COURSE HANDBOOK 2018-2019 - SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENT - School of Geography and the ...
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SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
MSC/MPHIL NATURE, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
MSC/MPHIL NATURE, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
MSC/MPHIL NATURE, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
Academic Director: Dr Beth Greenhough
Course Director: Dr Ariell Ahearn COURSE HANDBOOK
2018–2019
Contacts:
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 275887
Email: msc-coordinator-bcm-nseg@ouce.ox.ac.uk
SCHOOL OF GEOG RAPHY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
OUCE, South Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3QY
United Kingdom
W: www.geog.ox.ac.uk
NSEG-CourseBk-COVERS_2018.indd 1 02/10/2018 10:49:27
This handbook applies to students starting the MSc (by coursework) in Nature, Society and Environmental
Governance in Michaelmas Term 2018. Most of the information applies also to those commencing the
MPhil version of the course, although where different, the information in the separate MPhil handbook
takes priority. The information in this handbook may be different for students starting in other years.
The Examination Regulations relating to this course are available at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/examregs/
If there is a conflict between information in this handbook and the Examination Regulations then you should
follow the Examination Regulations. If you have any concerns please contact Dr Lorraine Wild (Academic
Administrator) via lorraine.wild@ouce.ox.ac.uk
Disclaimer
The information in this handbook is accurate as at
1st October 2018 however it may be necessary for
changes to be made in certain circumstances, as explained
at www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/coursechanges
If such changes are made the department will publish a
new version of this handbook together with a list of the
changes and students will be informed.
MSc (by coursework) in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
2018: version 1.0
For the latest version of this handbook please see
http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/graduate/msc-nseg/handbook.html
Back cover photo credit (left): © Copyright Neil Hanson
NSEG-CourseBk-COVERS_2018.indd 2 02/10/2018 10:49:27
Welcome to the School of Geography and the Environment
I am delighted to welcome you to the School of Geography and the Environment. The
School of Geography and the Environment and its associated research centres
(Environmental Change Institute, Transport Studies Unit and the Smith School of Enterprise
and the Environment) act as a unique hub for teaching and research at Oxford on the
interactions between people and environments. Together, we provide our undergraduates,
MSc, MPhil and DPhil students with the combination of social and natural science skills to
engage effectively with the big themes of the 21st century: from climate change to
globalization; from philosophies of nature and society to biodiversity conservation; and
from the frontiers of environmental science to the hard realities of public policy and
corporate decision-making. The world-class quality of our research, which was recognised
yet again in the latest national assessment exercise (REF 2014), underpins our teaching
excellence. We take pride in the range and scope of our postgraduate programmes, and believe that our learning
environment will further hone your intellectual skills – with lifelong benefits.
I hope that you will be very happy in the University of Oxford and that you will flourish academically and personally
during your time here. The collegiate University provides a diverse and enriching series of opportunities to learn new
skills, and I encourage you to make the most of what is on offer. Within the School, I trust that you will become
active participants and become engaged with the many events and activities that we host.
Heather A Viles
Professor of Biogeomorphology and Heritage Conservation
Head, School of Geography and the Environment
… and to the International Graduate School
As Director of Graduate Studies (Taught Programmes), I am delighted to welcome you to
the School of Geography and the Environment.
The School is an intellectually demanding but supportive environment in which to study. We
emphasize both independent and collaborative styles of working, providing a wealth of
opportunities to engage in an energetic research and teaching culture through class
discussions, seminars, reading groups, field work and many other academic and social
events. Gaining entry to our taught programmes is challenging and we therefore have great
confidence that each of you brings something special to the cohort you are joining. I am
sure you will be looking forward to getting to know your new classmates within the
International Graduate School and to tackling new challenges and new ideas within the
NSEG programme. I look forward to meeting you as your course progresses.
Jamie Lorimer, Associate Professor
Director of Graduates Studies (Taught Programmes)
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 1
… and to the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
The MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance is grounded in the conviction
that responding to contemporary global challenges demands intellectual rigour, innovation
and flexibility. Some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time have politics
intensely at their core, interwoven with the complexities of historical institutions, social
practices, beliefs and mat
erial infrastructures. Understanding these complex phenomena requires multiple
perspectives and the ability to think across disciplinary boundaries. Over the year, you will
encounter a broad range of expertise from human and political geography, anthropology,
economics, management and the environmental sciences. The overarching objective is not
to offer a singular view of nature, society, or governance, but to present a set of theoretical
and practical insights alongside scholarly debates which are alive and in flux. We invite you
to actively engage in these debates, experiment with new ideas and develop meaningful collaborations within the
NSEG community and beyond.
You have been selected for NSEG because we believe you have the ability to engage with us in thinking through the
implications of current trends and developments in these fields, and can participate in identifying the key conceptual
questions that need to be addressed. Every year, the NSEG cohort includes individuals from diverse academic and
professional backgrounds, from engineering and law to philosophy and human geography. We value this diversity of
thought and encourage you to explore new perspectives through discussion with faculty, your student cohort and
your own independent study. The NSEG core modules are designed to provide the theoretical, case study and
methodological foundations through which you can both engage with future-looking questions, and develop the
critical social science research skills necessary investigate them. We hope this intensive year of study will allow you to
identify tools to make a positive difference, whether in academia, the policy community, or related professions.
Oxford is an amazing place for anyone interested in the environment, politics and society.
Both inside and outside of the University there is an extraordinary range of events relevant
to this course, offering you the opportunity to hear some of the world’s leading academics
and other thinkers speak on topical issues. Your time in Oxford presents a unique
opportunity to build your networks, meet like-minded people and others in the International
Graduate School and beyond. At the same time, our eight-week terms can prove to be short
and intense. It is therefore important that you pace yourself and find time for reflection and
rest. This way you will get the very most out of the course. Welcome to NSEG!
Dr Ariell Ahearn, Course Director
Dr Beth Greenhough, Academic Director
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 2
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 5
1.1. Course Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5
1.2. School of Geography and the Environment................................................................................. 5
1.3. Transfer from MSc to MPhil ........................................................................................................ 6
1.4. Oxford Learning Environment ..................................................................................................... 7
2. COURSE INFORMATION...................................................................................... 8
2.1. Aims/Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 8
2.2. Intended Learning Outcomes ...................................................................................................... 8
2.3. Core Teaching Staff ...................................................................................................................... 9
2.4. Course Components .................................................................................................................... 9
2.5. Course Structure ........................................................................................................................ 10
2.6. Course Workload ....................................................................................................................... 10
2.7. Core Modules ............................................................................................................................ 11
2.8. Elective Modules........................................................................................................................ 13
2.9. Reading Groups ......................................................................................................................... 14
2.10. Dissertation.............................................................................................................................. 14
2.11. Research Seminars and Workshops......................................................................................... 14
2.12. Fieldtrips .................................................................................................................................. 15
2.13. Entering the Workplace ........................................................................................................... 16
2.14. Induction .................................................................................................................................. 16
2.15. Security and Care of Personal Belongings and Data ................................................................ 17
3. ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................... 17
3.1. University Examinations ............................................................................................................ 17
3.2. Role of External Examiners, Colleges and Proctors ................................................................... 18
3.3. Feedback on Learning and Assessment ..................................................................................... 18
3.4. Monitoring Academic Progress.................................................................................................. 18
3.5. Good Academic Practice and Avoiding Plagiarism .................................................................... 19
3.6. Examination Conventions .......................................................................................................... 19
4. ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS ............................................................................ 20
4.1. Written Examination.................................................................................................................. 20
4.2. Elective Modules........................................................................................................................ 20
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 3
4.3. Dissertation................................................................................................................................ 20
5. COURSE GOVERNANCE AND STUDENT REPRESENTATION ................................. 22
5.1. Graduate Teaching and Examinations Committee (GTEC) ........................................................ 22
5.2. Student Representation: Joint Consultative Committee ........................................................... 22
5.3. Feedback and concerns ............................................................................................................. 22
5.4. Complaints and Appeals ............................................................................................................ 22
6. KEY DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES .................................................................. 24
6.1. Library and Learning Facilities ................................................................................................... 24
6.2. Canvas ........................................................................................................................................ 24
6.3. Departmental Intranet............................................................................................................... 24
6.4. Past Exam Papers ....................................................................................................................... 24
6.5. The Central University Research Ethics Committee .................................................................. 24
6.6. Fieldwork Behaviour and Safety ................................................................................................ 25
6.7. IT Services .................................................................................................................................. 25
6.8. Alumni Networks ....................................................................................................................... 25
7. KEY DEPARTMENTAL CONTACTS ...................................................................... 25
8. KEY DATES........................................................................................................ 26
8.1.Term dates .................................................................................................................................. 26
8.2.Assessment Dates ....................................................................................................................... 26
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 41. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Course Introduction
This handbook provides an overview of the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance (NSEG). The MSc
in NSEG also serves as the first year (and qualifying examination) of the two-year MPhil in Nature, Society and
Environmental Governance. MPhil students should also refer to the handbook for the MPhil course for the details of
the MPhil examination conventions and the second-year research thesis.
This handbook sets out the aims of the course, the content of the study programme and the various components of
the course, including core modules, electives, dissertations, etc. The booklet also contains important information
about handing in coursework, guidelines for dissertations, attending examinations, and other aspects of course
management. You should read through the handbook carefully and ensure that you understand your obligations
throughout the course. Details of the core modules will be provided at the start of each term.
NSEG is rooted within the ‘Economy and Society’, ‘Political Worlds,’ and ‘ and ‘Technological Life’ research clusters of
the School of Geography and Environment (SoGE), but also draws on wider expertise from across the School. The
core NSEG team are Dr Ariell Ahearn (Course Director), Dr Beth Greenhough (Academic Director), and Dr Caroline
Anderson (MSc Course Coordinator). Dr Ahearn is responsible for overseeing and coordinating key aspects of course
delivery, and is the academic staff member you will have most contact with, particularly during the first two terms.
Dr Greenhough is Chair of the Exam Committee for NSEG, as well as overseeing academic content and development,
and participating in key teaching roles. Dr Anderson deals with a range of administrative and organisational aspects
of NSEG, and is part of the Student Services Team.
1.2. School of Geography and the Environment
The School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE) and its associated research institutes based in the Oxford
University Centre for the Environment (OUCE) are internationally recognised for their excellence in environmental
research and scholarship. The historical origins of OUCE lie in the former School of Geography, the first geography
school to be established in the UK, over 100 years ago by Halford Mackinder. The School was established through a
co-operative effort involving the Royal Geographical Society and Oxford University. From these deep roots the
School has grown and prospered. The ethos of the School of Geography and the Environment is to promote research
that is bold, innovative and challenging while remaining committed to the highest standards of scholarship.
Today, the School of Geography and the Environment is one of the leading centres of scholarship for environmental
and social change. The SoGE is committed to training a new generation of graduate students in the core research
fields of the environmental science and human geography and in the new and exciting interdisciplinary research
frontiers that exist between and across these disciplines.
The School of Geography and the Environment is home to the internationally recognised Environmental Change
Institute (ECI), and other vibrant research centres, such as the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
(SSEE), Transport Studies Unit (TSU), Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests (OCTF) and the Oxford Centre for Water
Research (OCWR), along with cross-departmental research groups, such as the Climate Systems and Policy, African
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 5Environments Programme (AEP), the Innovative Food Systems and Learning programme (IFSTAL), and the Global
Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) international project office. The creative combination of theory
and practice within the School provides a relevant and fertile training ground for our postgraduates. Our research
programmes span the globe, with researchers working in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, North and South America,
along with a strong record in European studies and, of course, the UK.
The SoGE currently offers five thesis-based higher research degrees (the DPhil and four MPhil courses) and four MSc
courses. These are:
MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Management
MSc Environmental Change and Management
MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
MSc Water Science, Policy and Management
The four MPhil courses are two-year versions of these programmes aimed at students who wish to have a
substantial research component to their studies. In the first year, candidates take the coursework and examinations
associated with one of the four MSc courses in the School of Geography and the Environment and in the second
year, students devote most of their time to researching and writing a thesis of 30,000 words.
1.3. Transfer from MSc to MPhil
During the MSc course some students decide that they would like to extend their studies by transferring to the two-
year MPhil programme. In the first instance you should discuss the possibility of transferring with your Course
Director. The deadline for making an application to transfer to the MPhil is Friday week 1 of Trinity Term.
Applications should be submitted to Ruth Saxton, Research Degrees Coordinator (research-degrees-
coordinator@ouce.ox.ac.uk). The application should include:
• an email of support from the agreed supervisor of your MPhil thesis (sent directly to Ruth Saxton by the
deadline);
• a completed Change of Programme of Study form (GSO.28) signed by both your college and proposed
dissertation supervisor; and,
• an MPhil dissertation proposal (to a maximum of 1000 words) outlining the context, aims, methods, and
timetable of your proposed research.
All applications will be reviewed by a panel Chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies (Taught Programmes) in
early Trinity Term.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of the academic performance of the applicant, the dissertation proposal,
and any resource requirements from the School (including staffing and supervision resources). Applications will
normally only be considered from students who have achieved at least 60% in their assessed essays from the two
electives. Final decisions on applications to transfer to the MPhil will only be confirmed after the meeting of the
MPhil (Qualifying Examination) board in early July. The department retains the right to refuse a transfer.
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 6You should also note that your college will ask for evidence that you have the financial means to cover the fees and
living expenses of the additional year of study.
1.4. Oxford Learning Environment
1.4.1. Learning Approach
During your time at Oxford you will experience a wide range of different formats and styles of teaching; from small
group discussions to field-based courses, and from traditional lectures to public talks by some of the world’s leading
academics. In keeping with Oxford’s tradition of academic freedom, the exact nature of the learning experience
within any particular seminar or lecture is left to the discretion of the lecturer which, we hope, produces a useful
variety of learning experiences. The typical teaching approach is a seminar supplemented with discussion and
exercises.
In the International Graduate School, we place strong emphasis on both peer group and individual learning. Your
peer group consists of exceptionally talented scholars from around the world, many of whom have practical
experience or extensive knowledge of issues and topics that are covered during the MSc course. We strongly
recommend that you form strong academic bonds with your peers and we encourage this with small group projects,
reading groups and discussions.
There is an obligation on you as an individual to schedule time to engage with assigned readings, to work hard at
identifying gaps in your knowledge and training, and to develop your own spheres of interest within the subject
area. Oxford’s exceptional learning facilities provide unrivalled opportunities for individual learning, not to mention
the array of international researchers and scholars who present their work at external lectures around the
university. We urge you to take full advantage of these opportunities in order to get the most out of your time here.
Staff members are available to advise students on reading, literature, and topics. The Course Director of the MSc on
which you are enrolled will have regular office hours when you can seek guidance or sound out ideas. Your Colleges
will provide a personal adviser who can give additional support.
1.4.2. Academic conduct
You are expected to attend the classes, workshops, seminars and field trips as specified in the course handbooks. It
is also important that you attend sessions involving external professionals, whose contributions to the course are
voluntary and based on good will. Arriving late for a class or workshop or leaving before it has ended without the
agreement of the lecturer is considered disrespectful and unprofessional.
1.4.3. Expectations of study
Students should note the University guidelines on graduate students undertaking paid work:
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/edc/policiesandguidance/policyonpaidwork/
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 72. COURSE INFORMATION
Master of Science (by coursework) in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
FHEQ level 7
Duration of course: 12 months
2.1. Aims/Objectives
The rate and complexity of environmental change poses profound economic, social and political challenges for
contemporary society. Developing ways to address these challenges demands intellectual rigour, innovation and
flexibility, as well as the capacity to think across existing disciplinary boundaries. This course aims to help students
develop a theoretically sophisticated and empirically grounded understanding of the dynamic relations between
environment, society and policy. To this end, the course draws on the methods and approaches from across the
social sciences such as human and political geography, anthropology, environmental economics, science and
technology studies, and management. As an entry course for further advanced study at Oxford and elsewhere, the
course has a strong emphasis on developing research skills for studying the relations between environment, society
and policy at all levels.
The specific objectives of the MSc course are:
• To provide broad and critical engagements with key debates in the environmental social sciences, focussing
on the relations between nature-society, science-politics, and on urban natures;
• To foster an understanding of the applied practices of environmental policy and the challenges of real-world
environmental governance;
• To develop students’ conceptions of, and skills in, the methods and practices of contemporary
environmental social sciences, providing critical foundations for further study by research;
• To integrate students into world leading research taking place in the School of Geography and the
Environment, providing core teaching and supervision by research-active staff;
• To enhance students' personal and professional development.
2.2. Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will develop:
1. A knowledge and critical understanding of key theoretical literatures from across the social sciences which
engage in conceptual debates about Nature-Society, Science-Politics and Urban Natures;
2. An ability to ground these conceptual frameworks in theories of Environmental Policy, Politics and
Governance, including through detailed investigations of Decision Making Processes, Environmental
Economics and Environmental Management;
3. An ability to critically apply outcomes 1 and 2 to the analysis of a range of case studies of environmental
governance in the real world;
4. A knowledge and critical understanding of specialist topics consistent with a candidate’s particular interests
and expertise in relation to the research environment of the School;
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 85. Practical skills in Research Design and Research Methods and analysis that are consistent with the field of
human geography, including a critical awareness of research ethics.
2.3. Core Teaching Staff
This inter-disciplinary course is led by academics in the School of Geography and the Environment, and its
constituent research centres.
The core teaching staff on the course include:
Dr Ariell Ahearn Course Director and Departmental Lecturer
Dr Daniel Bos Departmental Lecturer in Human Geography
Jennifer Dodsworth DPhil Candidate and NSEG Graduate Teaching Assistant
Dr Marion Ernwein Departmental Lecturer in Human Geography
Dr Dustin Garrick Associate Professor and Departmental Research Lecturer in Environmental
and Resource Management
Dr Beth Greenhough Academic Director, Associate Professor in Human Geography and Fellow,
Keble College
Dr Aoife Haney Departmental Research Lecturer in Innovation and Enterprise
Prof Cameron Hepburn Professor of Environmental Economics, Smith School and Fellow, New
College
Dr Timothy Hodgetts Researcher and Kadas Research Fellow in Geopolitics, Dept. of Zoology
Dr Catharina Landström Researcher, School of Geography and the Environment
Prof Anna Lora-Wainwright Professor of the Human Geography of China and Fellow, St. Cross College
Prof Derek McCormack Professor in Human Geography and Fellow, Mansfield College
Dr Amber Murray-Ndewa Associate Professor in Human Geography and Fellow, Mansfield College
Prof Gillian Rose Professor of Human Geography, and Professorial Fellow in Geography, St
John’s College
Dr Tim Schwanen Departmental Research Lecturer, Associate Professor in Transport Studies
and Human Geography, and Research Fellow, St Anne's College
Dr Alex Vasudevan Associate Professor in Human Geography and Fellow, Christ Church College
2.4. Course Components
The MSc programme comprises:
• Nine core modules organised under three themes: Policy and Governance, Theory and Analysis, and
Research Skills
• Two elective modules
• An original research dissertation of 15,000 words
• Field courses in Oxford and the Netherlands
• A series of occasional workshops, seminars and study days
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 9The core assessed components of the course are three, 3-hour examinations on each of the course themes; one
essay per elective (two in total); and a research dissertation.
2.5. Course Structure
Below is an outline time-table for the course. Core modules and elective modules are taught in the first two terms,
leaving the third term for examinations and dissertation preparation. For full details, see the reading lists and
module outlines available on the Canvas virtual learning environment before the start of each term.
MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
1st Term 2nd Term 3rd Term
Nature & Society Science & Politics Exams
Business and the Environment Governance, Politics & Policy Research Dissertation
Environmental Economics and Policy Urban Natures
Research Design Research Methods & Practice
Dissertation Preparation Decision Making Processes
Research Field Course: Amsterdam
Electives Modules and Reading Groups Research Methods Surgeries
2.6. Course Workload
The Oxford educational approach combines class-based teaching with individual reading and study. Much of the
value of an Oxford University degree lies in student’s own initiative and effort in exploring literature and ideas.
Students hoping to excel at Oxford will need to demonstrate significant reading and understanding beyond the
taught material.
The course design is guided by a work-load model that assumes c.3 hours of reading associated with each class, and
20% of any week available for extended reading, individual project study, workshops and attending seminars
elsewhere. There will be 12–14 hours of class time (formal contact hours) per week.
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 102.7. Core Modules
The MSc is organised under three themes: (1) Policy and Governance; (2) Theory and Analysis; and (3) Research
Skills, taught during Michaelmas Term (MT) and Hilary Term (HT).
Associated
Michaelmas Term Hilary Term Trinity Term
Assessment
Business & the Governance,
Policy and
Environment Politics & Policy
Governance Independent
Theme Three written
Environmental Decision Making Exam Revision;
exams, one
Economics & Policy Processes per theme
Sit Exams in Exam
(40% total
Schools;
marks)
Theory and Science &
Analysis Politics Dissertation
Nature & Society Preparation
Theme
Urban Natures Research
Dissertation
(40% total
Research marks)
Research Skills
Research Design Methods &
Theme
Practice
Two extended
Elective
essays, one
modules
per elective
(shared by all Elective 1 Elective 2
(20% total
MScs)
marks)
Oxford Induction Field Course; Class Meetings; Occasional
Other core
Study Days
NSEG activities
Research Field Course in Amsterdam
Revision Classes;
Seminars and other
Research
Optional external events
Methods
(e.g. IFSTAL)
Surgeries
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 11Theme 1: Policy and Governance
Governance, Politics and Policy (HT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
This module explores the diverse forms of interventions, instruments and practices that constitute contemporary
environmental governance, drawing on a range of conceptual approaches and case studies from Central and Inner
Asia, Africa, India and Oxford. Key theoretical insights are introduced from political geography, environmental
politics, and other relevant strands of the environmental social sciences, and illustrated through examples of
governance in practice at the local, national, regional and global levels.
Decision-Making Processes (HT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
These sessions will provide an interdisciplinary perspective on decision-making in policy contexts and beyond, and
on the involved actors, knowledges, techniques and spaces. The focus will be on decision-making processes and the
effects these generate on a range of geographical scales, ranging from the individual to the supranational level. The
module will illustrate theoretical frameworks and ideas through a range of case study examples focused on issues
related to climate change, energy and transport.
Economics of the Environment (MT) – 14 hours in 7 x 2-hour classes
This module addresses the role of economic ideas, instruments and institutions in environmental policy and
governance. Using a problem-based approach, you will learn how economists analyse and respond to environmental
problems. The course will also trace how and why the theory and practice of environmental economics have
evolved since the 1960s with the increasing complexity of environmental issues. A primary aim of this course is to
encourage you to think critically about important environmental issues from the perspective of economics, whilst
integrating economic analysis into broad, interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental problems.
Business and the Environment (MT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
In this module, students will learn (1) to investigate the complex relationship between business and the
environment; (2) to critique the strategies of individual companies in their efforts to design and implement
environmental sustainability strategies; and (3) to develop a nuanced understanding of the systems within which
companies and other organizations such as NGOs, national governments, city authorities, and social enterprises
operate.
Theme 2: Theory and Analysis
Nature and Society (MT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
The aim of this module is to examine the ways in which the relations between nature and society have been
articulated within the discipline of Geography and related fields. Starting with a critique of the Modern
understanding of Nature – as a pure place removed from Society and revealed by Natural Science – it examines
various 'multinatural' alternatives, and their consequences for contemporary environmental policy and politics.
Science and Politics (HT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
This module focuses on the complex relations between science, politics and public policy. The module critically
examines how science and politics are often viewed as discrete fields, whereby science provides an objective
knowledge base for the development of political responses to environmental problems. The module explores the
implications of this division of labour for the conduct of scientific controversies, relationships between experts and
non-experts, uncertainty around scientific knowledge and interdisciplinary research.
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 12Urban Natures (HT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
This module provides a political ecological perspective on contemporary forms of urbanisation. It places particular
emphasis on the different and often uneven ways in which urban environments are produced, governed and
contested. Key theoretical insights are introduced drawing on a range of case studies from both the global North and
South. The primary aim of the module is to critically develop a way of understanding and connecting the political
ecology of cities to how we think about and conceptualise the relationship between nature, society and
environmental governance.
Theme 3: Research Skills
Research Design (MT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
The purpose of this module is to critically examine key questions in the philosophy of science, including different
approaches to asking questions about society and nature; the practice of generating data; and the role of writing in
the research process. It then relates these questions to specific methodological techniques and analytical strategies.
Research Methods and Practice (HT) – 16 hours in 8 x 2-hour classes
This course develops understanding of key research methods, which include qualitative interviewing, participant
observation, visual methods, digital methods and textual analysis. As well as lectures on these topics, this module
includes class-based sessions around the development of small group projects, to assist in the development of key
research skills.
Research Dissertation (TT onwards) – Independent study, with up to 8 hours of supervision
The above modules aim to help students design and execute original and independent research that is expected to
be of high quality. All students are supervised from within the School of Geography and the Environment, although it
is possible to appoint additional advisors from external institutions. Many students carry out their dissertation
research outside of the UK and some work as members of research teams in the SoGE, or of firms and organisations
that the School has close relations with.
2.8. Elective Modules
There is a separate Electives Handbook that provides outlines of available elective module options in the School of
Geography and the Environment for the forthcoming year. Please note, however, that module details may change at
short notice due to changes in staff availability.
Elective modules offer a small-group, tutorial-style teaching and discussion environment, based on a suite of
contemporary research themes set within the broader context of Geography and the Environment, that reflect the
specific interests of core faculty and Teaching Associates. Each student will have the opportunity to identify electives
of particular interest, though the selection process will be made through committee at the start of term. The
teaching aim is to foster discussion and debate between academic staff and students, and to identify and explore
theory, methods and practice in an academic space that encourages a critical dialectic.
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 13Each elective is assessed through a submitted essay of no more than 4,000 words. For details of submission of
elective essays see: https://intranet.ouce.ox.ac.uk/msc/index.html
2.9. Reading Groups
During Michaelmas and Hilary terms there are compulsory reading groups led by the graduate teaching assistant,
Jennifer Dodsworth. Reading groups are linked to core module teaching and offer an opportunity for in-depth
exploration of a particular key text from the literature, within a smaller group setting.
2.10. Dissertation
In addition to the core and elective modules, you will also undertake an independent and original research
dissertation. The dissertation is an integral and formal part of the course, and completing a good dissertation is
essential for further research study in the SoGE, leading to the MPhil or DPhil degree.
The dissertation gives you the opportunity to design and execute your own research. The choice of research topic is
up to you, but it normally relates to one or more of the core or elective modules, or to the research interests of one
of the SoGE staff.
Over the course of Michaelmas and Hilary terms, students are expected to consult with teaching staff, faculty and
other postdoctoral research staff who may serve as a dissertation supervisor. It is your responsibility to identify a
suitable supervisor for your particular project and make these arrangements. You may consult with the NSEG course
team for additional advice regarding who may serve as your supervisor. A dissertation proposal will be due by week
6 of Hilary term. The bulk of dissertation research which will be carried out after the exams are over, and the final
work must be handed in on the first weekday of September, namely Monday 2nd September 2019. Each student may
have up to eight hours of supervision from their appointed supervisor. It is expected that the supervision period will
end on 15 August, unless specific arrangements are made with individual supervisors.
The best dissertations will be of publication quality, and all submissions should show originality and/or competent
and creative scholarship. Indeed, it is possible to submit the work in the form of a journal paper ready for
submission. This should be discussed with your dissertation supervisor.
All dissertations will be judged on the degree to which they fulfil the criteria of a comprehensive and coherent
treatment of a suitable research question in an analytical and critical manner.
2.11. Research Seminars and Workshops
The University of Oxford offers a truly outstanding opportunity to immerse oneself in public talks from leading global
thinkers, activists and politicians on a kaleidoscope of topics and issues.
2.11.1. Research Seminars
SoGE runs departmental seminars where researchers from outside Oxford are invited to share their work. In
addition, each research cluster normally organises seminars during term. Elsewhere in the University, a whole host
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 14of regular seminar series exist, and many have an environmental focus. Many of these events are advertised through
the Oxford Networks for the Environment (ONE)’s email mailing list and website.
2.11.2. Policy Workshops
Students may participate in workshops that provide for an in-depth exploration of key issues in environmental
policy. The number of places available for students to attend workshops is normally restricted to thirty or so,
depending on the precise format. More details on the focus and dates of the workshops will be available at the start
of the academic year.
2.12. Fieldtrips
As a research-driven MSc, fieldwork represents a core element of the teaching philosophy of NSEG. Each year there
are two compulsory field courses that aim to provide grounded, critical engagements with core empirical and
theoretical themes of the course, and to develop students’ research skills and competence with methods and
practices appropriate to the contemporary environmental social sciences. In the 2018-2019 academic year, field trips
will run as follows:
Induction field course: Oxford and the surrounding area (3 days, 27th to 29th September)
The specific aims of this field course are:
• To enable students and key teaching staff to get to know each other, and to introduce the structure and core
themes of the course
• To examine how some of the key challenges emanating from contemporary environmental change are being
tackled by different actors based in Oxford
• To begin to explore conceptual debates about nature and society, specifically through a focus on landscape
Please see the Induction Handbook for further information about this field course.
Research field course: Amsterdam and the Netherlands (March 2019)
The specific aims of this field course are:
• To provide students with practical experience of designing, implementing and presenting the results of a
small-scale, environmental social science research project
• To develop students’ awareness of the challenges of applying qualitative research methods to a specific,
real-world problem
• To enable students to critically examine the politics and governance of key environmental issues in
Amsterdam and the Netherlands more broadly
• To critically examine the motivations and implications of Dutch re-wilding policies, specifically as
implemented in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve
• To prepare students to write a policy brief based on the research findings.
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 15In addition to these two field courses, students are also expected to engage in a significant period of fieldwork as
part of the research dissertation component of the course. Appropriate instruction and supervision will be offered to
help students with planning, risk assessment, and ethical approval for this fieldwork.
The costs of all fieldtrips are covered by the department. This excludes the costs associated with obtaining the
appropriate visa required to attend the non-UK based fieldtrips. If students wish to stay at the destination after the
fieldtrip they will have to pay for the costs of their return fare to the UK.
2.13. Entering the Workplace
The course design includes opportunities to engage with alumni and environmental policy practitioners and to get a
sense of the range of possible career pathways available for those with expertise in environmental governance.
2.13.1. Internship Opportunities
The Environmental Change Institute has a sustainability internship programme that is open to students on all four of our
MSc courses. The programme runs a 3-day Training Better Leaders course during the Easter vacation and places students
in 8 to 12 week paid internships after the course. These internships are sourced and managed through a coordinator who
ensures that each placement satisfies specific criteria to make these experiences engaging, interesting and a useful next
step in professional progression. They are advertised on a rolling basis through Hilary and Trinity terms for placements
starting at the end of September. For more details and to sign up to the mailing list visit
http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/internship/.
2.13.2. Innovative Food System Teaching and Learning (IFSTAL)
All NSEG students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of IFSTAL (Innovative Food Systems Teaching and
Learning), a free programme and pioneering collaboration.
The programme offers evening lectures/activities, an online portal connecting you with other participating students,
an internship programme, symposiums, away days and a summer school. Offered by a group of Universities –
Oxford, Reading, Warwick, City University London, the Royal Veterinary College, the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine and the School of Oriental and African Studies – this training programme aims to generate a
cohort of MSc and PhD graduates equipped to address food system challenges by framing their specialist
understandings (e.g. of environmental governance, nature-society relations, and the science-policy interface) within
the broader social, economic and environmental context.
Participation is on a voluntary basis and can be flexible; a certificate of participation will be available at the end of
the year. Find out more here: www.ifstal.ac.uk.
2.14. Induction
All new postgraduates are expected to attend a full-time orientation and induction programme in the week before
Michaelmas Term commences. The purpose of this orientation is to provide an opportunity to lay out the structure
and expectations of the programme in an informal setting. The first half of the induction programme is organised by
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 16the department and comprises, among other things, an introduction to the School of Geography and the
Environment, its component centres, and its facilities. It also introduces and explains the training and research
programme, institutional and organisational procedures, the aims, objectives, structure, outline, and assessment
methods of the course, the key expectations and responsibilities of the students. Information about supervision
arrangements is provided. In addition, specialist induction to library and database resources, electronic databases
and Internet facilities, GIS and mapping, and the use of available equipment and facilities is provided. The second
half of the induction is organised by the student’s respective colleges and includes induction and information
concerning college facilities and arrangements, college computing and internet access, university affairs, and the
like.
2.15. Security and Care of Personal Belongings and Data
People outside the School have access to the building. It is important therefore that you are vigilant of your own and
others’ valuables at all times. This applies particularly to laptops, tablets and phones. In addition, we request that
you are particularly vigilant of ‘tail gating’, i.e. people coming in through the security barriers behind you and who
lack swipe card access to the Department.
In an effort to combat crime the University runs registration schemes for bikes and personal possessions and you are
encouraged to use these. Please contact your college for details. You are strongly advised to back-up your data,
lecture notes and drafts of written work at regular intervals.
3. ASSESSMENT
3.1. University Examinations
The procedure for entering for University examinations is explained on the University website:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/entry. If you have any questions about your entry for the
examinations or requesting alternative examination arrangements, you should contact the academic office at your
college.
The examination timetable will be confirmed no less than five weeks before the examination. The provisional dates
for the examinations are in 4th week of Trinity Term. Once they are confirmed, the examination timetables may be
found at:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/timetables
Information on (a) the standards of conduct expected in examinations and (b) what to do if you would like examiners
to be aware of any factors that may have affected your performance before or during an examination (such as
illness, accident or bereavement) are available on the Oxford Students website
(www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/guidance).
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 173.2. Role of External Examiners, Colleges and Proctors
There are several important actors within the examination process all of whom have distinct roles. Below is a brief
guide to these roles:
1. The Exam Board: The University appoints an exam board comprising three or four members of faculty and
an external examiner. The current chair of the NSEG MSc is Dr Beth Greenhough. The Exam Board is
responsible for ensuring the examinations are conducted fairly and according to University regulations. The
Board of Examiners may be assisted in setting and marking assessed elements of the course by other
internal staff members who are termed assessors.
2. The External Examiner: This is a senior academic from a reputable external academic institution whose role
is to verify the quality of the examination materials, advise the MSc course team on course content, and sit
on the final examination board. The current External Examiner of the NSEG MSc is Professor Mara Miele
(Cardiff University). The external examiner has the right and the duty to modify marks if she or he sees fit.
Students are strictly prohibited from contacting external examiners directly. If you are unhappy with an
aspect of your assessment you may make a complaint or appeal (see section on Complaints and Appeals).
3. Colleges: If you need to ask for an extension on a piece of coursework or your research dissertation, or are ill
and cannot attend an examination, or have any other reason for not taking part in the examination process
in a typical way, you should liaise with the university authorities through your college, not through SoGE.
Only your college can organise this in advance of the deadline.
4. The Proctors are responsible for the integrity, quality and effectiveness of the Oxford University examination
system. Ultimately, they are responsible for making decisions on extensions, resubmission or any other
aspect of examination protocol. Requests to the Proctors can only be made through your College. Under the
University Examination Regulations candidates are not permitted to communicate with examiners about any
aspects of the assessment process after the examinations have begun. Any complaints about assessment
procedures should be addressed to the Proctors via the candidate’s college.
3.3. Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Throughout the year, there will be opportunities for informal feedback on your learning and understanding through
class discussions, peer feedback on presentations and interactions with course staff. You will receive constructive,
qualitative feedback on at least one piece of formative assessment for each elective, as well as written feedback on
each of your two summative elective essays. This feedback will focus on identifying the good points of your essay
and give suggestions on how to improve the quality of your written work. You will also receive written feedback on
your dissertation.
3.4. Monitoring Academic Progress
The course director is normally assigned as your supervisor for the duration of the course. Once you start work on
your dissertation you will also work with a specialist dissertation supervisor. Your course director will be responsible
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 18for monitoring your academic progress and each term your supervisor will complete a GSR report (Graduate
Supervision Reporting). These reports will be read by the DGS (Taught Programmes). The GSR system also allows you
to complete an evaluation of your own progress.
3.5. Good Academic Practice and Avoiding Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it
into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished material, whether in manuscript,
printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be intentional or reckless, or
unintentional. Under the regulations for examinations, intentional or reckless plagiarism is a disciplinary offence.
Please see the University guidelines: http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills/plagiarism.
All submitted work will be run through Turnitin (an electronic text matching system).
3.6. Examination Conventions
Examination conventions are the formal record of the specific assessment standards for the course or courses to
which they apply. They set out how your examined work will be marked and how the resulting marks will be used to
arrive at a final result and classification of your award. They include information on: marking scales, marking and
classification criteria, scaling of marks, progression, resits, use of viva voce examinations, penalties for late
submission, and penalties for over-length work.
The Examination Conventions for this course may be found at:
https://intranet.ouce.ox.ac.uk/msc/examination-conventions/
These conventions are the definitive version to apply to examinations in 2019.
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 194. ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS
4.1. Written Examination
Core courses will be examined by means of three three-hour written examinations in Trinity Term. These
examinations are designed to determine the student’s critical understanding and knowledge of the range of issues
covered, and also provides the opportunity for students to display the results of their individual study, including
information gained from field courses and seminars.
For ease of reference, the official course Schedule provides the following examination rubric:
(a) Core courses
The core courses will be examined under the following heads:
1. Research Skills
Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of research methods in social, environmental, and
geographical research. These will include qualitative and quantitative methods relevant to
contemporary research themes.
2. Theory and Analysis
Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of relevant debates in human geography and related
disciplines concerning the relations between nature and society, science and environmental politics,
and global and local political and economic processes.
3. Policy and Governance
Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of relevant debates and issues concerning
environmental policy and governance, environmental economics and business and the environment.
(b) Elective courses
Candidates will be expected to show advanced knowledge of two of the elective courses on offer in any
one year.
4.2. Elective Modules
Students are also required to submit written essays (of no more than 4,000 words plus 150-word abstract) on two
elective courses by noon on the first Monday of the following term after which the elective module was taken (i.e. a
Michaelmas elective module requires submission on the first Monday of Hilary Term).
Full details on the required format and how to submit the elective essays can be found at:
https://intranet.ouce.ox.ac.uk/msc/submission/electives.html
4.3. Dissertation
You must submit a dissertation proposal to the NSEG MSc Course Director before the end of Hilary Term in the year
in which you enter the examination, the title and details of your dissertation as set out in the proposal template,
MSc NSEG Course Book 2018-19 | 20You can also read
