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Sustainable Development (Master of Science)

Program: Sustainable Development
Degree: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Program length: 4 semesters / 2 years (120 ECTS points)
Start: winter semester

In this master’s program, you will acquire a basic scientific knowledge of human-environment relations, and you will gain a deeper conceptual and methodological understanding of the application of geographical regional analyses in complex cause-and-effect relations. Furthermore, you will engage with questions about the impacts of climate change on various aspects of society (such as poverty, health, and education), and on plant-environment relationships, the distribution patterns of organisms, and ecosystem-related services. The goal is to analyze these impacts, and to further develop interventions which might help combat them.

Objectives

The Master's program "Sustainable Development" is a research-focused, interdisciplinary, and internationally oriented study program. It aims to thoroughly prepare students for professions with high analytical demands, including a further academic career. Graduates are qualified for demanding positions in ministries and government agencies, research institutes, international organizations, corporate and political consulting, the media, and for management positions in the private sector. Graduates of the program will be able to analyze and explain the causes, effects, and parameters of processes of change, critically assess explanatory models and guiding principles of sustainable development, and develop original concepts for the design of such models and principles. They will be equipped to present the results of their analyses both verbally and in writing in a proficient and target group-oriented manner. Moreover, they will be well-placed to contribute to professional discussions.

  • Admission requirements

    Education certificates

    Required university degree We require proof of completion of a relevant Bachelor's degree in the fields of economics or geography, or proof of a comparable German or international university degree that includes professional qualifications.
    In the case of a comparable degree, basic knowledge of economics or geography must be demonstrated. Courses in the social sciences can be incorporated into the master’s program as needed.
    The qualifying university degree must have included at least 50 credit points (CP) in subject-related fundamentals. Of the 50 CP, at least 30 must have been in economics and/or geography (not including method courses). Up to 20 CP can be from the social sciences (again, not including method courses).
    In addition, prerequisite methodological knowledge in the form of at least 10 CP from the fields of qualitative research, mathematics, statistics, econometrics, cartography, empirical social research, and/or empirical economic research must have been completed in the qualifying degree program. Proof must be provided of theoretical knowledge from the aforementioned areas. Proof of practical application of the knowledge is not necessary, as this master's program is research-oriented.
    If additional courses or examinations are required of an applicant, the Examination Committee may accept the application on the condition that up to 30 additional CP are completed before graduation from the master’s program. In this case, the studies may be extended accordingly.
    Certifications of program-specific knowledge and skills to be submitted prior to admission: Other Skills:
    English skills at Level C1 of the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages".
    Admission mode Eligibility assessment proces

  • Who can answer questions?

    Technical questions about your application

    Uni-assist

    Content-related questions about the program

    Prof. Dr. Sören Becker
    Department of Geography
    Deutschhausstraße 10
    Room: +2/0130
    35032 Marburg
    Email: soeren.becker@geo.uni-marburg.de
    Tel.: +49 6421 28-24254

    Office hours

    Formal questions about your application

    In case of formal questions about the application, please contact Master's Coordination with your application number (if available) at

  • Application