Master’s: Human Ecology (EH) - DEFLE - French as a Foreign Language

Description

Université Bordeaux Montaigne is offering a Master’s programme in Regional Management and Local Development (GTDL) in partnership with Bordeaux National School of Agricultural Engineering (Bordeaux Sciences Agro). There is a choice of three vocationally oriented subject pathways.

• A subject pathway in ‘Regional Development, Product Origin and Quality (DTOQP)’.
• A subject pathway in ‘Human Ecology (EH)’.
• A subject pathway in ‘Coordination and Organisation of Regional Projects (IAT)’. 

Although the different pathways vary in terms of their key themes, they share a common aim to train professionals in the field of regional management and local development. Students come into contact with real-life professional situations via tutor-led projects supported by partners of the programme (including several external participants). They also gain concrete experience of the professional context via multiple internships (of several months) throughout the two-year programme of study. As a result, students quickly become aware of and sensitive to the dynamics of local networks. 

All three pathways are aligned with the current quest for economic, social and environmental sustainability at the local level. They share a multi-level approach, analysing the involvement of stakeholders and applying systemic reasoning. The three pathways are firmly established in the field of social sciences.

Objectives

This subject pathway concentrates on the relationship between humans and their surroundings, in response to an ever-increasing emphasis on the environmental consequences of human activity and on the development of eco-responsible, lower-impact production methods and consumption patterns. This subject pathway thus positions itself firmly within the context of human ecology via the three key elements of the programme: biological ecology (issues relating to our impact on natural environments), family ecology (issues surrounding consumption patterns in domestic and public spheres) and industrial and regional ecology (issues of production-consumption systems at the local level).

In order to respond to these ecological issues and the resulting social expectations, students develop conceptual, methodological and operational skills that will equip them to:

• confront the complexity of environmental issues;
• call upon a diverse range of methods and tools for diagnostic analyses and the management of local and natural settings (characterisation of natural habitats, impact assessment, biomonitoring);
• raise awareness and educate a range of audiences about sustainable development (measures to promote sustainable development and the protection of the environment);
• implement environmental management policies in companies and regional authorities (managing greenhouse gas emissions, systems for environmental management).

Training content

Two years of study: Master 1 (M1) and Master 2 (M2)

The two years of this programme of study represent a total of 466 teaching hours. External, non-academic participants lead 27% of course units, and 80% of course units take the form of seminar units and projects. Great importance is placed on the management of group projects and the oral presentation of findings. Students thus develop skills that are of great value in the professional context. They gain first-hand experience of real-life professional situations, with ten months spent in internships (four months in the first year and six months in the second year).

In Master 1 of the ‘Human Ecology’

pathway course units deal with knowledge and tools linked to the study and characterisation of ecosystems as well as the ecological impact of human activity. 

In Master 2

the pathway-specific course units tackle perspectives on how we should educate the public about sustainable development and the environment. Issues surrounding the circular economy are also tackled. 

To complete Master 1 and Master 2, students are required to produce a dissertation on the subject of their internship. This is then defended in an oral examination.

Each semester comprises two unit blocks:

• course units that are part of a core common curriculum focussing on tools, methodologies, cross-disciplinary skills and fundamental knowledge for both the ‘Human Ecology’ and ‘Regional Development, Product Origin and Quality’ pathways;
• course units which are specific to the ‘Human Ecology’ pathway.

Access condition

Find information regarding enrolment procedures and the supporting documents to be provided, according to your profile and your level of studies :

• Independent Stay
• Exchange Programme

Career pathways

At the end of this programme of study, students are able to join local development projects. They are well equipped to further build on the skills they have gained in project management and in the acquisition, analysis and synthesis of social and environmental data. They are able to work successfully in teams and can access professions related to the organisation and leadership of projects in the fields of the environment and sustainable development, for example.