Master's Degree in Political Ecology. Degrowth and Environmental Justice

This is the first Master of its kind, and one of the first in the world in the flourishing field of Political Ecology. The Master builds on a successful 7-year series of international Summer Schools on Environmental Justice and Degrowth, two ongoing European Research Council projects on global environmental justice – see the Atlas of Environmental conflicts (https://ejatlas.org/) – and on urban environmental justice (http://www.bcnuej.org/). ICTA coordinated also ENTITLE, a post-graduate training network in political ecology funded by the EU. Our program was developed by R&D (Research and Degrowth) in alliance with ICTA (the Institute for Environmental Studies and Technology) and benefits from several top researchers that are currently working at both institutes.

We live in an era of growing inequalities, poverty and environmental disasters. Environmental and social problems are interrelated. Environmental problems have political causes and political solutions – they are a matter of power and inequality. Addressing these deeply rooted issues calls for system change – our program offers the knowledge and tools for thinking and bringing forward such change. We aspire to train the next generation of environmental justice activists, engaged civil servants, and entrepreneurs of the new cooperative economy – those who will put in action the best ideas for creating a society that is fair, enjoyable and ecologically sustainable.

In our Master program, you will get theoretical classes from top scholars in the fields of environmental conflicts, urban gentrification, ecological economics and governance of the commons. You will be trained in using methods to conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex problems – such as multi-criteria evaluation, surveys, Q-methodology, and material flow analysis. And you will be taught by practitioners who are experts in their fields, how to set-up a new economy initiative, how to run a social or environmental justice campaign, how to write for the media, and how to engage policy-making on the local level.

Our program benefits from the fact that it takes place in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, a city and country at the forefront of experimentation with the commons, social justice and alternative economies. We collaborate closely with the municipality of Barcelona and several of the civil groups and cooperatives active in the city and metropolitan region. The students of our program will have the opportunity to develop their theses in such organizations, enmeshing their work in the vibrant progressive culture of the city.

Our pedagogy is based on group learning. Many of our professors are young and explore new methods of teaching. You will be asked to read and interact, as well as learn through field visits, conversations with local people engaged in grassroots alternatives. You will learn how to work in groups, and you will develop most of your assignments and your final project in groups.

Career opportunities

This is a master propio and on its own does not lead to doctoral studies. Its adressed for young people who want to work in:
- the Social and Solidarity Economy,
- public administration,
- Environmental Justice Organizations,
- think tanks
- professional consultancies.

Internships

- This training, accounting for 15 ECTs, takes place in the student's own work place and is supervised by Master course teachers. The training is supplemented with placements in other animal centers which satisfy the requirements for practical training for the Master course.
- Each student must prepare a detailed written description of their workplace and their tasks performed. The student's Master tutor will establish a plan for monitoring and evaluating the student's work. Depending on the amount of time that the student is able to dedicate to specific tasks, the variety of species housed in their center and the diversity of tasks, the Master coordinator may assign additional tasks to supplement the training.

- To ensure that students have experience in all areas of the Master syllabus, students are required to complete a practical placement in a different animal center to the one they work in focusing on areas in which they need experience.

Scholarships and financial aid

Chek all the information in the page for UAB financial aids, grants and calls.

Coordinating centres

Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Ambientales

Collaborating centres

Associació del Punt d’Interacció de Collserola
Associació Recerca i Decreixement Barcelona
Can Decreix

Contact

Giacomo D'alisa