Master of Climate Change Adaptation

Program Overview

The Master of Climate Change Adaptation program equips professionals with a comprehensive understanding of climate change, its impacts, and adaptation strategies. Graduates develop analytical, creative, and problem-solving skills to design and implement effective adaptation measures, fostering resilience across society and the environment. The program offers three pathways: Standard, Professional, and Dissertation, with a range of majors and electives to tailor the program to individual career aspirations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Climate Change Adaptation program is designed to provide professionals with a comprehensive understanding of climate change, its impacts, and the skills needed to build resilience across society and the environment. Graduates will be equipped to develop and implement adaptation strategies to protect communities, businesses, government agencies, infrastructure, and natural assets.

Objectives:

• Provide students with a solid interdisciplinary knowledge of climate change, its impacts, and adaptation strategies.
• Develop students' analytical skills to assess climate change impacts and vulnerabilities.
• Enhance students' creative and problem-solving abilities to design and implement effective adaptation measures.
• Foster students' understanding of the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of climate change adaptation.
• Prepare students for careers in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience-building.

Program Outline:

Content:

• Climate science and impacts
• Climate change adaptation principles and practices
• Vulnerability and risk assessment
• Adaptation planning and implementation
• Climate change policy and governance
• Communication and stakeholder engagement
• Climate change and health
• Climate change and disaster management
• Climate change and sustainable development

Structure:

• The program consists of 160 credit points, typically completed over two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study.
• Students can choose from three pathways: Standard, Professional, or Dissertation.
• The Standard pathway includes core courses, a major, and listed electives.
• The Professional pathway includes core courses, a major, work-integrated learning courses, and listed electives.
• The Dissertation pathway includes core courses, a major, dissertation courses, and listed electives.

Course Schedule:

• Courses are offered in trimesters, with a variety of delivery modes including face-to-face, online, and blended learning.
• The program schedule is subject to change, and students are advised to consult the Griffith University Course Catalogue for the most up-to-date information.

Individual Modules with Descriptions:

Core Courses:

• Environmental Systems and Climate Change (7250ENV): Introduces students to the Earth's climate system, climate change science, and its impacts on natural and human systems.
• Policymaking and Planning for Climate Change (7057ENV): Examines the policy and planning frameworks for climate change adaptation at local, national, and international levels.
• Climate Change Adaptation (7007ENV): Provides students with a comprehensive understanding of climate change adaptation principles, practices, and case studies.
• Climate Adaptation Theory and Practice (7019ESC): Explores the theoretical foundations and practical applications of climate change adaptation, including vulnerability assessment, risk management, and adaptation planning.
• Research Design and Methods (7161ESC): Develops students' research skills, including research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Exploring the Literature (7181ESC): Enhances students' ability to critically evaluate and synthesize scientific literature on climate change adaptation.

Majors:

• Climate Change and Health: Focuses on the health impacts of climate change and the development of adaptation strategies to protect human health.
• Climate Change and Leadership: Prepares students for leadership roles in climate change adaptation, including communication, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
• Climate Change and Public Policy: Examines the role of public policy in climate change adaptation, including policy analysis, development, and implementation.

Listed Electives:

• Environmental Economics (7401ENV): Introduces students to the economic principles and tools used to analyze environmental issues, including climate change.
• Environment and Development (7461ENV): Explores the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic development, with a focus on climate change adaptation.
• Sustainability and Systems Thinking (7920IBA): Develops students' understanding of sustainability principles and systems thinking approaches to climate change adaptation.
• Communication in Crises and Disasters (7125LHS): Enhances students' communication skills in the context of climate change-related crises and disasters.
• Geographic Information Systems (7067ENV): Introduces students to the principles and applications of geographic information systems (GIS) for climate change adaptation.
• Environmental Microbiology and Ecology (7416ENG): Examines the role of microorganisms and ecological processes in climate change adaptation.
• Media, Power, and Decision-making (7109LHS): Explores the role of media and power dynamics in climate change adaptation decision-making.
• Leading Policy and Organisational Change (7012EHR): Develops students' skills in policy analysis, development, and implementation, with a focus on climate change adaptation.
• Environmental Management Systems (7407ENG): Introduces students to the principles and practices of environmental management systems, including climate change adaptation.
• Environmental Pollution (7421ENV): Examines the sources, impacts, and management of environmental pollution, with a focus on climate change adaptation.
• Urban Futures: Delivering Water Sensitive Cities (7950ESC): Explores the challenges and opportunities of creating water-sensitive cities that are resilient to climate change.
• Urban Metabolism: Resource and Energy Recovery Systems (7951ESC): Examines the principles and practices of urban metabolism, with a focus on resource and energy recovery for climate change adaptation.
• Site Remediation and Rehabilitation (7406ENG): Introduces students to the principles and practices of site remediation and rehabilitation, with a focus on climate change adaptation.
• Globalisation and Corporate Social Responsibility (7112IBA): Explores the relationship between globalization, corporate social responsibility, and climate change adaptation.
• Emerging Issues in Disaster and Pandemic Planning, Response, and Management (8038NRS): Examines emerging issues in disaster and pandemic planning, response, and management, with a focus on climate change adaptation.
• Water, Agricultural Landscapes, and Food Security (7960ESC): Explores the challenges and opportunities of ensuring water security and food security in agricultural landscapes under climate change.
• Community Internship and Partnerships for SDGs (7510LFC): Provides students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in climate change adaptation through community internships and partnerships.
• Work Integrated Learning Special Topic (7911ESC): Allows students to undertake a work-integrated learning project in a climate change adaptation-related field.