Studying Environmental History

An increasing number of universities in the United Kingdom and other European countries are offering introductory courses in environmental history. There are at the moment only a few institutions offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in environmental history but it can be expected that the number of courses will encrease in the near future. The list presented here is far from exhaustive and illustrates some of the courses and study possibilities in environmental history. For more background about the subject and environmental history in Europe read What is Environmental History?

United Kingdom

University of Newcastle upon Tyne

The Universtity of Newcastle upon Tyne offers an introductory module in environmental history in the second year of the history programme. This course entitled Environmental History of Northwestern Europe charts the interaction between culture and nature since end of the last Ice Age until the present.
For more details about this course contact Dr Jan Oosthoek or download an information sheet here (PDF) >>

Edinburgh: MSc in Landscape, Environment and History

Interface MSc
Online interface of MSc

The University of Edinburgh's new MSc in Landscape, Environment and History has started to recruite stdents. This new MSc explores developments in the changing landscape and environment and offers an exciting new eLearning based approach to graduate studies. The programme is a distance learning course and the latest digital learning technologies are used to deliver course materials online. Anyone, anywhere in the world with a first degree or equivalent experience can sign up for this MSc.

The programme will appeal to students all over the world who wish to study for a Master's degree where history meets politics and ecology, where heritage and history intersect, and where historical urban landscapes and the built environment are of interest.

The MSc programme:

  • explores the history, archaeology and ecology of landscapes, using Scottish examples set in national and international contexts
  • illuminates how urban and rural space and resources have changed over time
  • develops independent study and research skills

The course is written by a team of senior academics in social and urban history, environmental history, archaeology, conservation, and politics who have combined with curators and librarians in the National Library of Scotland, Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and other cultural organisations to produce video lectures, interactive learning modules, and virtual tours. It is a unique assembly of expertise and digital resources.

This learning environment is complemented with online e-resources - books, journal articles and a range of original sources through Edinburgh University Library's extensive list of digital subscriptions. There is a strong Scottish flavour to the examples and exercises yet the course draws on national and international contexts and scholarly literature from several disciplines.

For a taster session of the teaching materials and further details about the course go to www.shc.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/landscape/ or download the flyer or poster.


University of Nottingham

The the Schools of History and Geography offer an multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary MA/MSc in environmental history. More information can be found on the MSc website.


Universities of Stirling & Dundee

The Universities of Stirling and Dundee in Scotland offer a one year Postgraduate Certificate in Environmental History. More details: www.sbes.stir.ac.uk/mres/


University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews offers postgraduate modules in Environmental History which are interdisciplinary and interdepartmental. For more information visit their website.

Germany

University of Darmstadt

Interdisciplinary MA: History, the Environment, and the City, at the University of Technology Darmstadt (Germany). Fore more information visit the website (in German).


University of Gottingen

Interdisciplinary MA Environmental History: Natural Environment and Societal Behaviour in Central Europe. More details: www.anthro.uni-goettingen.de/gk/

Denmark

Danish Institute for Study Abroad, Copenhagen

Undergraduate course: Environmental History of Europe "European history, from the Ice Age to the present day, as seen from an environmental perspective". View the course details on the Institutes website.

North America

H-Environment environmental history syllabus library: www.h-net.org/~environ/syllabi/syllabuslibrary.html

Australia

Australian National University

Undergraduate course: Readings in Environmental History. More details can be found on the ANU website.