Introducing MA social change, environment and sustainability — The University of Manchester

If you want to make a difference to the future of our planet then this new course at The University of Manchester could be for you. Dr Daniel Welch programme director for MA Social change, environment and sustainability explains more

What are the programme's unique selling points?

The MA offers a grounding in, firstly, social scientific approaches to the environmental and sustainability issues, secondly, key social scientific perspectives on social change across different scales. From individual-level and household behavioural, to transitions in systems of consumption and production to large-scale socio-economic transformation.

The programme is equally focused on paths to employability within the sustainability sector (NGOS, companies, think tanks, government and policy-making) and to PhD research. Graduates of the programme will have a unique range of skills and knowledge to bring to future employment, including:

• research design and management
• writing for different audiences
• presentation skills
• understanding of the dynamic relations between environmental issues and society, and processes of social change.

Students interested in continuing on to PhD research will have the possibility of joining the world-leading Sustainable Consumption Institute and Department of Sociology at The University of Manchester.

What type of student would suit this course?

The MA is for people motivated by the need for society to transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially just future, who want to be change agents themselves, and to contribute to processes of social change.

This a social science programme based in sociology, however we are happy to accept candidates with degrees in the humanities more broadly (for example, geography, history, or English).

Can you tell us about the skills gap and how the course fills this?

To make the transition to a more sustainable society we need profound socio-economic change. We need to change most of the systems that provide us with the goods we consume, and we need to change many of our institutions and organisations. We need to understand those change processes and how to guide, shape and intervene in them. There's a demand in the sustainability sector, and for sustainability-focused roles in organisations more broadly, for people who can combine strong research skills, knowledge of environmental issues and understanding of social and behavioural change. At the same time there is a lack of postgraduates with social scientific expertise in processes of social change for a more sustainable society. The MA Social change, environment and sustainability aims to fill that gap.  

What advice do you have for anyone considering the course?

There are an increasing number of social science based Masters courses focused on the environment, sustainability and climate change. Look into the detail of what the programme will provide. What specific topics will you study? What skills will you come away with? If you’re interested to find out more I’d be happy to talk to you about the programme.

Also, think about where you want to study - will that university, and the place you are studying in, maximise your options for putting your Masters to work once you graduate, whether that's in employment or in pursuing a PhD?

Find out more

• Read about The University of Manchester's MA Social change, environment and sustainability.