University of Manchester launches new Masters degree aimed at taking fresh approach to climate change

The University of Manchester is to launch a new masters degree which will take a fresh look at how to tackle climate change. The course is led by Dr Daniel Welch, based at the University’s Sustainable Consumption Institute and Sociology Department, and offers valuable perspectives on how social innovation and behavioural change are critical to tackling the environmental crisis.

The new MA Social Change, Environment and Sustainability course responds to these needs by equipping a generation of graduates and researchers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to lead the transformational processes required.

Dr Daniel Welch, programme director of MA Social Change, Environment and Sustainability, said: “The new course offers students the unique opportunity to explore environmental issues from the perspective of sociology. This is a great opportunity for recent graduates from the social sciences who are motivated to understand processes of social change towards a more sustainable society, as well as those already working in the environmental and sustainability sector looking to develop their knowledge.

 “We recognised the skills gap that exists in understanding social change for sustainability and identified the need for more social sciences graduates with the right expertise to bridge it. Offering a programme that is rooted in sociology will give our students a unique advantage, with specialised knowledge and practical skills tailored to the nuances of societal and environmental issues.

 “The academic team involved in the delivery of the course will work with students to learn and critically engage with the complex subject matter, while also helping them to develop the skills needed to contribute to policies, initiatives and projects that address societal change for sustainability and that they can use to kick-start their careers.”