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.
