Sea and Society, Master's Programme

The main aim of the program is to conduct comprehensive analyses of the interaction between the marine ecosystem and socioeconomic systems of the human society over time and into the future. The programme aims to bring to the students an understanding of the complexity of many of the problems that currently challenges a sustainable development of humans' use of the sea. To reach this aim, the programme has a strong multidisciplinary profile and integrates different disciplines in all the four obligatory courses of the first year of studies.

A Bachelor's degree (180 credits) and English 6/English level 2 from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Sea and Society (Filosofie masterexamen med huvudområdet Hav och samhälle).

The program is aimed at students with a bachelor's degree or equivalent, comprising 180 credits, who wish to improve their understanding of the sea and society interface.

The program has an interdisciplinary focus and is based on integrating several scientific perspectives to provide students with the tools needed to be competent to a holistic analysis of the many complex relationships that exist between the human society and the marine systems. The program is founded on a problematized approach towards the subject. It provides a combination of theoretical and practical training that prepares students to address a wide range of complex issues in the marine and maritime industries, national and international authorities, or when conducting research in various marine institutes and academia.

Program structure

The program is offered on a full-time basis over two years (120 credits). The first year consists of the following compulsory courses:

MAR461. The Sea and Society Relationship; Historical Perspectives, Present Status and Future Challenges

MAR462. Blue Economy and Sustainable Use of Marine Resources

MAR463. European Marine Directives and Policies – an Interdisciplinary Perspective

MAR464. Seascape Governance in Times of Global Change

The second year includes the opportunity for specialization and/or internship during the first semester. Courses with a marine dimension or other relevant courses offered at the University of Gothenburg, or at other universities are eligible. Internships can be arranged in, for example, the private sector, authorities, museums, or other organisations with relevant marine or maritime activities.

During the final semester of the program, students complete an independent degree project of at least 30 credits, either within or outside the university.

General outcomes for Degree of Master

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess, and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Local outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the multidisciplinary field of sea and society, as well as a deeper insight into current research and developmental work of relevant actors such as marine authorities and maritime industry;
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge within quantitative and qualitative methods that are relevant to the subject of sea and society;
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding what the marine ecosystems have meant and will mean to the development of the modern human society at local and global scales, and from historical times, today and into the future;
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of the human society on the marine ecosystems from historical times, today and into the future;
• demonstrate knowledge of examples of sustainable and unsustainable uses of the marine ecosystem, the underlying causes, and the long-term consequences;
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the sea and society interactions;
• be able to reflect on and discuss all the UN sustainable development goals and their interlinks in the context of the sea and society interactions.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master the student shall

• be able to critically and systematically integrate knowledge from different disciplines and be able to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, questions and situations relating to the sea and society interface;
• demonstrate abilities to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate questions within the main area in order to be able to plan and use adequate methods to carry out advanced tasks within given time frames, and be able to evaluate this work;
• identify, formulate, discuss and account for issues relating to sustainable development of the human society in relation to the long-term effects on the marine and maritime systems, from local to global scale, and from today and into the future;
• demonstrate the skills required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced activities.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master the student shall

• demonstrate an ability to make assessments within the subject of sea and society, taking into account relevant scientific, social, economic, legal and historical aspects, and also demonstrate an awareness of relevant ethical aspects of research and development work;
• be able to problematise and value ongoing ecological processes, including the physico-chemical processes of the biosphere (climate etc.), and how these processes will positively or negatively interact with the goals of the human society;
• demonstrate an ability to discuss and refer to the historical dimensions of humans’ relationship with the marine environment, including non-western ideas of the connection between people and the sea;
• demonstrate an ability to identify their need for further knowledge and to take responsibility for their knowledge development.

Students who started their studies under the old syllabus can complete their studies according to it.

Language

The teaching language for courses within the programme will be English.

Costs

In connection with study visits and similar activities, costs may arise for travel, accommodation, etc. Internships and equivalent work-based education may involve additional costs for travel and accommodation.

The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Quality Development of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).

Students who have been accepted for the Master’s programme, follow the programme at the prescribed pace, apply for the programme’s courses and meet the entrance requirements are guaranteed a place on all compulsory courses within the programme.