Master’s Degree Programme

This degree programme is for me if ...

… I am interested in issues related to the environment
… I am open-minded
… I am interested in social developments
…  I would like to understand the relationships between society and the environment.
…  I am fascinated by culture and research.

What will I learn during the degree programme?

Social and human ecology examines the interactions between society and nature. It combines approaches from the social sciences, humanities and natural sciences and addresses topics such as sustainability, resource management and environment protection. The topics addressed include:

• What is the effect of societies on the environment?
• What natural resources do they need?
• What is the effect of a changing environment on society?
• How do these processes change in the course of time and how can these changes be examined at different levels (for instance in the household, in businesses, in local government authorities, national economies or at global level)?

The Master’s degree course communicates both fundamental specialist knowledge and theoretical and methodological knowledge. The students develop skills for the practical implementation of social and human ecological knowledge.

What makes studying at the University of Klagenfurt unique?

The subject’s interdisciplinary approach brings teachers and students from a wide variety of fields together, permitting a lively exchange between different disciplines. Hardly any other degree course offers this to such an extent. In addition, the Institute works intensively with partners in Austria and abroad, and the Institute's team itself is international. Students profit from the variety in the education and are also encouraged to spend a semester abroad, which is assisted by the Institute. The intensive support within the framework of the courses and in particular during the preparation of the Master's thesis ensures a high quality of education. The students’ work is thematically very close to the Institute's research activities, in which the students are also involved and thus able to gather valuable experience in the field of research at an early stage.

What are my career opportunities after the degree programme?

Social and human ecology graduates have basic specialist knowledge, methodological and theoretical knowledge as well skills for the practical implementation of the subject knowledge.

This leads to the following typical fields of work:

• practical involvement with environmental problems in environment protection organisations

• in commercial or public facilities in the field of environment and environment protection

• communication of environment topics in the media

• communication of environment topics in the PR sector (PR work in museums or other public institutions and in businesses)

• society-related environment research and research institutions

Who should I contact if I have any more questions on the degree programme?

Mag. Andreas Mayer
E-Mail: Andreas.Mayer@uni-klu.ac.at
Tel. +43 (0) 1 522 4000 419

Institute for Social Ecology
Schottenfeldgasse 29
1070 Vienna