MSc and Environmental Studies

1.                      Programme rationale

Today, environmental problems are among the most critical development problems of humanities in the world. It is also considered a problem that threatens the entire human civilization and all livelihoods. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) that was carried out by more than a thousand celebrated researchers and academicians argue, “over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre, and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth” (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005:1). Studies into the natural resource situations of Ethiopia have also shown that the rate of land degradation is amongst the highest in the world whereby the status and extent of land degradation in some parts of the country has reached an irreversible stage. In fact, not only degradation and unsustainable land management practices have been documented and observed in the Ethiopian landscapes and elsewhere in the world, but also there are several efforts to mitigate these unsustainable uses of natural resources. For successful implementation of sustainable land management, however, a holistic understanding of the natural processes and their link with social-economic-technological-institutional/political arena is needed and hence a relevant training programme at graduate level is absolutely necessary. This program is, therefore, designed to address the holistic nature of resource management issues particularly in Ethiopia but related to global environmental change issues in general.

2.     Objectives

The general objectives of the graduate programme in Geography and Environmental Studies at Dilla University is to produce well-trained professional geographers and natural resource scientists who will work in wider professional areas related to environmental issues such as natural resource assessment and management, and who will assume training and research responsibilities.

Specific Objectives

The graduate program in Geography and Environmental Studies aims at producing graduates at Master’s level capable of

1. 1.Teaching in higher learning institutions (Universities and Colleges);
2. 2. Undertaking research in issues related to resources analysis and management and capable of initiating innovative solutions to mitigate unsustainablity ;
3. 3.effectively contributing to the formulation and implementation of environmental policies and plans;
4. 4.Analysing the spatial and temporal dimensions of the complex human-environment relationships;
5. 5.planning, designing, and implementing sustainable natural resource management technologies and approaches;
6. 6.Applying the acquired skills and knowledge in identifying and giving solutions to various problems related to environmental issues.

3.     Graduate profile

The Master’s graduates are expected to have the following competencies:

1. 1. Appropriate knowledge and skill to teach about sustainable natural resource management in higher learning institutions;
2. 2.Broad and substantive knowledge of natural resource analysis, management and their sustainable use;
3. 3.Ability to apply the acquired knowledge and skill in identifying key actors in nature conservation and to play a role in creating a conducive environment for resource-use systems that conserve nature;
4. 4.Use of participatory management systems that better help achieve the national conservation strategy and rural development policy of the country;
5. 5.Combination of indigenous and modern knowledge systems to develop a deeper understanding of the full range of resource management concerns
6. 6.Basic skills to conduct action-oriented research independently in his/her profession and to write clear reports to scientific standards;
7. 7.Involvement in project planning, monitoring, and evaluation components in terms of natural resource management and for providing feedback to the community and to policy makers

4.     Degree Nomenclature

The degree nomenclature shall be

“MSc in Geography and Environmental Studies (specialization: Sustainable Natural Resource Management)”.

In Amharic

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5.     Course distribution and breakdown

1. A.Core courses (Compulsory) – category 1
2. 1.Philosophy and Thoughts of Geography (GESt 511) – 3 cr hrs
   1. 2.Climate Change and Society (GESt 512) - 3 cr hrs
   2. 3.Principles and Approaches in SLM (GESt 513) - 3 cr hrs
   3. 4.Natural Resource Governance (GESt 514)-2 cr hs
   4. 5.Population and Environment (GESt 515) – 3 cr hrs.
   5. 6.Land Use Planning and Land Evaluation (GESt 516) – 2 cr. Hrs.

1. B.Methodology/support courses (Compulsory) – category 2

1.GIS and RS for Environmental Applications (GESt 521)

1. 2.Research Methods in Geography and Environmental Studies: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (GESt 522)
2. C.Specialization/Land resource courses cluster

     (Elective courses, two course to be elected among the list) – Category 3

1. 1.Water resources Analysis and Management (GESt 631) – 3 cr hrs
2. 2.Sustainable Soil and Water Conservation (GESt 632) – 3 cr hrs
   1. 3.Management of Wetlands, Arid lands & Mountain Ecosystems (GESt 633)–3 cr hrs
   2. 4.Integrated Watershed management (GESt 634) – 3 cr hrs
   3. 5.Conservation Biogeography (GESt 635) – 3 cr hrs
   4. 6.Environmental Impact Assessement (GESt 636) – 3 cr. hrs

1. D.Seminar course – Category 4

1. Seminar on Special Topics from Natural Resource Management (GESt 641)- 3 cr. Hrs.

1. E.MSc thesis (GESt 700) – 6 cr hrs

Staff Profile

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