Program Overview

Introduction to the Diploma of Specialization in Ethical, Ecological, and Environmental Sustainability

The Diploma of Specialization in Ethical, Ecological, and Environmental Sustainability is a collaborative program between the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM) and the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (UPV). This program delves into the realms of ecological humanities, addressing sustainability, ecological ethics, environmental education, and the study of ecosocial transition dynamics. It aims to provide a comprehensive and relational formative dimension in these areas, constructing a collective vision regarding the link between culture and the environment from the perspective of sustainability and ecosocial transition.

Objectives

• Provide an understanding of the deep causes of environmental problems and their multifaceted effects on contemporary society at a global scale.
• Delimit the impact of the neoliberal world conception on the unequal distribution of wealth and the exploitation of ecosystems understood exclusively as raw material.
• Enhance a cosmovision of interdependence and the application of ecosystemic analysis models of contexts, reducing the dominant anthropocentric tendency.
• Review the main theoretical proposals for transitioning towards sustainable societies from disciplinary approaches focused on ecology (de-growth, common-wealth theory, tradition of the Good Life, etc.).
• Study sustainable alternatives in the interaction between societies and major natural ecosystems and the species they harbor (forests, oceans, continental waters, etc.).
• Examine cases of new models of social organization from the perspective of sustainability in relation to territory, city design, habitat, and mobility.
• Study low-impact production and consumption systems.
• Approach the media iconography linked to ecological models of society and the iconic strategies of denouncing the deterioration of natural ecosystems.
• Incorporate communicative techniques in the ecological field and didactic tools for their application in environmental education at all educational levels.
• Approach the aesthetics linked to sustainability as part of the foundations of the Good Life democratizable. Ecological art linked to the design of everyday environments and principles of permacultural design.
• Acquire basic training sufficient to work in companies linked to nature conservation, as well as in environmental NGOs and companies with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of an environmental profile.
• Acquire sufficient preparation to develop versatile and adaptable projects to municipalities in socio-environmental, educational, and cultural management in relation to the natural territory and common goods.
• Acquire integral training in the processes of transition to sustainability that allows participation in interdisciplinary teams for the design of European and international projects.

Diploma of Specialization Details

• Edition: 5th
• Credits: 30 ECTS
• Modality: Hybrid (face-to-face and virtual)
• Duration: From September 2024 to May 2025
• Location: Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, UAM, and Research Center of Art and Environment, UPV
• Price: 1,400
• Number of Places Offered: 45 (minimum 15)
• Number of Scholarships: 4

Plan of Studies (30 ECTS)

Module I. General Overview of the Ecosocial Problematic

• Fundamentals of Ecological Ethics (6 ECTS) - Obligatory
• Ecological Cultures and Societies (5.5 ECTS) - Obligatory
• Transition to Sustainability: Ecosystemic and Artistic Analysis (7 ECTS) - Obligatory
• Environmental Education Training (5 ECTS) - Optional
• Ethical, Political, and Metabolic Relations with the Territory (5 ECTS) - Optional
• Consumption and Ecology: Collective and Individual Responsibility (3.5 ECTS) - Optional
• Narratives and Communication of Climate Change and the Ecosocial Crisis (3.5 ECTS) - Optional

Module II: Final Project

• Final Project (3 ECTS) - Obligatory

Competences

Basic Competences

• Knowledge of system dynamics modeling techniques and their applications in all fields of knowledge.
• Group work, empathy, and ability to analyze intra and intergroup behavior.
• Ability to evaluate developed projects and extract conclusions from real cases.
• Competence in debate and decision-making based on eco-ethical dilemmas and the establishment of guidelines for decision-making in the participatory framework of the educational community.
• Proper handling of basic research and analysis instruments of the relationships between human behavior and the environment.

Specific Competences

• Knowledge of the main environmental problems, their causes, multisectoral effects, and perspectives of future evolution.
• Recognition of points of tension, strengths, obstacles, and opportunities when activating a transition project. Identification of the best strategy adapted to the context of project implementation, in interaction with ecosystems and their associated species.
• Learning of communicative techniques and media resources for the dissemination of sustainability culture, as well as the development of critical capacity to interpret the discourses of the mass media linked to unsustainable models of society and individual life.
• The ability to reduce the anthropocentric cosmovision and the development of the interdependence perspective.
• Knowledge of ecological art linked to the design of everyday environments and principles of permacultural design.

Professorship

Direction

• Jorge Riechmann Fernández, Professor of the University, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.
• José Luis Albelda Raga, Professor of the University, Research Center of Art and Environment (CIAE, UPV).

Subdirection

• Carolina Yacamán Ochoa, Assistant Professor, Doctor at UAM.
• Lorena Rodríguez Mattalia, Professor of Fine Arts at UPV.

UAM Professorship

• Alba Hidalgo, David, Associate Professor, Department of Specific Didactics, Faculty of Teacher Training.
• Benayas del Álamo, Javier, University Professor, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences.
• Riechmann Fernández, Jorge, Professor of the University, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.

External Professorship

• Aguado Caso, Mateo
• Albelda Raga, José, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
• Arribas Herguedas, José Fernando, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos I
• Arribas, Fernando, URJC
• Calabuig Tormo, Carola, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
• Casańas Alamar, José Vicente
• Conesa Hernández, Héctor
• Escrihuela Escrihuela, Ana
• González Reyes, Luis, FUHEM Ecosocial
• Gradolí, Carmel
• Gúemes Heras, Jaime, Universidad de Valencia
• Laborda Cenjor, Rafael, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
• López Benedí, Carles Xavier, Universidad de Valencia
• Mayoral García-Berlanga, Olga, Universidad de Valencia
• Miquel Bartual, María José, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
• Parreńo Velasco, José María, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
• Pińeiro García de León, Concepción
• Puig Vilar, Ferran
• Raigón Jiménez, MŞ Dolores, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
• Rodríguez Mattalia, Lorena, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
• Ros Martínez, José Manuel, Agencia Tributaria
• Sánchez León, Nuria, Universidad de Zaragoza
• Sanz Martínez, Arturo
• Tejedor Chapín, Lourdes
• Torres Astaburuaga, Adrián
• Turiel Martínez, Antonio, CSIC

Admission and Enrollment

Access Requirements

• To access the teachings of the Master of Permanent Training, Diploma of Specialization, and Diploma of Expert, it will be necessary to have an official university degree in Bachelor's, Bachelor's, Upper Engineering or Technical Engineering, Upper Architecture or Technical Architecture, Diploma, or equivalent.
• University degrees according to foreign educational systems without the need for homologation, as long as they prove a level of training equivalent to the corresponding official Spanish university degrees and that they empower in the country that issued the degree to access postgraduate studies.

Specific Admission Requirements

There are no specific admission requirements. For information about the admission and enrollment process, you should contact the Administrative Secretariat of the Master.

Prices and Scholarships

Prices and Scholarships

• Scholarships: Minimum 10% of those enrolled.
• For its concession, the following will be taken into account:
  1. Annual income of the family unit 40%
  2. Academic record 20%
  3. Motivation letter 20%
  4. Unemployment 10%
  5. Family members/persons dependent on care 10%
• Fractional Payment: Yes, 2 installments. Total price: 1,400
  • Before formalizing enrollment
  • Before 01/12/2025

Collaborating Entities

• FUHEM Ecosocial
• CAIXA Popular

Employability

Professional Outlets

The title provides basic training sufficient to work in companies linked to nature conservation, as well as in environmental NGOs and companies with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of an environmental profile, such as Ecologists in Action, Greenpeace, or similar. It also acquires sufficient preparation to develop versatile and adaptable projects to municipalities in socio-environmental, educational, and cultural management in relation to the natural territory and common goods. Finally, the integral training obtained in the processes of transition to sustainability allows participation in interdisciplinary teams for the design of European and international projects.