The University for Peace - Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

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Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

The Master of Arts Dual Degree Programme in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (NRSD) allows participants to study environmental and development policies and practices from the perspectives of both Global South and North, and from both local and global view points. American University's School of International Service in Washington, D.C., contributes with the Programme’s strengths in international relations, environmental policy, and economics, while the University for Peace provides a unique opportunity to gain from courses and practical experiences in sustainable development and natural resources management.

The dual-campus Programme takes place over four semesters (20 months), and the admission to the NRSD program is for fall only.. Participants spend their first semester at American University learning the foundations of sustainable development policy both inside the classroom and within the Washington, D.C., policy community. They spend the next two semesters at the University for Peace studying sustainable development practices in natural resources management, with field visits to many sites in Costa Rica. They also learn essential skills in environmental assessment, and conflict management. In between the two course semesters at UPEACE, the participants carry out an internship through which they are immersed into a local, non-governmental, government, or international organization. For their final semester, the participants return to American University to write a substantial research paper, participate in an integrative seminar that exposes participants to professional policymaking opportunities in D.C., and complete their final courses. Participants who have successfully completed this program receive an MA in International Affairs from American University and an MA in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from the University for Peace.

Admission is handled by American University. Accordingly, all candidates must follow the procedures listed at: http://www.american.edu/sis/admissions/grad.cfm

Once the admission applications are complete, applicants are evaluated by faculty at both universities.

To apply on-line, click at: https://app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=AU-SIS

To receive additional information about the admission process, send a request to:
School of International Service
American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C., 20016-8071
Fax: 202-885-2494
Tel: 202-885-164 202-885-1646
Email: sisgrad@american.edu
.
While at UPEACE the required courses are:
PCS-6000 - Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies (3 credits).
NRD-6020 - Introduction to Research Methods
NRD-6040 - Ecological Foundations for Sustainable Land Use (3 credits)
NRD-6060 - Environmental Conflicts Management (2 credits)
NRD-6080 - Internship (3 credits)

Elective courses at UPEACE may include:
NRD-6020 - System Thinking (1 credit)
NRD-6027 Fundraising for Sustainable Development (1 credit)
NRD-6050 - Agriculture, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (3 credits)
NRD-6051 - Measuring Sustainability (1 credit)
NRD-6075 - Forestry, Forests and Poverty (3 credits)
NRD-6081 - San José Environmental Seminar (1 credit)
NRD-6083 - Natural Resources Management Field Course (3 credits)
NRD-6092 - Management of Coastal Resources (3 credits)
NRD-6093 - Sustainable Tourism (3 credits)
ESP-6010 - Introduction to Environmental Security (3 credits)
ESP-6051 - Environmental Justice and Social Movements (2 credits)
ESP-6060 - Water, Security and Peace (3 credits)
ESP-6070 - Disaster Risk Reduction at the Local Level (3 credits)
ESP-6071 - Urban Environmental Security (3 credits)
ESP-6090 - Hunger, Famine and Food Security (3 credits)
ESP-6100 - Environmental Security Assessment (3 credits)
ESP-6120 - Human Vulnerability and Climate Change (3 credits)
ESP-6150 - Environmental Governance (1 credit)

For complete course descriptions, course calendar and information about the prefessors, please follow this link: http://www.upeace.org/academic/calendar/

For a list of the courses offered at American University, please follow the link of the School of International Service.