Contents
The first term will consist of theoretical/foundational courses on degrowth, environmental justice, alternative economics and political ecology.
The second term will provide specialized courses on the commons, on methodological tools such as Q-methodology, analysis of social metabolism, multi-criteria evaluation, alongside professional development courses, such as courses on how to set-up a new economy initiative, how to run a social or environmental justice campaign, and how to engage policy-making on the local level.
The third term will consist of the final project. It will be conducted individually or in groups. The final project can be the result of scientific research or of something non academic like producing a documentary, writing an article for a newspaper, preparing a business plan for a social enterprise, or organizing a campaign for an NGO.
We strive to include a decolonial perspective in the master though it is important to note that most of the teachers are researchers from, and trained in, Europe and the Global North.
| Subject | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Degrowth |
6 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Environmental Justice: Origins, Theory, Issues and Movements |
6 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Political Ecology and Degrowth Economics |
9 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Transformations |
6 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Methodological Applications for Action-Research |
9 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Professional skills in Environmental Justice and Degrowth |
9 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Final Project |
15 ECTS |
Obligatory |
Specific skills
The program focuses on theoretical, methodological and also practical and professional skills which will give capacity:
- To work with key concepts in political ecology, degrowth and alternative economics; such as the theory of common goods, social metabolism, care, alternatives to development, dematerialization, the frontiers of extraction of resources or the gross domestic product.
- To apply different methodological tools, both qualitative and quantitative, for the rigorous analysis of environmental and social problems to carry out participatory research and action-research projects.
- To be able to identify research needs, formulate research questions and identify the methodological tools and information necessary to carry out action research
- Know how to identify needs and plan steps to campaign against a polluting agency or company
- - Introduction to starting a non-profit or cooperative business that meets real human needs and creates social value.
- Introduction to carry out a communication campaign using social networks and capacity to approach journalists and communicate complex research.
Transferable skills
Cross competencies that will offer abilities
- To communicate knowledge and research to specialized and non-specialized audiences
- To teamwork in field work and in an interdisciplinary context, as well as to develop attitudes and skills for participation and collaboration in a research team or organizations
- To write different types of texts; from academic papers to policy reports, press, blogs or consultancies.
- To use group dynamics and other group facilitation skills to facilitate participatory processes, meetings and presentations.
Title obtained
Lifelong Learning Master's Degree in Political Ecology. Degrowth and Environmental Justice