Program Overview

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Human-Environment Interactions

Within the specialisation Human-Environment Interactions, students can choose among several courses and two different thesis tracks.

More about the specialisation

The specialisation Human-Environment Interactions focuses on understanding the interactions between humans and the environment, particularly in the context of climate change. Students learn to determine the trends, impacts, and possible solutions to mitigate the impact of human activities on the earth's climate.

To understand these human-environment interactions, knowledge of biophysical and societal processes involved in climate change is necessary. This includes understanding feedbacks, trade-offs, and synergies between these processes. Students research questions such as:

• How effective and acceptable are nature-based adaptation and mitigation options?
• Can uncertainties in scenarios be transformed into decision-making processes?
• How can climate policies be integrated with other sustainable development goals?

Students in this specialisation are interested in the framing, concepts, and tools used in the natural, social, behavioural, and engineering sciences concerning human-environment interactions and climate change.

Specialisation-related subjects

Compulsory

• Biogeochemical Cycles and Climate Change Mitigation | SOC36306
• Climate governance | ENP36306

Restricted Optional: Select (at least) two

• Environmental Systems Analysis: Methods and Applications | ESA22806
• Integrated Water Management | WSG33806
• Modelling Future Water Stress | WSG35306
• Environmental Assessments of Nutrient and Pollution Management | ESA31806
• Engaging and Modelling with Stakeholders | ESA32306
• Climate Change Adaptation in Water Management | WSG34806
• Regional Environmental Management | ESA31306

Restricted Optional: Select one

• MSc Thesis Environmental Systems Analysis | ESA80436
• MSc Thesis Water Systems and Global Change | WSG80436

To prepare well for the thesis track, students can choose supporting courses that focus on quantitative and data sciences. These courses can be found in the study handbook under the section "Restricted Optionals (2) in Common part".

The course overview is based on the Wageningen University study handbook, which provides a more detailed course and programme description. In case of any discrepancy, the study handbook is guiding.

Programme Structure

The programme structure for the specialisation Human-Environment Interactions includes:

• Courses from the common part
• Electives as summarised in the programme outline
• Specialisation-related subjects as listed above

For more information, students can refer to the study handbook.

Research Areas

The specialisation Human-Environment Interactions is related to the research areas of the Environmental Systems Analysis Group and the Water Systems and Global Change Group. Students can learn more about the education and research related to this specialisation by visiting the website of these groups.

Conclusion

The Human-Environment Interactions specialisation provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between humans and the environment, particularly in the context of climate change. With a range of courses and thesis tracks to choose from, students can tailor their programme to their interests and career goals. By combining knowledge from the natural, social, behavioural, and engineering sciences, students can develop a nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between humans and the environment, and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of human activities on the earth's climate.