MA in Outdoor and Sustainability Education
Linköping, Sweden
DURATION
2 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2024
TUITION FEES
SEK 107,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* only to students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland
Introduction
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Discover the educational potential of leaving the classroom and exploring the surroundings. All children deserve the opportunity to learn and reach their full potential. This master’s program will increase your knowledge about learning processes, focusing on experience-based learning, using different modes and methods. The advanced courses in educational science will help teachers and other educators understand how a variety of outdoor environments can be used as resources for learning and knowledge.
All children deserve the opportunity to learn and reach their full potential. This master’s program will increase your knowledge about learning processes with a focus on experience-based learning, using different modes and methods. The advanced courses in educational science will help teachers and other educators understand how a variety of outdoor environments can be used as resources for learning and knowledge.
Outdoor education is a diverse field of research and practice. This program derives from the Scandinavian perspective on outdoor education - the concept of "uteskola", literally meaning outdoor school. In outdoor school, the syllabus is taught outdoors on a regular basis in an interplay with indoor learning. You will broaden your professional expertise as a teacher by training to use outdoor environments for teaching and learning.
Outdoor learning for all ages
You will gain theoretical and practical knowledge on how to teach different school subjects outdoors, in natural as well as urban environments. We explore the city, nature reserves, and other green settings, playgrounds, and school grounds as learning environments. Examples of educational settings come from the entire school system, pre-school up to adult learning. You will also have the possibility to focus on your particular interests and field of practice.
In addition to classroom lectures and seminars, students work in pairs or groups with weekly assignments in outdoor natural and cultural landscapes. All program courses include individually written assignments and you will collect your own empirical data for your thesis, using qualitative or quantitative, or mixed research methods.
Provide young people with sustainability skills
One essential question in societies worldwide is how to sustain our planet’s functions and resources and at the same time improve the well-being for a growing population. Environmental and sustainability education focuses on possible ways to work with the knowledge, skills, and values needed for contributing and participating in a sustainable society. Furthermore, the program explores what research has revealed about the role of nature and green settings for learning, health, and well-being.
As a graduate, you will be able to work with pedagogical development in schools or other educational fields in society. The program also prepares you for future Ph.D. studies and research.
Syllabus
Introduction
The program trains students to use environments outside the traditional classroom for teaching and learning. The program strives to have a good balance between theoretical depth and practical professional skills. A point of departure for teaching and learning is the natural and cultural landscape. Those experiences are aligned with contemporary research through lectures and seminars. Outdoor education is related to environmental and sustainability education and disciplinary teaching in different subjects.
Purpose
The aim is that students shall develop a scientific foundation for qualified professional work with a focus on outdoor education and environmental and sustainability education. The program aims to develop professional competence and knowledge in the above areas. The program shall enable the foundation for the development of scientific and practical competence. The program will also prepare the students for future doctoral studies and research.
Aim
The student shall show
Knowledge and understanding
- knowledge and understanding in the fields of outdoor education and environmental and sustainability education
- deepened insight into contemporary research and professional work in the fields of outdoor education and environmental and sustainability education
- deepened methodological knowledge in educational sciences
Skills and abilities
- ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge in both theory and practice, and analyze, evaluate and handle complex questions and situations
- skills to use the natural and cultural landscape as a resource in one own profession
- ability to critically, independently, and creatively identify and formulate research questions, plan and with adequate methods conduct qualified tasks within given time frames and thereby contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work
- ability to orally and in a written form clearly account for and discuss conclusions and the knowledge and arguments that are behinds them in dialogue with different groups
- skills that are required for participating in research and development work or independently participating in pedagogical activities and relate to international research
Ability to evaluate and approach
- ability to within the discipline make judgments in accordance with relevant scientific, societal, and ethical aspects and show awareness of ethical aspects on research and development work
- insight of potentials and barriers of science, it’s role in society and human responsibility for how science is used
- ability to identify the requirement of additional knowledge and to take responsibility for further development of knowledge
The above goals are concretized in the course syllabuses.
Admissions
Curriculum
Semester 1 (Autumn 2022)
- 947A16 --- Outdoor Learning in Theory and Practice --- 15
- 947A15 --- Environmental and Sustainability Education in the Natural and Cultural Landscape --- 15
Semester 2 (Spring 2023)
Preliminary courses
- 947A07 --- Thesis in Outdoor Education --- 15
- 947A14 --- Theories of Research and Methods of Inquiry --- 15
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships
Linköping University (LiU) offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding international students. For some programs and nationalities, it is also possible to apply for a scholarship through the Swedish Institute. There are also other funding opportunities for studies in Sweden.
LiU International Scholarship
The LiU International Scholarship is aimed at supporting international master's degree students with significant academic potential who are required to pay tuition fees. The tuition fees for a student awarded a LiU International Scholarship are reduced by 25, 50, or 75%. We offer a limited number of these scholarships to new students.
Am I eligible to apply?
Students who have applied for a master’s program at Linköping University and who meet all the following conditions are eligible to apply for a scholarship:
- you applied by the deadline for the first admission round
- you submitted all the required documents by the deadline
- you chose a master’s program at Linköping University as your first priority (ranked as number 1 of 4)
- you have been admitted to your first choice in the First Notification of Selection Results (usually early April)
- you are required to pay tuition fees.
Scholarships for studies in Sweden
Swedish Institute scholarships
The government agency the Swedish Institute (SI) offers a variety of scholarships depending on the level of study, the country where you come from, and the purpose of your studies. The application period for the SI scholarships varies. Read more about the SI scholarships and how to apply on their webpage.
Other scholarships
Many associations, foundations, and other organizations offer scholarships or travel grants for studies in Sweden. The official StudyinSweden.se website has collated a list of resources, where you can look for scholarships open to students of many countries or from your country specifically.
Career Opportunities
Following the final examination, students will have gained theoretical knowledge and practical experience within the field of outdoor education for working with pedagogical development in schools or other educational fields in society.
Alternatively, students may continue to conduct research leading to a doctoral degree.