Master's degree Géographie, aménagement, environnement et développement Programme Environnement, risques et diagnostics territoriaux
This programme is taught in French.
field(s) of training :
Humanities and Social Sciences
diploma level :
Master's degree (five-year degree)
duration of the program :
2 years
location(s) :
Campus 1, Caen, Normandy, France
Course overview
Every land project requires a prior analyse of environmental spaces and resources. You're interested in planning and management in all types of environment? With the Master's degree in Geography, planning, environment and development (GAED), you can specialise in Environment, risks, and territorial diagnosis.
This 2-year programme prepares students for careers in environmental management. Relying on geographical concepts, methods and tools, the master's emphasises practical work both in the laboratory and in the field. To meet the latest requirements of the sector, you will also learn measurements, survey and information processing.
You want to know more about our programmes in digital social humanities? Check our website dedicated to the digital sector!
Highlights
The master's programme in Environment, risks and territorial diagnosis leads to the world of business and well as the world of research.
The programme is supported by the Identité et Différenciation de l’Espace, de l’Environnement et des Sociétés (IDEES Caen UMR 6266 CNRS) laboratory of the University of Caen Normandie, which hosts the research-oriented end-of-study internships.
Application requirements
Entry requirements
To enter this master's programme, you must have obtained a Bachelor's degree level diploma in:
- Geography and land planning
- Geography and history
- Geography and economic sciences
- Earth sciences
- Life sciences
- Environment
Your application will be examined based on the following criteria:
- Academic background
- Motivation
- Resume
If your application is accepted, you will be interviewed by members of the teaching team.
Language proficiency requirements
Minimum French proficiency level required: C1
Apply and register
The registration process takes place in 3 steps:
Application process
Admission and registration requirements may vary depending on your nationality, country of residence, foreign secondary school leaving certificate, and the nature of your programme of study. Discover how to apply to the University of Caen Normandy.
Welcoming international students
Since 2019, the University of Caen Normandy has been awarded the "Bienvenue en France" label by Campus France, highlighting the quality of the university's welcome for international students.
Course structure
The Master's
- Takes place on site on Campus 1, Caen, University of Caen Normandie.
- Amounts to 721 hours
- Year 1: approximately 20 hours a week (286 hours in total), until the end of January, with S2 dedicated to research work
- Year 2: approximately 30 hours per week (435 hours in total)
- Demands significant personal investment (supervised projects, research project, internship).
- Includes a compulsory internship. Is open to continuing education students.
Course units
The Master's in Environment, risks and territorial diagnosis trains future professionals in this field. Each year is divided into an academic 1st semester and a 2nd semester dedidacted to research training and professional experience.
Classes and tutorials are divided into course units:
- Methodology of geographical studies
- Scientific innovations
- Local authority law, introduction to public law
- Planning and urban development frameworks and references
- Local authority players
- Project management
- Communication and professional situations
- Production, processing and analysis of geographical data
- English
And specialised courses focusing on environmental management:
- Environmental diagnosis and methodology
- Environmental metrology in the field and in the laboratory
- Soils and agriculture
- Environmental crisis management
- Coastal zone management
- Climate change and urban ecosystems
- Diagnosis methods and techniques
- Regulatory tools for environmental management
Internships and placements
To support you in your career plans, the Master's programme allow you to do two internships:
- 1st semester: field work: territorial study (team work)
- 2nd semester: master's thesis (individual work)
- 3rd semester: hands-on projects (team work for the Professional option and individual work for the Research option)
- 4th semester: compulsory internship of 4 to 6 months (from the beginning of April to September)
- In a company or a public organisation. Will be graded on a report and a presentation (mid-September).
- At the IDEES Caen laboratory. Will be graded on a research project.
Language of instruction
French
Study abroad
If you want to go abroad during the Master's, the Geography department takes part in international exchanges such as:
- Erasmus agreements:
- Barcelona and Murcia (Spain)
- Joensuu and Oulu (Finland)
- Würzburg (Germany)
- Florence and Milan (Italy)
- Inter-university agreements:
- Maracaibo (Venezuela)
- Puebla (Mexico)
- Saint-Louis (Senegal)
- Quebec
Learning outcome
By the end of the Master's degree, you will be able to :
- Analyse spaces and environmental resources, draw up diagnoses (through observations and measurements in the field, surveys using questionnaires or interviews, statistical analyses, cartography)
- Share information using a variety of media (writing, presenting studies, communicating with a variety of people, summarising notes, writing reports)
- Bring together the various parties involved in a project
- Select appropriate actions for programmes drawn up in advance, justify independent choices, present your arguments and suggest changes
- Work in a multidisciplinary group (history, biology, hydrology, geology, meteorology, economics, etc.)
Further study
A Master's degree aims at becoming a trained professional in your speciality. You can also pursue an academic career with doctoral studies in the field of geography, for instance within the Hommes, sociétés, risques, territoires (ED556 HSRT) doctoral school of the University of Caen Normandie (in French). To learn more about doctoral studies, feel free to contact the director of the IDEES Caen Géophen laboratory during your master's, in the first year or at the start of your second year.
Careers
Opportunities
- Research officer or department manager within local and regional authorities
- Research officer in public or semi-public agencies
- Consulting engineer in private or public consultancy firms
- Water development and management plan coordinator
- Project manager or coordinator within emerging environmental management organisations
- Mediator, particularly in rural areas
- Lecturer-researcher in higher education and research (if you pursued doctoral studies)
- Researcher in the public or private sector (if you pursued doctoral studies)
Sectors
An expert in environment, risks, and territorial diagnosis can have numerous opportunities across public, private, and non-profit sectors, especially in the fields of:
- Environment, planning, and risk management
- Education
Address
Université de Caen Normandie
UFR SEGGAT · Sciences économiques, de gestion, de géographie et d’aménagement des territoires
Esplanade de la Paix · CS 14032 · 14032 Caen Cedex 5
France
Course leader
Olivier Cantat · olivier.cantat@unicaen.fr