Master's Programme in Development Geography

Oppstart

Autumn

Graden

The master's programme leads to the degree Master of Philosophy in Resources and Human Adaptations. It is a two year programme (120 ECTS credits).

Mål og innhald

The aim of the programme is to provide the candidates with theoretical and methodological skills enabling them to qualify for a Master's Degree. The topics are related to issues of relevance for the study of livelihoods and environmental problems in mountain areas and other marginal areas of the Third World. The courses aim at introducing the candidates to contemporary scientific discourses on human-nature relations, and provide them with analytical skills and critical thinking. The thesis is normally based on field collection of data in the country of origin, carried out between the first and second year of study.

The programme is primarily aimed at candidates exchanged via collaborative programmes between University of Bergen and the following partners: Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Peru, University of Ghana, Ghana, Kumaon University, India, Makerere University, Uganda and Yunnan University, Kina. The program is open for Norwegian applicants.

Fagleg profil

The topics are related to issues of relevance for the study of livelihood and environmental problems in mountain areas and other marginal areas of the Third World.

Oppbygging av studiet

The programme covers two academic years (four semesters), and starts in the autumn. In the first semester, you are required to complete a writing workshop and a project proposal. In addition you complete a course which consists of lectures in theory of science and a research design for geographers, and finally, the subject Ecology, People and Institutions in Development. In the second semester you will complete the courses Methods in Social Sciences, Term paper and Myths and Narratives in Development and Environment. In the third and fourth semester you concentrate on the practical/theoretical master's thesis in geography.

Metode

The methods to be applied will depend on the topic you choose, and will often imply combinations of qualitative and quantitative methods. The programme includes a course in methods in social science. Students, who have taken part in the programme as distance learning students, may choose other methodological courses as electives.

Studiestart

Autumn

Opptakskrav

The programme is primarily aimed at candidates exchanged via collaborative programmes between University of Bergen and the following partners: Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Peru, University of Ghana, Ghana, and Yunnan University, Kina.

The students must hold a 4 year bachelor degree with major in geography or a master degree in geography.

The program is open for Norwegian applicants who have a bachelor´s degree with a minimum of 90 ects in geography.

Kven kan søkje

You apply for admission directly to the Faculty of Social Sciences. Application deadline is 15 April. More information: http://www.uib.no/education/admission/master

Delstudium i utlandet

The field work is normally conducted in South.

Meir infomasjon

studieveileder@geografi.uib.no / 55 58 30 73

Graden

The master's programme leads to the degree Master of Philosophy in Development Geography. It is a two year programme (120 ECTS credits).

Omfang

120 ects

Undervisningsspråk

All courses are taught in English.

Studiestart

Autumn

Mål og innhald

The aim of the programme is to provide the candidates with theoretical and methodological skills enabling them to qualify for a Master's Degree. The topics are related to issues of relevance for the study of livelihoods and environmental problems in mountain areas and other marginal areas of the Third World. The courses aim at introducing the candidates to contemporary scientific discourses on human-nature relations, and provide them with analytical skills and critical thinking. The thesis is normally based on field collection of data in the country of origin, carried out between the first and second year of study.

The programme is primarily aimed at candidates exchanged via collaborative programmes between University of Bergen and the following partners: Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Peru, University of Ghana, Ghana, Kumaon University, India, Makerere University, Uganda and Yunnan University, Kina. The program is open for Norwegian applicants.

Læringsutbyte/resultat

The candidate has acquired the theoretical knowledge and skills required to solve a concrete research project. The candidate has obtained detailed knowledge on the steps involved in a research process, from choice of theme, delimitation of a research problem, collection of sources and information, evaluation of the validity and reliability of sources, analysis and interpretation. The candidate has acquired skills in and is able to use qualitative methods, and further is able to assess the complementarity of methods and choose appropriate methods for solving specific problems. The candidate is able to discuss own empirical findings in the light of relevant theory, and with respect to geographic and thematic context. Although done under supervision, the candidate has learned to independently write a research report. The choice of theme has turned the candidate into an expert in her/his field of research, but the learning outcome of the degree is primarily general skills with respect to selection of methods and application of theories to perform scientific work, relatively independent of the specialisation within the topic.

Opptakskrav

The programme is primarily aimed at candidates exchanged via collaborative programmes between University of Bergen and the following partners: Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Peru, University of Ghana, Ghana, and Yunnan University, Kina.

The students must hold a 4 year bachelor degree with major in geography or a master degree in geography.

The program is open for Norwegian applicants who have a bachelor´s degree with a minimum of 90 ects in geography.

Omfang masteroppgåva

The thesis is normally based on field collection of data in the country of origin, carried out between the first and second year of study. The master's thesis itself, and course options, will be adapted to the individual academic backgrounds and interests of the students. For the sake of the flexibility, the students may choose to split the second and the third semester between thesis work and courses in order to attend elective courses only available in autumn semester and vice versa.

Rekkefølje for emne i studiet

The programme consists of the following courses. All courses are compulsory and must be taken in the order listed.

Autumn 1st semester;

• GEO308: Theory of science and research design for geographers, 10 credits
• GEO310: Writing workshop and draft project proposal, 10 credits
• GEO338: Theories about development and migration,10 credits or GEO326: Geographical perspctives on food, 10 credits

Spring 2nd semester;

• GEO306: Methods in social science, 10 credits
• GEO309: Term paper, 10 credits
• GEO337: Myths, narratives and institutions: Critical perspectives on environment and development. 10 credits

Summer

• Fieldwork

3rd and 4th semester;

• GEO350: Master's Thesis in Geography, 60 credits

The courses (60 credits) must be completed before the thesis can be submitted. The students must also accomplish and pass 3 milestones before submitting the master thesis.

• 1. Milestone (1. autumn): GEO310 - Project presentation for the supervisor and an opponent. Fellow students, PhDs and academic stab can also be present. Takes place the 2nd week of December.
• 2. Milestone (1. spring): GEO309 - a draft of the term paper shall be presented and discussed in a research group. Takes place 3 weeks before submitting deadline May 15th
• 3. Milestone (2. autumn): After fieldwork. The student shall produce a short report of data, main findings and methodology. Presentation and discussion in a research group. Takes place last week in September.

Delstudium i utlandet

The field work is normally conducted in South.

Undervisningsmetodar

The teaching consists mainly of lectures and seminars with assignments.

Vurderingsformer

Department of Geography uses a variety of assessments.

• Written exam
• Oral exam
• Take home exam, often in combination with oral exam
• Portfolio

Karakterskala

At the University of Bergen the student's academic performance is assessed both through final examinations as well as various term assignments.

The grading system has either

1. a descending scale from A to E for passes and F for fail, or
2. pass/fail

Grading A-F is most commonly used.

Kompetanse for vidare studium

A master's degree in Resources and Human Adaptations qualifies for studies at a PhD level.

Adminstrativ ansvarleg

Department of Geography

Studieveileder@geog.uib.no