Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security

The master's degree program Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security, which is taught in English, is a joint degree program offered by the Department of Geography of the University of Bonn and the Institute for Environment and Human Security of United Nations University. The program explores the complex interrelationships between environmental risks and human security as well as their impact on the interactions between humans and their environment (vulnerability, resilience, adaptation).

This interdisciplinary and research-oriented degree program combines theory and its application in an international setting. In the initial phase of the program, students build comprehensive knowledge of and critically reflect on relevant theoretical and methodological debates from the perspectives of both human geography and earth system sciences. On this basis, students are introduced to various politically relevant areas (sustainability goals, adaptation to climate change, disaster management and risk governance, humanitarian aid), which are critically discussed using examples. While research seminars promote students’ scientific independence in these thematic areas, the more practice-oriented courses and a mandatory internship give them the opportunity to gain insight into concrete work methods and institutions operating at the interface between scientific theory and practice.

Possible lines of work:

Work in the areas of international collaboration, climate change research, disaster management, humanitarian aid, spatial planning and sustainability policy at international organizations, German federal authorities and private companies, research/teaching at academic or non-academic research institutions.