Environmental Anthropology (Taught)

The MSc Environmental Anthropology explores the ecological, social and cultural relationships between people and the environments they live in. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from theories and case studies in climate change research, multispecies ethnography and many other areas of contemporary environmental anthropology from around the world.

Environmental Anthropology gives you the chance to explore the intersection between people’s everyday lives and some of the key issues of our time, including climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and multispecies relationships. You’ll be introduced to theoretical and practical perspectives from across the subject.

Aberdeen’s Department of Anthropology is renowned for environmental anthropology. We have a strong portfolio of projects and publications that you’ll learn from, on multispecies ethnography, climate change, environmental art, mobilities and indigenous rights amongst others.

Our long-standing focus on the Circumpolar North, stretching from Siberia and northern Europe to Canada, is complemented by research in many other regions and we supervise students from all over the world. Many of our courses include field trips and there are wonderful resources in landscape and wildlife close to our campus and across north east Scotland.

This programme's core courses focus on Environmental Anthropology and Climate Policies, Realities and Justice. Optional courses are available in topics related to our expertise, along with training in research methods. Relevant courses from across the University will also be open to you. For your final research project, you will choose between a dissertation focused on your own research and a work placement, where you’ll bring your skills to a project with a relevant organisation.

Environmental anthropologists work in diverse cultural and environmental settings around the world. They often use long-term ethnographic fieldwork that centres the experiences of those they work with. Their findings contribute to environmental and social policies, community rights and well-being, and academic debate.

Upon graduation, you will have the opportunity to enter a wide range of careers including environmental management, consultancy and policy-related jobs across the public and private sectors. You can also progress to a PhD in Anthropology.