This double degree master's integrative approach towards two expert fields equips you to better address today's grand, sustainability challenges from a psychologist perspective.
The programme, exceptional in Europe and beyond, is offered by Leuphana University, renowned in the field of sustainability science and University of Groningen, leading in the field of environmental psychology .
In general, the combined programme covers 1) human perception and behaviour related to sustainable development, and 2) the interplay between humans and their natural and built environments.
Specifically, the double degree addresses social, economic, and environmental issues in the transition towards sustainability and focuses on psychological processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, self-regulation, social identification, attitude change, or conflict resolution and their impacts on present and future generations’ quality of life.
This Double Degree Master (Leuphana University & University of Groningen):
By introducing core theories and models, the programme links topics from the field of psychology to the field of sustainability science. Inter- and transdisciplinary work with a focus on theoretical propositions, methodological tools, and practical implications will characterise the programme in the second semester. Thereby, the second semester aims at broadening your psychological perspective on the inter- and transdisciplinary characteristics of sustainability science.
By introducing core theories and models, the programme links topics from the field of psychology to the field of sustainability science. Inter- and transdisciplinary work with a focus on theoretical propositions, methodological tools, and practical implications will characterise the programme in the second semester. Thereby, the second semester aims at broadening your psychological perspective on the inter- and transdisciplinary characteristics of sustainability science.
| Periods | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Complementary Studies 1 | ||||
| Introduction to Psychology and Sustainability | ||||
| Psychology and the Community: Diagnosis of time and Sustainability | ||||
| Psychology and the Individual: Self-Regulation and Sustainability | ||||
| Psychology and the Society: Political negotiations and Sustainability | ||||
| Research methods: Multivariate Approaches | ||||
| Complimentary Studies 2 | ||||
| Research Methods: Interdisciplinary Approaches | ||||
| Selected Topics in Psychology | ||||
| Sustainability Psychology: Research & Application | ||||
| Transdisciplinary Research Project | ||||
Upon the third semester, you will transfer from Leuphana University to the University of Groningen, to expand your methodological knowledge and zoom into the unique interplay between humans and their environment.
From the offered courses (see below), you take at least two foundation courses, up to two election courses, one methodology course upon choice, and one skills course. Besides the courses, throughout the year you work on your master thesis in combination with a traineeship, under supervision of a staff member from both Leuphana University and the University of Groningen.
| Periods | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Advanced research Methods in Social and Organizational Psychology (recommended, methodology course) | ||||
| Environmental Psychology (foundation course) | ||||
| Repeated Measures (methodology course) | ||||
| Master Thesis and Internship | ||||
| Designing Interventions (recommended, skills course) | ||||
| Personal, Social and Cultural Change (skills course) | ||||
| Selected Topics in Environmental Psychology (foundation course) | ||||
| Test Construction (methodology course) | ||||
| Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sustainability (foundation course) | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| Leuphana University - 1st year: Psychology & Sustainability (profile) Leuphana University originated in 2006 from the unique opportunity to rethink the concept of a university. It is a foundation under public law and regarded to be a place fostering the desire to know, ingenuity, individual growth, and public engagement. With over 9,500 students, Leuphana is a medium-sized German university with about 180 professors and about 400 research assistants. The three guiding principles of Humanism, Sustainability and Application-Orientation shape its academic mission. |
| University of Groningen - 2nd year: Environmental Psychology (profile) How can psychology help us understand and solve environmental and energy-related problems? How can we motivate and empower people to act pro-environmentally and adapt to a changing environment? Questions like these are addressed in the Master programme 'Environmental psychology'. The programme focuses on the interactions between humans and their environment. You will acquire theoretical knowledge and methodological skills to understand and address the human dimension of environmental and energy-related problems. The program is taught by the world-leading Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen.The expertise gained in this master is essential in attempts to limit global climate change and its negative impacts, and adapt successfully to the consequences of climate change. Governments and companies seek advice from environmental psychologists to understand the human dimension of sustainable development, and leading journals, such as Nature, stress the importance of the social sciences for solving environmental and energy-related problems. This master will equip you for job opportunities that focus on finding effective and acceptable societal solutions to these problems.Also, in cooperation with Leuphana University, we offer the Double Degree Master Sustainability and Environmental Psychology. |
Upon successfully completing the first year in Leuphana, you are admissible to the second year in Groningen.
You apply for admission at Leuphana University.
For starting times and costs of the first year see the Leuphana University website, for the second year of the double degree have a look at the page of our master track Environmental Psychology. Please note: you apply via Leuphana University.
For starting times and costs of the first year see the Leuphana University website, for the second year of the double degree have a look at the page of our master track Environmental Psychology. Please note: you apply via Leuphana University.
For starting times and costs of the first year see the Leuphana University website, for the second year of the double degree have a look at the page of our master track Environmental Psychology. Please note: you apply via Leuphana University.
Practical information for:
Facing tremendous transformation challenges on the societal, economic, or ecological level such as climate change, digitalisation, globalisation, or social mobilisation not only national governments, but also business companies, political organisations, public services, or educational institutions progressively deal with leverage points to foster sustainable development in their respective field of practice.
Although sustainability traditionally has been addressed from a top-down perspective such as the development of measures on the level of political, economic, or technical systems (system-to-individual perspective), the implementation of measures towards sustainable development inevitably needs to take the individual stakeholders and actors within these systems into consideration (individual-to-system perspective).
With its specific focus on the psychological processes of the individual, this Master's programme provides you with sound theoretical knowledge, embracive methodological skills, and impactful practical tools on how to analyse, describe, change, and predict sustainability-related cognitions, emotions, and motivations. Thus, graduates of the master's programme are highly trained in dealing with one of the most fundamental leverage points of sustainable development: the individual person as an active constituent in the process of transformation towards sustainability.
for environmental or sustainability policies
in research and education in sustainability sciences and/or psychology
(such as grid operators, energy providers and water companies)
(e.g. at national or municipality level)
(for example at MilieuCentraal)
Sustainability Psychology at the University of Leuphana is taught by members from various departments of the institute of psychology. The Institute's members are enthusiastic about research that answers fundamental psychological questions and at the same time focuses on their usefulness for sustainable social transformation processes. The Institute's psychological research focuses on changes in individuals at the micro level (e.g. negotiations in business relationships, fairness in performance evaluations) and at the macro level on changes in sub-areas of society (e.g. stakeholders in collective bargaining conflicts, occupational health managers). Read more about the staff, their specific research topics and publications.
The Environmental Psychology group at the University of Groningen is a world leader in the field. The chair of the group, prof. dr. Linda Steg is among the world's most highly cited social scientists. In 2020, she was awarded the NWO Stevin price, the highest honour in Dutch science, for the work of the environmental psychology group. Read more about the staff, their specific research topics and publications of the Environmental Psychology group on the page of their master's track Environmental Psychology. Also have a look at their contributions to MindWise, the blog of UG Psychology staff and students.
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