MASTERS Program

M.A. in Global Environmental Studies

The diverse courses for the International Graduate Course in Global Environmental Studies are designed to provide students with a holistic understanding of the multiple and complex factors that have contributed to the global environmental crisis. Whether in the natural sciences or humanities, students are free to choose classes suited to their interests, background and future career aspirations from a wide range of courses covering diverse aspects of global environmental issues. This flexibility means that students may in effect create their own curriculum chart and timetable. Another feature of the curriculum is the small class sizes, with student numbers ranging from two to as many as ten per seminar. This ensures that students will be able to receive individual student needs focused instruction from experienced professors.

There are two tracks for students pursuing an M.A. in Global Environmental Studies. For students interested in building their professional career to become an expert in the field of global environmental issues but do not intend to go on to a doctoral program (Ph.D), the graduate school offers a Credit-track M.A. where students are required to obtain 30 credits from lecture courses and complete a graduation project written report in English. For those students interested in exploring a specific area of environmental studies in-depth or intending to further their academic career by going on to a doctoral program (Ph.D), the graduate school offers a Thesis-track M.A. where students are required to obtain 26 credits from lecture courses, 4 credits from Thesis seminar and complete a thesis paper which must be defended before a judging committee as the final stage in obtaining a Thesis-track M.A. degree.

Depending on which track is chosen, students are required to take a total of 30 credits distributed as follows:

Thesis-track

Total credits*
  Compulsory Elective
  Electives
Research Guidance**
Master's Thesis***
30 credits
 8 credit
22 credit
 0 credit
 0 credit

Credit-track

Total credits*
  Compulsory Elective
  Electives
Research Guidance**
Graduation Project***
34 credits
 4 credit
30 credit
 0 credit
 0 credit
  • *Up to 8 credits may be obtained from enrolling in courses in other graduate programs at Sophia University, and may be counted as lecture courses. Those who wish to take such courses should gain approval from the IGCGES faculty, submit the application form to the Center for Academic Affairs and register for the courses via Loyola, during the registration period.
  • **Taken every semester after 2nd semester.
  • ***Typically taken in the final semester.