MSc International Natural Resource Development

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MSc International Natural Resource Development

  • Objectives The course aims to increase students' understanding of the issues involved in natural resource development and their ability to apply that understanding to assist different groups of stakeholders to achieve appropriate development.
  • Academic title MSc International Natural Resource Development
  • Course description This one-year course in International Natural Resource Development is primarily intended for students with an interest in developing their knowledge and skills of the science and management of natural resources within a development framework, particularly in low income countries. Students with first degrees in geography, biology, environmental studies, economics, law, social sciences and psychology have graduated from the predecessor of this MSc programme and gained employment with national and international agencies, NGOs and government organisations and with academic institutions in a number of countries. It is an advantage for applicants to have some practical experience and technical ability related to natural resource management issues. The course aims to increase students' understanding of the issues involved in natural resource development and their ability to apply that understanding to assist different groups of stakeholders to achieve appropriate development. There is a special emphasis on drought-prone and other marginal environments.

    Course structure - MSc International Natural Resource Development

    This MSc programme has two parts.
    Part 1 consists of taught modules over
    24 weeks, a field course and a
    research plan, and must be completed
    successfully before proceeding to Part
    2. Many of the modules in this
    particular degree are double length
    (i.e. 20 credits) to allow the topics to
    be considered in greater depth or to
    permit longer term practical
    experience to be gained. Most of the
    Part 1 modules are compulsory but
    there is also a limited range of
    options. Modules of direct relevance to
    the course are described below. The
    taught part of the course runs from
    early October to early June.

    Part 2 of the course runs from June to
    September and students use this period
    for the production of a dissertation.

    Research for the MSc dissertation is
    expected to be practical and applied.

    Students from developing countries are
    encouraged to utilise data from their
    own countries as the basis for their
    research. Other students are strongly
    encouraged to undertake field work in
    developing countries, and in many
    cases find placements in Africa, Asia
    and Latin America. The dissertation
    provides students with a further
    opportunity for specialisation in their
    chosen field. The topic is agreed with
    the supervisor or the Course Director
    and the research will show evidence of
    wide reading and understanding as
    well as critical analysis and appropriate
    use of advanced techniques.

    Part One Modules

    Approaches to Social Research
    for Natural Resource Managers
    In this double-length module students
    gain the ability to design and conduct
    social research focused on natural
    resource management issues using
    both participatory and traditional
    approaches, and to analyse the
    qualitative and quantitative data
    collected to develop and present
    recommendations for specific
    stakeholder groups.

    World Animal Production
    This module enables students to
    understand the main features of
    livestock production systems in the
    tropics, the constraints imposed by
    climate, diseases and poor feed
    resources, and to identify the
    practical measures that can be taken
    to alleviate these constraints.

    Tropical Crops and Land
    Husbandry This double module
    provides a background to sustainable
    agricultural production primarily for
    smallholder farmers, and covers basic
    plant science, climate, crop
    production and constraints in rainfed
    and irrigated systems, and soils. Social
    issues such as food security and
    gender issues are also addressed.

    Project Management This double
    module is designed to ensure that
    students gain a working
    understanding of the dynamics of
    international aid and how this relates
    to natural resource management, the
    concept and management of the
    project cycle, and the preparation of
    project proposals, logframes and
    process documentation. Students are
    asked to prepare a project proposal
    for a funding body using case study
    material.

    Natural Resource Management
    (optional) This module addresses the
    Millennium Development Goals,
    world food supply and how these
    may be better understood and
    analysed.

    Natural Resource Economics
    (optional) This module aims to give
    students an introduction to the key
    concepts of economic issues in
    relation to rural resources.

    Field Course Towards the end of the
    course students enjoy a week's study
    tour that exposes them to critical
    natural resource and development
    issues. This may be in a southern
    European country.

    A contribution towards the cost of
    the field visit may be required.

    Research Planning Module This
    module requires students to prepare
    a research plan for the dissertation
    they will undertake in Part 2 of the
    programme. Students select a
    dissertation topic from a list of
    potential topics and, in consultation
    with their supervisor or Course
    Director, write a plan which includes a
    literature review, a statement of
    objectives and descriptions of the
    methods to be used for data
    collection and analysis.
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