Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security

Overview

This two-year Master of Science program (taught in English) equips postgraduate students with in-depth knowledge and practical tools to analyse how environmental risks and natural hazards arise, how they affect relationships between people and nature (vulnerability, resilience, adaptation), and how such risks can be managed in real-world contexts. The curriculum blends theoretical perspectives with applied methods so graduates can critically assess risk processes and contribute to solutions across sectors.

The program also connects students with a wide network of organisations — including international bodies, federal agencies, research institutions and private firms — active in disaster risk reduction, preparedness and humanitarian response. That exposure supports career paths in areas such as climate-change research, food security, spatial planning, policy advice and international cooperation, while offering opportunities for applied projects and professional networking.

Key facts and study focus

• Degree and duration: Master of Science, 2 years
• Language of instruction: English
• Interdisciplinary emphasis: links human geography, earth system science and social-ecological perspectives
• Core topics:
  • Geographical approaches to risk, vulnerability and resilience
  • New approaches to development geography
  • Earth system science
  • Social-ecological systems, risk and technology
  • Risk management and governance; forecast and prediction
  • Disaster management, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and humanitarian response
• Research and methods training: qualitative and quantitative methods, GIS and remote sensing
• Professional exposure: visibility to international organisations, federal agencies, research organisations and private companies working on DRR, humanitarian aid, international relations, climate change, food security, spatial planning and policy
• For curriculum details, the module handbook, application FAQ and admission requirements, please consult the programme pages hosted by the University of Bonn and UNU-EHS.

Overview The programme is delivered through a close partnership between the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn and researchers from the United Nations University's Institute for Environment and Human Security. It combines academic and applied perspectives across natural and social sciences, offering 11 on-site modules supplemented by a compulsory eight-week internship and a research-based Master’s thesis. Teaching draws on international staff and an interdisciplinary curriculum to prepare students to work with complex environmental risks and human security challenges.

Key modules and learning outcomes Core thematic modules cover topics such as vulnerability assessment, ecosystem services, sustainable development, disaster management, climate change adaptation, human–nature relationships, science & technology studies, development geography, geomorphology, socio-hydrology, future studies, GIS, and remote sensing. Students gain practical skills in spatial analysis and remote-sensing workflows, methods for assessing and mapping vulnerability, and tools for designing adaptation and disaster-risk-reduction strategies. The programme emphasizes interdisciplinary research design and field-anchored practice, so graduates are able to critically evaluate socio-environmental systems, apply quantitative and qualitative methods, and produce policy-relevant or operational recommendations through their internship and thesis work.

Requirements (summary)

• 11 on-site teaching modules
• Compulsory eight-week internship (practical placement)
• Completion of a Master’s thesis (research project)

Graduates are prepared for professional roles in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian aid, climate change adaptation, and environmental policy within international organisations (including UN bodies), federal agencies, NGOs, research institutes and private sector consultancies. Typical positions include risk analyst, disaster risk manager, policy advisor, project officer for international cooperation, and researcher in environmental security and climate impacts.

The compulsory internship and close ties with UNU‑EHS and partner organisations provide practical experience and networking opportunities that often lead to employment in development cooperation, humanitarian response, environmental consultancy, spatial planning and applied research roles focused on vulnerability assessment, resilience building and early warning/forecasting systems.