Personalised course content
You are expected to earn 30 ECTS credits per semester, amounting to 120 ECTS credits over four semesters. In the third semester, you will begin your research project, supported by a research seminar. In the fourth semester, you will write your Master’s thesis. You will acquire core competencies in the following areas:
- Dynamics of socio-ecological systems and their contribution to human well-being
- Assessment of threats and risks to system functionality
- Development of the skills required to identify effective levers for change
- Development of strategies for transformation management and their implementation
Modules per term
Analysis of systems and the factors that threaten them and human life.
You will be able to understand and analyse the social and environmental foundations of human well-being. You will be able to identify and document human-nature interactions across space and time, at both local and global levels. You will learn to conceptualise and critically evaluate human well-being within planetary boundaries in various ways.
You will learn to understand relevant ecosystems and social systems, as well as their inherently uncertain dynamics, and become familiar with the structures and processes that maintain their functionality and the services they provide to humanity. This will enable you to critically discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the socio-ecological systems approach and to identify both the requirements and limitations of managing complex systems.
You will learn to understand and analyse human activities that directly place a strain on biological and social systems from a systemic perspective. You will practise the basics of risk management and the prioritisation of problems.
You will gain an understanding of the carbon cycle, taking into account forests, soils and their yields. You will learn how to develop and critically evaluate forest growth scenarios, and you will have acquired a basic understanding of the purpose and implementation of life cycle assessments (LCA), product carbon footprints (PCF) and corporate carbon footprints (CCF).
In this module, you will identify the measurement principles underlying sensor technologies used in environmental modelling, gain an understanding of the principles of data quality assessment and processing, and learn to distinguish between different modelling concepts. You will learn the fundamentals of modelling practice and how to apply them, and will design mathematical models for use in environmental science, forestry and ecology.
You will learn about the theoretical foundations of global climate change and its resulting cross-scale impacts. You will explore regional manifestations in various environmental sectors in relation to human activities.
This module focuses on the principles of academic writing and presentation. You will learn how to communicate effectively in an academic context.
In this module, you will deepen your professional knowledge and skills in a specific area relevant to global change management. You will identify your personal interests in the field of global transformation management and broaden your professional and academic horizons.
Development of problem-solving strategies and implementation approaches.
You will be able to apply relevant principles of proactive strategic thinking to the management of complex systems and understand past and present societal transformations. You will be able to evaluate various transformation strategies and know how to identify effective change processes within complex systems.
You can initiate and implement change by acquiring the skills needed for global management aimed at a transition towards sustainability.
Using current and ongoing projects as examples, you will critically analyse and reflect on various solutions, strategies and management options for mitigating and adapting to climate change. In doing so, you will take into account the relevance of uncertainties, the risk perceptions of those involved, and different decision-making contexts.
They will develop the ability to critically reflect on approaches to development and development cooperation, as well as on processes of change and the challenges they present. They will be able to formulate constructive proposals for effective project planning and implementation, paying particular attention to the causes and effects of global change.
Students will gain a critical understanding of the challenges facing sustainable development in transition economies. They will be able to develop strategic approaches to address the challenges identified in a specific case study region.
You have gained an understanding of the theoretical and methodological foundations of systems management and, through this module, have acquired the management skills required to bring about comprehensive change within systems.
You will apply the skills of interdisciplinary academic work and self-management to plan your own medium-scale transformation project. The focus of the project aligns with the programme’s objectives and leads to a form of entrepreneurship that supports the transition to sustainability.
In this module, you will deepen your professional knowledge and skills in a specific area relevant to global change management. You will identify your personal interests in the field of global transformation management and broaden your professional and academic horizons.
This semester, you will be carrying out your research project (at a partner institution in Germany or abroad) and will be supported by an online research seminar.
You will learn how to plan and carry out a medium-scale research project related to the content of the degree programme.
Here you can discuss and present your current research topics and support your fellow students’ research projects.
The seminar will help you develop your skills in interdisciplinary academic work. You will learn how to evaluate research projects and communicate the findings to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
You will now develop your own research findings by solving and discussing a scientific problem. You will present the findings of your Master’s thesis and be able to defend the underlying assumptions, methods and the basis of the key findings.