your last course. You can take courses worth a maximum of 240 points, though only 180 points will count towards your degree.
Because of the demands that courses in the degree will make on you we recommend that you take only one course at a time. We cannot guarantee that the same selection of courses will continue to be available.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 180 points of credit within eight years of the commencement of your study.
You must include at least 60 credit points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.
Courses
For this 180-point masters degree you require:
30 points from the discontinued compulsory foundation course D820
And a minimum of 90 points from these Group A optional courses (or 120 points if you intend to complete your degree with the dissertation course D836):
| Postgraduate optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
60 | May 2010 FINAL |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses D830, D831 (or version DXX831), D832 (or version DXX832), D833, T860, TXX863
And 60 points (or 30 points if you are taking the dissertation course, D836, from Group A) from the Group A optional courses listed above or from the Group B optional courses below:
| Postgraduate optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses T830, T861, TXX861, TUZX870, TUXX870, TUXX871, TUZX871, TUXX872, TUZX872
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already completed elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of 180 points of required courses you will be awarded an MA in Environment, Policy and Society entitling you to use the letters MA (EPS) (Open) after your name. You will have the option of being presented at a degree ceremony.
After successfully completing 60 points (including the discontinued course D820. you can qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences (C24). With an additional 60 points from specified courses you can gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Policy (E15) (please note this qualification is being withdrawn at the end of December 2011).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- MA in Environment, Policy and Society
- Schedule B to the Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
A postgraduate qualification.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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