Program Overview

Introduction to the Master's in Spatial Systems & Society

The Master's in Spatial Systems & Society is a unique program that differs from traditional master's programs. Instead of a curriculum consisting of several elective courses, this program is based on the premise of challenge-based learning. Students will choose the knowledge and skills they need to gain to come up with sustainable interventions for certain challenges. This self-directed learning approach will help students develop their own learning path and prepare them for the challenges they will face during and after their studies.

Master's Structure

The Master's in Spatial Systems & Society consists of two years, in which students will collect a total of 120 EC. The first year consists of two case study projects, elective courses, a mandatory foundational knowledge subject, an international module, and thesis proposal writing. The second year allows for a more personally oriented curriculum and consists of a Master's research project, an internship project, and electives.

Year 1

During the first and third quartiles of the Master's, students will work on two case study projects, addressing real-life challenges such as urban flood problems, food and water insecurity, human-induced earth movement, or other crises related to nutrition and energy. Together with their team, students will develop their own approach to the problem and propose a sustainable intervention. In the second quartile, students will acquire essential core knowledge in data mastery. They will also gain knowledge not covered in their prior education through a select set of electives.

Courses in Year 1

• Quartile 1: 15 EC
  • Case study project: Food and water security
• Quartile 2: 8 EC, 7 EC
  • Data mastery challenge
  • Elective
• Quartile 3: 15 EC
  • Case study project: Climate adaptation
• Quartile 4: 8 EC, 2 EC, 5 EC
  • International module
  • Academic skills
  • MSc research proposal and thesis writing

Year 2

The second year allows students to further pursue a personally oriented, more flexible curriculum. The main part is the individual MSc research project, on a topic of their choice. At ITC, the MSc research topics are integrated with the main research themes at ITC, which are the responsibility of the professors and associate professors. Each research theme has multiple sub-themes that are very well suited for Spatial Systems & Society: urban development, climate change, disasters, resource extraction, agriculture, etc.

Courses in Year 2

• Individual study programme: 10 EC
  • 3D modelling for City Digital Twins
  • Advanced Image Analysis
  • Big Geodata Processing
  • Climate Awareness Raising
  • Creative Climate Communication
  • Digital Twin Earth for Water, Energy, and Food Security
  • Earth Observation with UAV's
  • Engaging Climate Communication
  • Entrepreneurship: Geospatial Innovation
  • Environmental Assessment using SDS and Advanced EO Tools
  • Environmental Monitoring with Satellite Image Time Series
  • Geodata Visualization
  • Geo-Health
  • Geo-journalism
  • Modelling Multi-Hazards & Risk
  • Participatory Planning 1
  • Participatory Planning 2
  • Python Solutions
  • Quantitative Remote Sensing of Vegetation Parameters
  • Radar Remote Sensing
  • Remote Sensing & Modelling of Primary Productivity and Plant Growth
  • Satellites for GeoHealth
  • Space for Ethics
  • Spatial Analyses of ecosystem services: nature's benefits to people
  • Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing
  • Water, Climate and Cities
• MSc research proposal and thesis writing: 35 EC
  • Training and guidance on the necessary academic and research skills
• Internship project: 15 EC
  • The internship is an essential part of the Master's programme, where students apply academic knowledge in a professional project setting.

Case Study Projects

• Human-induced Earth movements: The impact of human activities on the environment increases dramatically. Students will explore the complexity of conflicting interests in problems caused by human-induced earth movements.
• Food and water security: Global food and water insecurity is a growing problem, influenced by various factors, including population growth, natural hazards, conflicts, and uneven distribution of resources. Students will explore this issue in detail, aiming to improve sustainable access to sufficient food and water for specific stakeholders.
• Climate resilient cities: Cities worldwide face challenges from excess water and flooding, especially in low-lying deltas and fast-growing areas in the global South. Urban drainage systems struggle with increased rain due to climate change. Students will focus on making cities more resilient to floods, ensuring a secure environment for stakeholders.

European Credit Transfer System

Student workload at Dutch universities is expressed in EC, also named ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which is widely used throughout the European Union. In the Netherlands, each credit represents 28 hours of work.