MA in Geography (Coastal Management & GIS)

This programme has been designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of the foundational concepts of Geography, whilst developing a specialist knowledge and practice in the field of coastal management. The course will provide a thorough introduction to the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). It will help students to make the link between theoretical approaches and practical management scenarios through the provision of real life case studies.

Lectures will provide comprehensive insights to coastal management at the international, national and local levels. The course will provide a framework for introducing students to state of the art technologies and techniques for coastal monitoring. Students will gain experience in the analysis and interpretation of field data through links with the GIS module.  The course is run through the Department of Geography, while use is made of expert lecturers from the Coastal & Marine Resources Centre in UCC, who have internationally recognised expertise in this area.

The content of the Masters course will include:

• Origins and rational of environmental management
• History and principles of ICZM
• Management structures, policy and legislation
• Biological systems and coastal processes
• Issues driving the need for ICZM such as human impacts and natural variability
• Industries such as fishing and aquaculture, trade and energy
• Spatial planning, risk and disaster management
• Hands-on practical skills including the use of GPS and GIS
• Fieldtrips
• Environmental Impact Assessments techniques
• Independent Research - Dissertation