MA in Environment, Development, and Peace with Specialization in Sustainable Natural Resource Management

The Master of Arts Degree in Environment, Development, and Peace (EDP) provides comprehensive training in issues of sustainable development, environmental governance, natural resource management, and environmental conflict management from both ecological and social perspectives. It encompasses a broad range of subjects and themes, including Food Systems, Water Management, Forestry, Coastal Resources, Climate Change, Urban Ecology, and Social Movements. The program focuses on the human dimensions of the environment-development nexus, highlighting the connections between local perspectives and broader processes at the national, regional, and global levels and emphasizing the importance of political-economic structures and inequality in access to resources as key drivers in environmental conflict and global environmental change. The program prepares students for a wide range of careers in both environmental and development policy and programming in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Sustainable Natural Resource Management

This specialization is designed for those intending to engage in on the ground or community-oriented work in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, or sustainable development. It emphasizes the enhancement of biodiversity for global life support systems and mitigation of conflicts that arise from development initiatives, natural resource disputes, and environmental degradation. Specifically, sustainable natural resource management specialization students will take the following courses as part of their degree program: Sustainable Agriculture or Water Security; Forests, Forestry, and Poverty or Management of Coastal Resources; Natural Resource Management Field Course.

Student Body

The University for Peace is characterized by its diversity and multiculturalism. For 2020-2021, we have 102 students from 38 countries. As a result, our campus is always full of student activities, most of them organized by the students themselves. In past years, we have had yoga classes, conversation classes in different languages, the celebration of cultural nights (Asian night, Latin night, European night, etc.), as well as institutional activities open to students (Zumba classes, academic "brown bag" lunches, etc.) The current situation has forced students to become more creative with regards to socializing and ensuring a rich student life at UPEACE.