Environmental Politics and Governance, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Science for Sustainable Development

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following areas: 
  - natural sciences, 
  - social sciences, 
  - humanities or
  - engineering
• 15 ECTS credits passed in environmental sciences, sustainable development, or equivalent.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Critically analyse environmental politics and governance as concepts and practice
• Compare forms of governance and politics instruments in environmental politics and their application
• Map actors and arenas of environmental politics
• Account for processes of environmental politics on international, transnational, and national levels, and interactions between them
• Apply theoretical perspectives on environmental politics and governance

Course content

The course addresses central perspectives on environmental politics and governance. The course maps actors in environmental politics, such as the state, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector and analyses their roles, interplay, and political priorities. The course takes its starting point in interstate agreements that have been negotiated to solve transboundary environmental and sustainability issues, e.g., climate change. Furthermore, the course analyses the development of new forms of governance on the borderline between private and public actors, such as public-private partnerships, emissions trading, and certification schemes, and their significance for the content and direction of environmental and sustainability politics. The course also addresses the emergence of new environmental and climate movements and their potential to spur political change. 

Teaching and working methods

The course comprises lectures, seminars, group work, and an individual writing assignment. In addition to this, the student is expected to carry out self-studies.

Language of examination: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

• individual written assignment, grade: ECTS
• group writing assignment and oral group presentation grade: pass/fail
• active participation in seminars, grade: pass/fail
• oral critical review of another student’s individual assignment, grade: pass/fail

For a final grade of Pass (E), the student must have passed all examination activities. Higher grades are based on the individual written assignment. 

 Detailed information is found in the course guide.   
 

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly, or as a whole, in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Department